By Jackdale Bredon
How to Make Your Own Bow
The heart of bowhunting lies in a good quality bow. However, as opposed to what many people believe, you do not have to spend a whole lot of money in order to own a decent bow. If you want to be assured of the quality of the bow you are using, then make one of your own!
When making a bow, first consider your height. If you are 5 feet tall, you need to use a bow that is 5 feet high. If you are 5 feet 6 inches tall, a 5 ½-foot bow will do. If you are taller than that, then you need to use a 6-foot bow.
Next, choose the material you will be making your bow from. Lemonwood is the most commonly used material for bows, and is readily available. You can also use other wood, such as elm, cedar, ash, bamboo and yew, to name a few.
Take the material of your choice and start carving it. The bow should be approximately ¾ of an inch thick at the center, tapering at the tips. Around 14 inches from both ends of the bow, you should start to taper the sides of the wood. Continue doing this until the wood becomes the shape of a boomerang. Use sandpaper to smoothen the wood. At each end of the bow, you will have to put two notches where the bow string will be inserted.
Use a tiller in order to bend the bow. When bending, it is important to remember that approximately 6 inches in the middle and at both ends of the bow do not bend. Once the bow is bent, it is ready to be stringed.
The bowstring can be made from different materials, as well. You can use sinew, hemp, linen or the newer synthetic polymers. Wax the bow string using rawhide until it is completely coated; this will protect the string and prolong its life. Next, insert the string into the notches at both ends. Loop the string and tie, making sure that the string is taught, but is not too tight. Check to see if the bow can shoot from far distances, and adjust the bow string as you deem necessary.
Use varnish to seal the wood. When the varnish dries, attach the grips. You now have your very own bow!
Making a good quality bow can be quite challenging and requires a lot of practice. Aside from saving you some money, another great thing about making your own bow is that you can customize it according to your needs – you can specify the height to match yours and the width to match your grip, among others. At the same time, learning how to make your own bow allows you to get to know your equipment better. So if your bow malfunctions or becomes damaged, you do not have to bring it to your local archery store anymore – you can easily do the repairs on your own, saving you both time and money!
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