I took a Longbow Making Class this last weekend

[Dravur]

Hi,

I was fortunate enough to take a longbow class this weekend. This was for a traditional English longbow. The class was taught by Don Cheatham and was a fantastic class.

After two days of very hard work, I walked out of there with a nice 47lb longbow. It is almost 7' long, with horn tips and was fashioned completely with hand tools. We finished the bows in boiled linseed oil and I am tickled pink.

The first day was just shaping the bow using rasps and scrapers. After 8 hours of that I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. Then the next day, we shaped the horn tips to accept the string and actually wove the bow string from 18 strands of B-50 bow thread. I got to tillor my bow over and over, taking off material and getting that perfect oxbow effect.

Ok, I admit, we used a polishing wheel to polish the horn after shaping and sanding.... shhh, dont tell anyone.

All in all, for the $250 for the class, I walked out of there with a ton of knowledge and a very nice longbow.

If anyone is in the Denver area, and wants to take his class. He offers them when he gets enough people to make it worth the time.

I will get some pics up as soon as I get some that work. It is hard taking a photo of a 7' skinny object

 

[7X57chilmau]

That sounds like a GREAT class! I'm looking forward to a few pics of the bow, including some close-ups of a limb, a horn tip, the grip and an over-all strung and unstrung...

Dabbled with bow making as a kid (stringin' sticks, really), but always ended with compression failure of a limb a few weeks later.

J

 

[mole]

You've just started a great addiction. What type of wood did you use and what did you use to glue on the horn?

We defiantely want pictures. Next, give a good ole american flatbow a try.

mole

 

[Dravur]

And now... some photos







The wood is Hickory and I was lucky to get a nice straight grained piece. The horn tips are mirror shiny and as smooth as a baby's bottom.

The bow flexes along the whole length, even in the grip area.

The string is 18 strands of Dacron B-50 in black and red.

The whole bow is almost 7' long. It is kind of hard getting it into a photo.

I still have to drill a hole in the top tip o add a string holder. I will do that today.

 

[Voodoochile]

A very beautiful bow you have there.

I one day will tackle the ability to make my own bow but till then I'll have to enjoy others like yours..

 

[messerist]

Sweetheart of a bow!

 

[Mokwepa]

Good work, you are a patient man

 

[NoirFan]

Nice job Dravurman! $250 is a steal for the sweet bow and knowledge you've gained.

 

[7X57chilmau]

Nice!

 

[alaskanativeson]

I was just in Colorado for a short visit, man I sure wish I'd known about that. It sounds great.

Kind of reminds me of something I did when I was in Jr. High in Longmont, but with a very different class. My father and I went to Denver to take a class on how to make solar powered water heaters. It was a Saturday and Sunday class, we slept overnight in the parking lot in our Motor Home. We left with 4 solar powered water heaters that heated our home water for years.

 

[mole]

That looks like a nice one Dravur. Hickory makes a great bow as long as you keep it dry.

mole

 

[Dravur]

This is Colorado.....Dry is not an issue hehe

 

[1KPerDay]

very cool!

 

[ChaoSS]

How much did you learn, could you cut the wood, dry it, and make the bow if you had access to the tree and wood?

That would truly be a valuable skill, I would love to learn all of that.

Too bad I'm nowhere near there though.

 

[Dravur]

Yes, we lerned what woods were useable and how to choose a good peice of lumber and what to look for when cutting it. Drying isnt a huge issue here in CO as wood dries here very well.

I think I could build a bow from scratch now. Just need some horn tips, and a nice straight grained peice of hardwood or Yew.

Ive got the rasps and scrapers, the end sharpener, etc, just need a bench with two vises.