SimplePVCPipeBows

ADo-It-YourselfGuidetoFormingPVCPipeIntoEffectiveandCompactArcheryBows

NicholasTomihama

SimplePVCPipeBows

LeviDream

Copyright©2012NicholasTomihama

www.backyardbowyer.com

PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica

FirstPrintingin2012

Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyform,byanymeansincludingbutnotlimitedtomechanical,photographic,orelectronicprocess,orintheformofaphonographicrecording,normayitbestoredinaretrievalsystem,transmitted,orotherwisebecopiedwithoutpermissionfrom

thepublisherinwriting.

Thisbookisintendedasaninformationalguide.Theviewsexpressedwithinaresolelytheopinionsoftheauthor,basedonpersonalexperience.All

instructionswithinthisbookmustbefollowedwithcaution,andtheauthor,publisher,printerandallotherpartiesinvolveddenyanyresponsibilityforinjurytobothbodyandpropertyduetothemisuseofinformationcontainedherein.

ThisbookisadescriptionoftheprocesstheauthortakestomakesimplePVCpipebows.Theresultsportrayedinthebookareasdonebytheauthorandarenotindicativeofworkdonebyotherindividuals.Whiletheinformationsispresentedinaclearandconcisemanner,theauthormakesnoguaranteethat

followingtheinstructionwillyieldthesamequalitywork.Nordoestheauthor,publisher,printerandallotherpartiesinvolvedsuggestfollowingthe

instructionswithinastheycarryriskinherenttoallformsofarcheryandthebowyer’scraft.

Bowsareinherentlydangerousweaponsandcaremustbetakenduringtheuseandmanufactureofthem.Nobowisindestructibleandeverybow,

regardlessofstrengthcanhurt,maimorkill.Neverpointabowatanotherperson,animalorintoaplacethatmaynotbeclear.Onlyusesafeequipment

whenpracticingarchery.Allminorsmustbesupervisedbyaresponsibleadult.

FormyGod,mywifeandmychildren.Life’sblessings.

TheLordisgood,astrongholdinthedayoftrouble;andheknoweth

themthattrustinhim.-Nahum1:7

WordsofWarning

DearReader,Archeryisanamazinglyrewardingsportandformanyincludingmyself,a

wayoflife.Therearemanywaystogetintoarchery,manydifferentstylesofbowandmanyreasonstoshoot.Allaspectsofarcheryshouldberespectedandeachisrewarding.

WithinthesepagesyouwillfindinstructionsandpicturesshowinghowIbuildsimplebowsfromPVCpipe.Thesebowsaredesignedtobesimple,utilizingonlyasinglePVCpipeforasinglebow.Yetwhilesimple,theyofferpowerandperformancecomparabletobowsthatrequiremoreworkandequipmenttobuild.

WhilePVCismoreforgivingandmoreeasilyformedintoanefficientworkingbowthananyothermaterial,themethodsexplainedherearenotautomaticoreffortless.APVCbowrequiresyourpatienceandrespect,justlikeanyotherbow.Rushingintoit,beingillpreparedorskimpingonmethodsmayresultinfailure.

BeforeIimmersedmyselfinbuildingbowsfromPVCpipe,Ishapedandcraftedbowsfromsinglestavesofwood,multiplelaminationsofwoodandbowsofwoodandfiberglass.Evenafterbuildingbowsforyearstheyaren’teasy.Sureitdoesn’ttakenearlyasmuchtimeandI’vedevelopedafeelforthemthatmakesthemosttediousprocessesgoquickly,buttheyaren’teasytomakeinanyway.

Asabowyerwhohasbuilthundredsofbows,IstillhavetroublemakingthemallgothewayIwantallthetime.Mysuccessrateisn’t100%andIdon’tthinkiteverwillbe.Iworkwithseveralthousanddollarsinequipmentthatmakesbuildingabowinanhourpossible.Yetaddinthetimeittakestoletwooddry,gluetoset,finishtocureandtheconstantadjustmentrequiredforeachbowtoreachmaturityanditcantakesmonthsforabowtogofromrawwoodtofinishedproduct.

Asabeginnerwithfewtoolsandnopreviousexperience,itcantakedaysifnotweeksofworktoreduceastaveintoaworkingbow.Theprocessofteachingwoodtobendalonecantakemanyhoursofseeminglyendlesstoilandadjustment.It’snotdifficultworkandisdefinitelyworthit,butitisstrenuousandtediouswork.Evenafterallthis,abeginnerwithnoformalinstructionwouldbeluckytohaveabowthatshootsfasterthan100feetpersecondwithamatchedarrow.

