Unfortunately i just started cutting about 2 weeks ago. A little behind lol. But also comfortable with it, i have about 1 1/2 cords cut and split right now. I just purchased 2 1/2 cords. That will get me through 1/2 of winter, i will be cutting all wimterso i dont fall behind, and maybe get ahead of next year

Anyone still bowyering out there? Seems like this thread needs a revival of sorts.

So I have 3 bows in various stages of completion and going to start on the poplar board bow while I wait for the various things for the other bows to complete them. One is shooting the other two are at floor tiller.

Anyone else working on them?

Nothing like the coming of winter to give you the incentive to start carving some wood. For me it just means my garage isnt 95 degrees.

A pine 2x4? Man so you really want a challenge huh?? If you can make a decent bow out of that you can do anything.

Yeah linen is some good stuff. You know  just for the hell of it I wonder how good a pine board thats backed with anything decent could work? Is there a limit to how good it would be or could one potentially make a hard hitting, fast, hunting weight bow from it?


I mean...could you not just cut out a 2x4, sinew back it and potentially make a decent bow? How wild would that be? Imagine killing a deer with a pine fence panel?

I got my poplar board sitting in the vise right now Joe. It might be that time.  Just saying...   

We also need Walter and Slyngorm and whoever else we can guilt trip into joining us. For those reading, you dont have to start out with a full size bow. Ive seen entire bow building threads just devoted to building mini bows 6 inches long. The beauty is in the act of creating. Grab a stick and start carving!

For a 5 year old I would go with something like a 100-150 cm bow. Maybe drawing 5lbs max with double nocks so the weight can be raised slightly by using the inner nocks seeing as the little guy would be growing fairly quick.

Once he outgrows the inner nocks you can simply pike it and cut in two more sets of nocks and the bow  will live on.

I would also make a 3 strand braided fishing line braid the length of his intended draw and attach one end to the riser the other end to the bow string. This will make it impossible to pull that thing back just as far as he can and snap it. Kids are prone to this with wood bows, especially boys who at that age have more energy than common sense. 

You can find safety tips for arrows. Youll need to find some really light shafts though. Cork might work but I assume it would break down fairly quick. Soft, thick rubber would be my first choice.

Slyngorm wrote on Nov 4^th, 2022 at 2:28pm:



Instead of cutting in just one pair of nocks on the bow you can cut in a second pair about an inch below the original on each tip. When the bow is strung on the inner nocks it will gain a little weight so the child can increase the weight of the bow without having to use an entirely new bow.

Forgot how easy, fun and fast it is to make regular bows 😁
Chose to make it 100 cm. The outer limbs still need some trimming, as narrow as possible and maybe a bit thinner, and the second pair of nooks. But perhaps they should be bypassed, considering its size?