My Newest Hobby

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

Yep, bow building. Something I got into a couple of years ago as a one time project. But, we all know how these things turn out once a man starts asking himself, "what if". Well, call me guilty. Here's the latest project in the works, a takedown bow that I'm actually hoping to deer hunt with next year.

mamabear · Oct 13, 2012

thats awesome! what kind of wood do you use? Yew? I've heard that or tamarac is best

Red James Cash · Oct 13, 2012

Funny you started that bigscoop,im in the middle of gathering the supplies to make my own arrows,including the broadheads

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

mamabear said:
thats awesome! what kind of wood do you use? Yew? I've heard that or tamarac is best

Actually, it took some trial and error but I use a lot of red oak simply because it's easy to get and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Not the best wood for the job but so far so good.

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

Red James cash said:
Funny you started that bigscoop,im in the middle of gathering the supplies to make my own arrows,including the broadheads

Awesome. I've been thinking of a way to make my own fletcher (feathers) but I just haven't gotten around to attacking that project yet.

FarmerChick · Oct 13, 2012

COOL
hubby is a bow hunter
got a nice new compound something that is fab. I don't know this type of thing but he loves it. got the target in the backyard etc.

new hobby? Don't tell me archery is replacing detecting

oh the horror!

edited to say: glad you are back on Everything Else. missed you here!

Sandman · Oct 13, 2012

I think I was 14 when I started hunting with a bow, a long bow before these wheel jobs came out.

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

FarmerChick said:
COOL
hubby is a bow hunter
got a nice new compound something that is fab. I don't know this type of thing but he loves it. got the target in the backyard etc.

new hobby? Don't tell me archery is replacing detecting oh the horror!

edited to say: glad you are back on Everything Else. missed you here!

No, no. Just making them is the new hobby. I've always bow hunted so detecting is not in danger. :laughing7:

yep, missed all the fun we had here in Everything Else, and of course, your sense of humor! :icon_thumright:

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

Sandman said:
I think I was 14 when I started hunting with a bow, a long bow before these wheel jobs came out.

Yep, I remember the "good ol days" as well. It's different now, the mindset of hunters these days. Marketing is part of the problem. For many of today's high tech hunters it's less about the challenge and appreciation of the sport and more to do with ego and just killing something. Assault rifles in the hunting field.......that's just nuts, they have no place there. But don't get me started..... :laughing7:

worldtalker · Oct 13, 2012

bigscoop said:
Awesome. I've been thinking of a way to make my own fletcher (feathers) but I just haven't gotten around to attacking that project yet.

Form a piece of resistance wire the shape you want it and use low amperage to burn them out,if your're using feathers,works rather well.

Red James Cash · Oct 13, 2012

Theres lots of videos on youtube about making your own arrows bigscoop,check them out. Its not as hard as it sounds.Fletchings can even be made out of duct tape if need be.I plan on using some turkey feathers i have.For shafts I came across some 3/8 inch ash dowels at the hardware store,70 cents apiece.For the broadheads i'll use either 14 gauge or 16 gauge steel sheet metal.

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

Sandman said:
I think I was 14 when I started hunting with a bow, a long bow before these wheel jobs came out.

I just finished this long bow, 66" & 45# @ 28". Shoots pretty good, draws smooth but a little stacking, which is expected. Not that great of a picture....

Red James Cash · Oct 13, 2012

Big scoop

looks good,hope you waterproofed it in one way or another lol.

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

Red James cash said:
Theres lots of videos on youtube about making your own arrows bigscoop,check them out. Its not as hard as it sounds.Fletchings can even be made out of duct tape if need be.I plan on using some turkey feathers i have.For shafts I came across some 3/8 inch ash dowels at the hardware store,70 cents apiece.For the broadheads i'll use either 14 gauge or 16 gauge steel sheet metal.

Cool! I'm still shooting carbon arrows, floo-floo feathers most of the time. I also shoot standard 3 inch helical setups. Eyes not what they use to be so I like to be able to see exactly where the arrow impacts when hunting. :laughing7:

Right now I'm fighting a bit of limb twist issues in this takedown project..... :BangHead:

Much harder to tiller a three piece setup VS a one piece bow.....new to me....still trying to work it all out. :icon_scratch:

worldtalker · Oct 13, 2012

bigscoop said:
I just finished this long bow, 66" & 45# @ 28". Shoots pretty good, draws smooth but a little stacking, which is expected. Not that great of a picture....

Craftsman Indeed!!! Ain't may people left that can use their hands to make something USEFUL!!! God Bless Chris

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

Red James cash said:
Big scooplooks good,hope you waterproofed it in one way or another lol.

Three coats of polyurethane. :icon_thumright:

Going to have to find a local source for some various hardwoods.....but this is Florida so?....But would really like to get into some neater and harder riser grains.

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

worldtalker said:
Craftsman Indeed!!! Ain't may people left that can use their hands to make something USEFUL!!! God Bless Chris

I think that was the initial attraction.....something I made myself. First few attempts were pretty sad though...... :laughing7:

worldtalker · Oct 13, 2012

bigscoop said:
I think that was the initial attraction.....something I made myself. First few attempts were pretty sad though......

Learn by your mistakes,make it BETTER next shot!!!! Works for me.

Red James Cash · Oct 13, 2012

I have an old Comanche fiberglass recurve myself.Got it for nothing at a friends thrift store.It can also be taken down,no tools required.All three pieces shorter than my arrows.

bigscoop · Oct 13, 2012

Red James cash said:
I have an old Comanche fiberglass recurve myself.Got it for nothing at a friends thrift store.It can also be taken down,no tools required.All three pieces shorter than my arrows.

Neat bow! I've thought about making a takedown long bow in the near future.
I've always liked "simplicity" in bows, and especially the wood bows, but most of all I really love the grains, the natural look and feel of wood. My next interest is going to be leather working I think. At one time I was a collector of recurve bows, wish I would have kept a lot of them now.