Replies

1. 
   user-161113 | Apr 08, 2007 02:32am | #1

   Found the thread I was looking for. A reader on Woodmagazine.com "General Woodworking" forum gave me the thread. Thanks people.

   Billy B.

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 09, 2007 07:11pm | #2

   Tom (tms) is one of our members and a member of WWA.  He makes and shoots bows.  You don't happen to be in the Northwest, do you?  He's hosting a Woodworkers' Fest soon at his shop.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

1. 
   user-161113 | Apr 09, 2007 09:35pm | #3

   Thanks Forest Girl--No, we don't live in Northwest, although that is my favorite part of the USA and have been there many times.

    

   My inquiry is an attempt to help a fellow woodworker here in East Texas. He is one of the best, if not the best woodworkers, I have known. We are both currently recovering from knee replacement surgery. I had seen the post I was inquiring about, and told him I would find it. Now, we will be trying to learn as much about the art of building the bows as we can. Any suggestions as to sources of this knowledge would be much appreciated. Thanks,

    

   Billy B.

1. 
   spindle | Apr 09, 2007 10:37pm | #4

   It would be a little bit of ride for you, but every July there is a bow building jamboree in Marshall Missouri.  People literally come from around the world to attend this.  It's basically free with lots of people glad to help.  Here's the link http://www.earlsworld.com/bowyers.html.    There's some good links on this site http://primitivearcher.com/.<!----><!----><!---->

   Greg<!----><!---->

   <!----> <!---->

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 10, 2007 07:38am | #6

   I'll send Tom an email and alert him to this thread -- looks like he hasn't seen it yet.  In the meantime, I can reprint some of his info from WWA:

   There are several good books out there, but the one that I recommend first is "Hunting the Osage Bow" by Dean Torges. He waxes a bit poetic, but he does an excellent job of describing the creation of an osage self bow from harvest to finish. Making a self bow is a challenge but very satisfying to complete. These days, I enjoy making bambo backed bows, also using Dean's methods, outlined in his video, "Hunting the Bamboo Backed Bow". Dean is a great teacher, and as good as the book is, the video is even better. It's a great way to make a top performing bow. He has a website were you can buy his products: http://www.bowyersedge.com/books.html Another great reference is "The Traditional Bowyers Bible", in three volumes. You will be most interesed in Vol. 1 for your first bow. 

   Here's a link to his thread on a recent bow:http://www.woodworking.org/InfoExchange/viewtopic.php?t=10806

   WWA forum auctioned a custom-made bow for one of our members who lost his shop in a fire.  Here's one of the threads about that bow:http://www.woodworking.org/InfoExchange/viewtopic.php?t=7676

   And here's a rather interesting post on why he doesn't build bows to sell.http://www.woodworking.org/InfoExchange/viewtopic.php?t=7810

    forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   user-161113 | Apr 10, 2007 02:56pm | #7

   Thanks for your reply. Very thoughtful and helpful of you. Will be seeing my friend today. Well tell him about this.

    

   Thanks again and Best Wishes.

    

   Billy B.

1. 
   OldGreen | Apr 10, 2007 05:50pm | #8

   Billy, The Traditional Bowyer's Bible published by the Lyons Press is an excelent reference source book. It is a compilaition of articles written by 7 or 8 different bow makers. Hope this helps.Matt

3. 
   galenajoe | Apr 10, 2007 05:29am | #5

   Go to http://www.binghamprojects.com . They have everything you need to make laminated bows. I'm making a recurve right now. I made a longbow a few years ago and it was not too hard at all. They don't seem to carry supplies for self bows but if it's a laminated bow you're looking for that's the place to start.

   Joe