Be Excellent To Each Other

Longbow making course booked! I figured getting some instruction in person is probably a good idea, rather than relying on YouTube.

Well, there's deffo a steep bit where you are learning curves

First things first, time to make a tiller tree!

Easy job

I'm predicting abject failure, but it's going to be a fun ride till it breaks when I tiller.

What is it that you're making, exactly?

A bow.

More specifically, a board bow.
https://dansantanabows.com/how-to-make-a-board-bow/20/

While i'm waiting for my glue to dry on the bow, I made something else today! Pretty pleased with this...
A simple bow stand, much more compact than the usual tripod ones.

This is definitely going to break where the knot is on the limb, but things are progressing. I'm just using this as a practice to get the techniques down. I have a better board with far fewer knots in to try next, that might have a chance of working.

Yep, right where the knot is! This is my first bow, but I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be doing this...

Are you using pine? Is that what's recommended?

Very cool project!

Spruce. And for a board bow it doesn't really matter, any hardwood will work, assuming the fibres are straight and there are no knots.

Spruce is a softwood, isn't it?

Well, i'm glad you asked

An arborist will tell you Spruce is a softwood, due to the type of tree it is.
A woodworker will tell you it's a hardwood due to how it behaves when you work it. Something to do with the high sap content which dries in layers, making the wood more dense.

So the answer is... it depends on who you ask.

Why didn't you go for a proper hardwood, you coward?

Mahogany, white oak, walnut? Honestly, it's like you're not serious about this bow and arrow thing

I'm not sure they do mahogany batons in Wickes

Attempt number 2!



This one will break here on the second tiller stage...




Also, using the old broken stave to test different finishes and how they react with ink on the bow. Boiled linseed oil and shellac so far, will try some beeswax next, and all in different combinations.
I think it's either oil then ink, or shellac then ink realistically. I'm hoping putting some wax over the shellac will give me the shine i'm looking for, but also stop the ink from running or fading.

Casual

Unless you have a band saw handy, then no good. Need 19mm x 38mm

Done! Meet "Persuasion"


Very pleased with it, and I learnt a lot!
Some in progress pics:

Getting closer! Got this one down to 28" at 35lb, which is what I was after, but it was making noises. Noises are bad. I'm no master bowman, but i'm pretty sure those cracks shouldn't be there...

Buy hardwood, you coward!

Also, say hello to the newest member of the family. Dude at the club has upgraded and was letting his old bow go for super cheap

Next one is going to be Ash!

Fancy pants

Oh yeah

Groovy

I've done a thing! Lots more to do and a million ways I can still fuck it up, but it's progress.

Horn attached, the bow is still in one piece, which is a bonus.

That's enough for today though, helping out a beginner course tomorrow, which should be a laugh.

I can't bloody wait for (a) my frequent travelling to die down, and (b) for the on-call rotation at work to get new members (we're going from 3 up to 18 imminently) -- it means I'll actually have some free time and I'll be able to get back out to the range on the regular.

Have you managed to do much at all? You're bringing your kit to the cottage?

I've managed to get to the range once, so apart from having a bit of a plink in my back garden, which isn't ideal, nothing at all really.

But yeah, bringing the kit to Cottage!

More progress, hopefully it will survive more than a couple of arrows when I put it back together.

Horn nocks fully shaped, named, marked and 3 coats of lacquer

Just need to serve the string, wrap the handle in leather, and see if it survives being shot...

Looking great. Make some arrows, earn your name and bask in glory.

Took a break from bow making to win the midsummer madness trophy for the second year running this morning

Have you been doing this for a year already? Time flies (like an arrow).

Yep, just over a year now

Also, done! Things to work on for next time, but very happy with that.

Amazing. #36 - does that mean this is really your 36th attempt?

It's the draw weight of the bow, 36lbs at 28 inches

Threw together a very quick wall hanger this evening, I should probably stop buying bows...

Final piece of the puzzle coming together. I've made the bow, i've made the string, and i've almost finished the arrows.

Next task, win a medal in a competition with it all!

Playing with the new toy, seems to shoot pretty straight...

Another one done! A junior bow, ready for traditional day at the beginner course i'm helping with tomorrow, as we didn't have anything for the kids to try.



Next to it's bigger brother for comparison

I've made a bow to donate to the club, as it's the 70th anniversary. This one will be raffled off at the christmas dinner.

Very pleased with this one!

Also, first time scoring with the compound bow today... piece of piss this archery lark...

Good bows and good shooting! Is it just much easier to be consistent with a compound, or something? Or has your skill across the board just improved to that level over the last few months or whatever?