I’ve gotten a lot of interest in plans for the Youth Bows I recently started building. So, here we go…
First, go here and read the sections on selecting boards and tillering board bows. Ferret's Board Bow instructions Some of this will apply to these little bows, some won't but read the material selection and tillering sections for sure.
Secondly, I gotta give credit to Mike “Elkninja” Miller for posting a similar thread on TG and giving me his blessing to share them here along with some of his pics. I’ll use some of Mike’s pics to get us started today and start taking and using my own when we get to the riser design as mine is a little different than Mike’s.
The Plans Diagram
Materials:
2 – ¼”x 2”x 48” Red Oak Planks (about $5 at Home Depot or Lowe’s)
Wood Glue (I use Titebond II)
Stain (optional)
Finish (clear gloss or satin finish)
Tennis racket grip ($3 for 3 of them at WalMart)
#20 Hemp cord (enough for 3 bowstrings for about $3 at WalMart)
Tools:
A Jigsaw is a minimum but a band saw is helpful.
Rumor has it that a belt-sander in also helpful…I just use sandpaper and elbow-power.
Clamps
4-way file (optional)
Tape measure
Step 1:
Cut one of the planks into 2 – 2” pieces for the tips and 3 – 6” pieces for the riser. Do this for each bow you’re making.
Step 2:
Make a mark at the center of the bow and a line 3” on either side of center (see first image below). This is where your riser pieces will be stacked and glued-up (see second pic below)
Side note: to save time here if you’re building several bows for Scouts or something, buy and use a 1”x 2”x 60” Red Oak board for the risers rather than stacking the 6” pieces.
Step 3:
Glue-up! Place the 2” pieces at each end (measurement "A") and stack the 6” pieces in the center on the opposite side (measurement "C"), glue and clamp. Whipe excess glue as you clamp with a clean, damp rag. Read the directions on the glue you decide to use for drying time. I usually remove the clamps after an hour or so and glue-up the next one but don't strees the glue by cutting for 24 hours or so.
Step 4:
Limb Layout. Use the diagram at the beginning of this thread to help layout the limb tapers from riser to tip and remember that we are using a finished 2" board so our width is already 1-1/2". Start by making a couple of dots 1/2” in on both ends of the limb tips (see measurement “D” in diagram and red dots on pic). Next measure 1-1/2” from each side of the riser and make two more dots to mark measurement “B” from the diagram (see red dots on image below). Now connect the dots! These are the lines that you’ll use to cut the limb profiles down. I try to cut just outside the lines and the sand to them.
That’s it for now…don’t cut the limbs down yet! It’s easier to rough the riser out first while the limbs are square, then cut the limbs down. I’ll post more on the riser layout and roughing it out with a jigsaw later…or tomorrow.
First, go here and read the sections on selecting boards and tillering board bows. Ferret's Board Bow instructions Some of this will apply to these little bows, some won't but read the material selection and tillering sections for sure.
Secondly, I gotta give credit to Mike “Elkninja” Miller for posting a similar thread on TG and giving me his blessing to share them here along with some of his pics. I’ll use some of Mike’s pics to get us started today and start taking and using my own when we get to the riser design as mine is a little different than Mike’s.
The Plans Diagram
Materials:
2 – ¼”x 2”x 48” Red Oak Planks (about $5 at Home Depot or Lowe’s)
Wood Glue (I use Titebond II)
Stain (optional)
Finish (clear gloss or satin finish)
Tennis racket grip ($3 for 3 of them at WalMart)
#20 Hemp cord (enough for 3 bowstrings for about $3 at WalMart)
Tools:
A Jigsaw is a minimum but a band saw is helpful.
Rumor has it that a belt-sander in also helpful…I just use sandpaper and elbow-power.
Clamps
4-way file (optional)
Tape measure
Step 1:
Cut one of the planks into 2 – 2” pieces for the tips and 3 – 6” pieces for the riser. Do this for each bow you’re making.
Step 2:
Make a mark at the center of the bow and a line 3” on either side of center (see first image below). This is where your riser pieces will be stacked and glued-up (see second pic below)
Side note: to save time here if you’re building several bows for Scouts or something, buy and use a 1”x 2”x 60” Red Oak board for the risers rather than stacking the 6” pieces.
Step 3:
Glue-up! Place the 2” pieces at each end (measurement "A") and stack the 6” pieces in the center on the opposite side (measurement "C"), glue and clamp. Whipe excess glue as you clamp with a clean, damp rag. Read the directions on the glue you decide to use for drying time. I usually remove the clamps after an hour or so and glue-up the next one but don't strees the glue by cutting for 24 hours or so.
Step 4:
Limb Layout. Use the diagram at the beginning of this thread to help layout the limb tapers from riser to tip and remember that we are using a finished 2" board so our width is already 1-1/2". Start by making a couple of dots 1/2” in on both ends of the limb tips (see measurement “D” in diagram and red dots on pic). Next measure 1-1/2” from each side of the riser and make two more dots to mark measurement “B” from the diagram (see red dots on image below). Now connect the dots! These are the lines that you’ll use to cut the limb profiles down. I try to cut just outside the lines and the sand to them.
That’s it for now…don’t cut the limbs down yet! It’s easier to rough the riser out first while the limbs are square, then cut the limbs down. I’ll post more on the riser layout and roughing it out with a jigsaw later…or tomorrow.
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