EvenafteralltheworkIputintothem,myselfbowsdon’tregularlyexceed

150fpsandthefastestbowsbarelyexceed170fps.Whilesomeofmylaminatedbowsdoreachintothe200’s,theyaretheexceptionratherthantherule.MyfirstperformancePVCbow,whichtookafewhoursofshapingandtweakingbeforeIhadanyexperiencewithitandnoguideonthesubjectexisted,stilltothisdayexceeds140fpswithamatchedarrow.

OverthelastyearIhavereceivedcountlesstestimonialfromhappyownersofPVCbowstheybuiltwiththeirownhands.Itisn’teasybutit’sdoableandmoreaccessiblethanvirtuallyanyothermaterialforthebeginner.Withalittlepracticeandpatience,bowsthatrivalevencommercialbowsinperformanceandspeedarepossiblewithfewtools,PVCpipeandrawdetermination.

-NickTomihama

TableofContents

ChapterOne-GettingStartedChapterTwo-ToolsChapterThree-FlatteningJigChapterFour-YouthRecurveDesignFlatteningRecurvingStringingaBowFineTuningFinishingChapterFive-HorseBowDesignHeatBendingFormingNocksFineTuningFinishingChapterSix-SnakeyRecurveDesignFlatteningandRecurvingTaperingTipsHeatBendingFineTuningFinishingChapterSeven-ArrowRestTabRestSoftRestHardRestGalleryGlossaryBonusTrackPolyProStringGardenStakeArrow

ChapterOne–GettingStarted

WelcometoSimplePVCPipeBows!Thankyouforjoiningmeonthisjourney.Believeme,buildingbowsfromPVCpipeistrulyajourney.ThisbookisanintroductiontoafewofthemanystylesandperformancelevelsofbowthatcanbemadefromPVCpipe.Let’sstartbygettingfamiliarwiththepartsofabow.

PVCBowAnatomyThebowswewillbebuildingaresimpleintheirpartsandfunction.Toget

anunderstandingofwhataPVCbowisandhowitworks,we’llstartwiththebasicpartsofabow.

Abowisbrokenintothreemainparts:theends,limbsandriser.Startingfromtheoutsideofthebow,thenockistheareawherethestringconnectstothebow.Therearesomevariationsonthis,butthepurposeofthenockisalwaysthesame.Furtherinarethebow’srecurves.

Arecurveisatipthatcurvesawayfromthearcherandhasthestringrestingonitwhenthebowisstrungup.Notallbowsarerecurvedandnotallrecurvesareequal.Thebowsinthisbookallhavewhatarecalledstaticrecurves,meaningthetipsarestiffanddon’tflexwhilethebowisbeingdrawn.

Furtherinwardarethelimbs.Thesemakeupthebulkofthebowandarethepartsthatdomostifnotallthework.Therearetwolimbs,atopandbottomlimb.Thetoplimbisheldupwardsandthebottomlimbishelddownwards.Thelimbs,andthewholebowingeneral,isbrokenintotwosidescalledthebackandbelly.

Thebackofthebowisthesideofthebowthatisawayfromthearcher.Thissideofthebowisunderaforceknownastension.Whenthebowisstrunganddrawnback,itisthissidethathastoresistbeingtornapartasitisstretched

outwards.PVCisveryflexibleandcanresisttensionunlessthebackiscutorbrittlethroughburningorUVexposure.

Thebellyofthebowisthesidethatfacesthearcher.Thissidehastoresistcompression,apushingforce.Whenthebowisdrawn,thebellyisliterallybeingcrushedbytheforceofthebowpushinginwards.SincePVCisverydense,thebellycanresistlargeamountsofcompressionunlessthereisanunevenspotorcreaseinthepipe.

Thecentersectionofthebowiscalledtheriser.Oneithersideoftheriseriswhatiscalledthefades.Thesearethetransitionfromrisertolimbandlikethenamesuggests,fadethelimbintotheriser.Ifthefadesarecreasedorpinched,therisercouldcollapse.

