Quick Disagreement Settling Question

[N.Vodden]

Originally Posted by Longbow_Gold

I may go 45/50 @ 30", but it depends ifI can find a bowyer that will be able to make a good long lasting bow, to my draw length, etc, without being expected to pay money that I don't have for it.

why not have a go at making one yourself?

If you check my blog, i'm in the middle of my first homemade longbow, and it looks like i've made a serviceable 55lb longbow out of it. Little bit of a hiccup with a delamination, but past that now and its going well.

Bowyering strikes me now as something that isnt hard to do... but its hard to do WELL. But you could easily tailor a bow to your own needs for minimal cost. This one is osage and bamboo, and the wood for it cost £50 delivered. Next im going to have a go at making some board bows from a timber merchant, red oak, cedar etc backed with bamboo or hickory, just to work on my skills and get better at shaping.

[HOTHOUSEDOG]

Originally Posted by N.Vodden

why not have a go at making one yourself?

Bowyering strikes me now as something that isnt hard to do... but its hard to do WELL. But you could easily tailor a bow to your own needs for minimal cost. This one is osage and bamboo, and the wood for it cost £50 delivered. Next im going to have a go at making some board bows from a timber merchant, red oak, cedar etc backed with bamboo or hickory, just to work on my skills and get better at shaping.

There is nothing more satisfying than shooting a bow made by your own fair hand. I had pretty much no woodworking skills when i started and my third bow is a 60# hunter style flatbow. There are so many sites full of buildalong guides. If i'd followed some of those from the start my first two attempts may have worked. If you like the idea of having many bows to choose from then this is the way.
I'd also recommend starting two bows rather than one. I find at some points you have to put the stave down and have a bit of thinking time and its nice to go over to another project. I have a border elite nearly finished, i am slowly making a osage carriage bow, and i've got an ash elb roughed out.
I do all my work on an £8 work bench outside my back door.
Give it a go!