Anyone else out there making self-bows...

[C.P.]

and arrows??? Have a bow working right now out of cedar.... have other staves seasoning, maple, ash, all white woods from the farm. Trying to stick to clean, straight staves here early on. Could use some input, tips, suggestions, etc... Other experiences would be great.

I'm tired of my glass-covered recurve bow, I need something real.

[Double B]

Good luck. I really admire do-it-yourself projects. I try to do as much as I can on these types of things but don't have any experience here. Try www.archerytalk.com (http://www.archerytalk.com) and I'm sure you can get some advise. Post some pics later!

[kcbrown]

I have made a few, I will help any way I can

[gurn]

These boys will help ya out too.
www.tradgang.com

[kcbrown]

There is a lot of info and expertice on all these sites. I would reccomend that anyone get the bowyers bibles, there are 3 volumes now with another on the way. Number one deals with stave type self bows. Number 2 covers board bows.

[ky_longbow]

be easy on the cedar while tillering - cedar will loose draw weight quickly- but its a very easy wood to tiller- i built a cedar bow with hickory backing a few years back(i recommend backing cedar)-----
the bow was a beauty- but after one winter the bow became very brittle and blew all to heck------i finished the bow with 5 or 6 coats of spar urethane-

[C.P.]

KYLongbow, cedar feels reeeeeeeeeaaaaaal brittle now.... Might be too dry? Anyway to re-hydrate it?

[kcbrown]

do you have any sapwood on the back? I have not worked any cedar but best I recollect you would treat it like yew and leave some sapwood on it. I think the heartwood does get too brittle. You could maybe steam your bathroom up and leave it in there for a while.

[Ky Headhunter]

Paleoplanet.com is a good place to check out.

Most of mine have been hickory, with one black locust & one osage orange. Have not used cedar but can't blame you for trying, it's very pretty wood. From what I have read it can be touchy because it's not very tension strong, but if successful will make a fast shooter. Might want to try backing it with rawhide, sinew, or linen?

I hear maple and ash are pretty good bow woods if you treat them right. The "whitewoods" are sometimes scorned as inferior to osage, but they sure are easier to find and to work into a bow.

As for advice... well, I'm not sure I can offer much that you don't already know as I still consider myself a novice. One thing you've probably heard, but bears repeating: take your time during tillering! Don't get in a hurry trying to get the bow to full brace height. I've found that the staves I treated most gently during the early stages of tillering have rewarded me with better performance.

[C.P.]

cedar bow is now firewood... guess it will make the house smell nice once the weather cools.... ash stave up next. will keep you posted.

Live and learn!

[kcbrown]

Keep the ash wide at the fades, at least 2"