Thecenteroftherisercontainsthehandleandarrowpassorarrowrest.Thehandleiswherethebowisgrippedandisveryneartothecenterofthebow.Thearrowpassiswherethearrowliterallypassesoverwhenthebowisdrawnandshotandisusuallyatoralittleabovecenter.Somebowscanhaveanarrowrestorshelf,aplacerightabovethehandlethatgivesaplatformforthearrowtorest.Ifthebowdoesnothavearest,thearrowisplaceduponthebowholdinghand.

NowthatyouknowthepartsofaPVCbow,let’sseehowtheywork.

HowBowsWorkSimplebowslikethesearebasicallysprings.Theyworkbystoringenergy

whentheyaredrawnbackandreleasesomeofthatenergytopropelanarrowwhenthebowisshot.PVCbowsarenodifferent.

Theamountofenergythatabowcanstoreandhowefficientlyitcanreleaseitisdeterminedpartlybymaterialandpartlybydesign.PVCpipeisveryflexibleasfarasbowmaterialsareconcerned.Itisalsoslowtorecover.Inordertoovercomethelimitationsofmaterial,designiskey.

Takingastraightpipeandputtingastringonitwillputalmostallrelianceonthematerial’sflexibilityandelasticity.Abowlikethiswillbendalmostentirelyinthecenterandwillonlybeabletostoreandreleaseasmallamountofenergycomparedtotheamountputin.Thisisbecauseonlythepartsthatflexcanstoreenergy.Therestisdeadweight.

Thedifferencebetweenabowofuniformstrengthandonethatisgraduallyweakerfromhandletotip.Thedarkareasrepresentthedistributionofstressin

thebow.Thedarkertheareathehigherthestress.

Asaspring,abowmustbeabletoflexevenlythroughoutalmostallofitslength.Ifinsteadofbendinginoneplace,thebowbentintwoplaces,itwouldstoremoreenergyanddeliveritmoreefficiently.Awell-madelongbowworksbecausethebowflexesformostofitslength.

Becauseabowisbeingpulledinwardandbackwardbyitsstring,eachlimbisunderitsownsetofcompressionandtension.Ifthelimbisequallystrongfromitsbaseallthewaytoitstip,moreforcewillbeexertedonitsbase.Ifthelimbgetsprogressivelyweakertowardsitstip,theweaktipwillflexmorethanthebase.Becausethebasewasalreadytakingmorepressure,theprogressivelyweakerlimbwillflexandpressurewillbecomemorebalanceduponthewholelimb.

Traditionallythiswasdonebyremovingmoreandmorematerialfromabow’slimbsgoingfromthebow’shandletoitstips.Anothermethodinvolvesgluingmorematerialinthecenterofthebowandreducingtheamountofmaterialaddedtothelimbsandtips.Anothermethodistoaddmaterialstothecentertoabowthatnaturallyflexlessthanthebow’slimbs.YetinordertokeepaPVCpipewhole,noneofthesethingscanbedone.

PVCpipegainsitsstrengthfromtheconfigurationofitswalls.Itisacylinderanditswallsareabletoresistforcefairlyequallyfromallsidessolongasthecircularpipeisnotdeformedinanyway.Ifthecircledeformsandflattens,thepipewillflexalongthatplanemorereadilybecausethepipewillbeweakerinthatspot.

Bycontrollinghowmuchthepipeisdeformed,thesameeffectofremovingoraddingmaterialtoabowcanbesimulated.Byflatteningthepipemoreatthetipsthanatthehandlewithasmoothtaperbetween,thepipewillflexmoreevenlyalongitslength.Thisisthekeystepthatallowsthesebowstoperformas

wellastheydo.Bowsthathavetheirflexdistributedfairlyequallyacrossbothlimbswillbe

moreefficient,moreconsistentandmuchsafer.Ifthereistoomuchstraininonearea,thebowislikelytobreak.

WhatisPVCPipe?PVCpipeisaplasticpipeusedinavarietyofapplications.Itwasandis

commonlyusedinplumbingandirrigationsystemsforcoldwateraswellasfordrainage.Itisalsousedasanon-metalalternativeforelectricalconduitandinindustryfortransportingcorrosiveliquids.

PVCpipeismadeofPolyvinylChloride,athermoplasticcreatedthroughthepolymerizationofVinylChloride.Itisastablepolymerthatiswhiteincolorandbrittleinitspureform.ThebestperformingPVCpipesareveryclosetobeingpurePVCandarewhiteandrelativelybrittle.

PVCpipesthatcomeinothercolorsusuallycontainadditivesthatmodifythepropertiesofPVC.GrayandorangepipesarecommonforelectricalconduitandareresistanttoUVlight.Theyarealsolessbrittle,abletotakemoreshockatlowertemperaturesthanwhitepipe.Whilemoretough,theyarepronetodeformandlosetheirshapeovertime,whichcanaffecttheirusefulnessandcausethemtocollapseovertime.

ThereareseveraldifferentsystemsthatareusedtomeasureandidentifydifferentPVCpipes.IntheUSA,scheduleistheprimarysystem,basedonwallthicknessofthepipe.Schedule40worksbestformakingbowsasitisthinenoughtotakeaveryfinetaper.Thickerpipesratedschedule80andabovedelivermorespeedandpowerbutaremoredifficulttoworkwithduetotheirthickness.

PipesmadeintheUSAarealsolabeledundertheImperialsystemofmeasure.1/2,3/4and1inchpipearethreecommonlyuseddiametersforbows.Thediameterreferstoinsidediameter,soeachpipeisroughly1/4inchwiderthanthenamesuggests.

Inothercountries,PVCpipeisratedunderasystembasedonpressurerating.

Thebestwaytofigureoutwhatpipetouseistofindthewallthickness.1/2,3/4and1inchpipesarecomparabletothemetric20,25and32millimeterpipes.Schedule40pipesarealittlethinnerthan1/8ofaninch,or3mm.Manyplacesinternationallyonlycarryatypeofpipewitha2mmwall.Whilebowscanbemadefromthesepipes,theywillbeveryweakandpronetocollapseorbreakage.

OtherPlasticPipeThereareotherplasticpipesthatcanbeconfusedwithPVCandare

sometimesreferredtoasPVCthoughtheyarenot.PVCpipeiscommonintheUSA,thoughmanyothercountrieshavebannedorrestrictedtheuseofPVCanditisdifficulttoobtain.Herearejustafewexamplesofotherpipes.ItcanbetrickyfindingPVCpipeastheterm‘PVCpipe’hasbecomesynonymouswithplumbingpipeandmanynon-PVCplumbingpipesarecalledPVCforsimplicity.

Somecanbeusedtomakebows,thoughmanyofthemareunsuitable.Ofthosethatcanwork,greatcautionneedstobetakenastherearesomanyvariantsofpipethatonetypeofplasticcouldhavemanyvariationsfordifferentapplications.ThebowsinthisbookplaytothestrengthsofPVCandmaynotplaytothestrengthsofotherplastics.

ABSorAcrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrenepipe,whichisusuallyblackthoughcansometimesbefoundinawhitecolorsimilartoPVC,isacommonalternativetoPVCpipe.ABSissometimesmistakenlycalledblackPVCandifoftenmadeofahigh-densityfoambetweentwolayersofplastic.Thistypeofpipeistoughanddoesnotconductheatverywellsoitisusedofteninhotwaterapplications.Foamorcellularcorepipeshouldnotbeusedasitcaneasilysnap.SolidcoreABSofagoodthicknesscanbeusedforbows.Itcanbefoundinnon-USAcountieswherePVChasbeendeemednotpureenoughforpotablewater.

PPorPolypropylenepipecancomeisavarietyofcolors.InmanycountriesPPpipe,whichcanbewhite,issoldasasubstituteforPVC.Itistoughandisusedfortransportingpotablewaterinresidentialandindustrialplumbing.WhilePPcanmakeabow,thestruggleisfindingpipethickenoughtowithstandthestrainoftensionandcompressionabowisunder.

PE,PETandHDPEareallnamesforPolyethylene,HDPEbeingHighDensityPolyethylene.PEpipesareveryimpactresistantandflexibleandmostarenotthatrigid.BowsmadefromPEpipewilltypicallybeveryweakandtakelargeamountsofset.TherearerigidPEandHDPEpipethatmayworkforbows,thoughheatingPEpipescanbedifficultastheydissipateheatquickly.

FindingYourMeasurementsIt’simportantbeforemakingaboworbuyingarrowsforyourselfthatyou

knowafewmeasurements.Thefirstimportantmeasurementisdrawlength,whichisthedistanceyouwilldrawthebowbackwhenyoushoot.Thereareacouplemethodstoestimateyourdrawlengthandgiveyouageneralideaofwheretostart.

First,measureyourwingspan.Standagainstawallwithyourarmsspreadoutoneithersideandhavesomebodymeasurethatdistance.Alternativelyyoucanuseyourheight,asbothheightandwingspanareroughlythesameformostpeople.Takethisnumber,subtract15orthewidthofyourchestbetweenshoulders,anddividethatby2.

Theresultingnumbershouldbeclosetoanormaldraw,whichislimitedbythelengthofyourbow-holdingarm.Anotherwaytomeasurethisistoholdyourarmsstraightoutinfrontofyouwithbothhandstogetherandfingerspointingforward.Thedistancebetweenyourfingersandchestwillbearoundyourlengthofdraw.Asimilarmethodistomeasurefromyourarmpittothesecondjointofyourindexfinger.

Thislengthisbasedupondrawingthebowtoyourfaceorchin.Thisisagoodareatodrawtoasitbringsyoureyeinlinewiththearrowandkeepsyoufromoverextending.Anotherwaytodrawabowistodrawtothecheekorlowerjawwhichcanaddanextrainchorsotoyourdrawlength.Eitheronewillwork,it’smostlypersonalpreference.

Thebestwaytomeasuredrawlengthistodrawaverylightbowwithanarrow.Ifyouhavesomeonetohelpyou,drawthearrowuntilyouareinacomfortableposition,andhaveyourassistantmarkwherethearrowmeetsyourbow-holdinghand.Makesuretheyarenotinfrontofthearrowwhendoingthis.Ifyouarebyyourself,tieapieceofstringlooselyontothearrow.Asyoudrawthebowback,thestringwillcatchonyourhandandtravelupthearrow,markingyourdrawlength.

Forexample,mycalculateddrawlengthis27inches.Drawingtomychin,Idrawjustunder27inches.Drawingtomycheek,Ipull28inches.Drawingtothebackofmyjaw,Ipull29inches.Thebowsinthisbookarelaidoutforanarcherwitha28inchdraw.Ifyourdrawlengthismoreorlessthan28inches,addorsubtract1inchofbowlengthforeveryinchofdraw.

Thenextmeasurementisdrawweight,ortheamountofforcerequiredtodrawabowbacktofulldraw.Wewillmeasuredrawweightinpounds,meaningabowthatis40poundsisequaltolifting40poundswhenthebowisfullydrawn.Tomeasuretheweightofabow,apullscalecanbeusedtomeasurethebowatfulldraw.Inlieuofascale,thesetableswillgiveyouaroughideaofdrawweightatdifferentlengthsbasedonstartingpipelengths.ThesechartsareonlyaguideandonlyapplytoPVCbowsmadeusingthetechniquesinthisbook.Becareful.Theshorterthebow,thehigherthechancesthatitcouldfail.

Alldrawlength/weightcombinationsingraycouldbedangerousastheyover-stressthebow.

Drawweightisalittletrickiertocalculatethandrawlength.Unlikelength,drawweightisdeterminedbyboththeinherentstrengthandphysicalconditionofthearcher.Abow’sweightisessentiallytheamountofforceittakestopull

andholditatfulldraw.It’stemptingtostartheavy.Ifyouaren’talreadyusedtoarchery,pickalowerdrawweighttostartandthenworkyourwayup.Ifyoubuildyourfirstbowlongitcanbeshortenedtoincreaseweight.

Drawweightvariesfrompersontoperson,thoughaperson’sweightisagoodgeneralindicator.Iffiguringoutweightforyourselforsomeoneelse,here’sasimplecharttogetageneralideaofwheretostart.

ArcherWeighttoBowWeightinPoundsWeightofArcher

50-70

70-100

100-130

130-150

150-180

180

BowWeight

5-10

10-15

15-25

20-35

30-50

40-65

Thechartaboveisveryrough,thoughitisagoodplacetostart.It’sbesttomakeacouplebowsandusetheonethatismostcomfortableforyou.Ifacertainweightbecomestoolightforyou,thesebowscanbeshortenedtobringtheweightup.Justworkaninchatatime.

Ifyouareanexperiencedcompoundarcher,keepinmindthatthesebowsdrawdifferentlyandshouldberoughly10to15poundslighterthanwhatyouareaccustomedto.Thesebowsareattheirpeakweightattheendofthedraw.Alloftheirweightisexertedcompletelyatfulldraw.

Keepinmindthatarchery,especiallyduringpractice,shouldbemoreofanaerobicexercise.Thelighteryourbow,themorerepetionsyouwillbeabletodoandthelongeryouwillbeabletoholdyourdrawbeforegettingexhausted.Trynottodrawabowthatwilltireyouquicklyasbothaccuracyandconsistencywillsuffer.

Thereareparticularstylesofarcherythatspecializeintheuseofheavybowsfrom70toover200poundsintheextreme.Sucharcheryrequiresmuchtrainingandproperformtoavoidirreparabledamagetoyourjoints.Becarefulandneverdrawmorethanyouarecomfortablewith.

ArrowsandArcher’sParadoxArrows,morethananyotherpartofthethreemaincomponentsofanarchery

setup,arevital.Withoutanarrow,thebowisaspringwithoutpurpose.Thearrowisnotjustaprojectile;itcontainsallthepartsnecessarytoguideandstabilizeitinflight.Apoorarrowfromanexcellentbowwillstillshootpoorly,whileanexcellentarrowfromapoorbowwillshootwell.Andanexcellentarrowfromanexcellentbowisabeautifulthing.

Whenanarrowisshotfromabow,itdoesnotsimplyflystraightespeciallyifthebow’shandleforcesthearrowtooneside.Whenanarrowisreleased,therearaccelerationfromthenockwantstopropelthearrowstraight.Becausethearrowissomewhatflexible,itbendsintothehandlethendeflectsawayandthenback,flexingaroundthebow.Oncethearrowwrapsaroundthebowhandle,itflexesbacktheotherwayandoscillatesbackandforthbeforeeveningoutinflight.

Thisisaverysimplifiedexplanationofarcher’sparadox.Archer’sparadox

referstotheflexorspineofanarrow.Simplyput,theangleanarrowdeflectsoffthehandlewillbeworseatbraceandveryslightatfulldraw.Theparadoxcomesintoplaybecauseanarrowthatisspinedtomatchthebowwillbeaccurateeventhoughthearrowisdeflected.

Asthebow’shandlecausesthearrowtoflytotheleft(forarighthandedarcher),theflexofthearrowallowsittocurvearoundandbegineveningitselfout.Anarrow’sspineisitsstiffnessanditsabilitytoresistoracceptflexing.Anarrowthatistherightspineorstiffnesswillflexenoughtobendaroundthehandleofthebowyetwillbesuppleenoughtocorrectitselfandstabilize.

Theexacteffectofspineonanarrowdependsontwomainfactors.First,theclosertocenterthearrowsitsthelessparadoxtherewillbeasthearrowwillnotneedtoflexaroundasidehandle.Thesearrowscanbemadestifferastheydon’tneedtoflexasmuch.Secondly,differentmaterialsreactdifferentlyintermsofrecovery.

Thereareavarietyofarrowsthatareavailableinmanydifferentmaterials.Oneoftheoldestandmosttraditionalarrowmaterialsiswood.Woodenarrowsarerelativelyheavyandaresomewhatforgivingofspine.Whilewoodworkswell,itishardtofindconsistentarrowsmadeofwoodjustbecausewoodisanaturalmaterial.ThemostcommonwoodusedinarrowsisPortOrfordCedar,asoftwoodprizedforitsstrengthandstraightness.Whilewoodisforgiving,itismuchmorelikelytobreakthanothermaterialsattheproperspine.

Aluminumarrowshavebeenthestandbyformanyyears.Theyaremadeofverythin-walledaluminumalloytubes.Whiletheyaremanufacturedwithveryclosetolerancesandareverystraight,aluminumarrowsarelessforgivingwhenitcomestospine.Theplussideisthateveryarrowinamatchedsetwillbeclosetobeingthesameaseveryotherarrow.Thisallowsconsistencyfromshottoshot.Aluminumarrowsareverydurable,andwhentheybreaktheysnaporfoldratherthansplinter.

Oneofthenewestarrowmaterialsiscarbonorcarbonfiber.Composedofstrandsofcarbonorgraphitesuspendedinasyntheticresin,carbonarrowsareincrediblystiffandlight.Oneofthebenefitsofcarbonarrowsisthattheystabilizemuchfasterthanwoodoraluminum.Thismakesarrowsaccurateandconsistentoverarangeofspines.

Oneofmyfavoritematerialsifyoucangetitisbamboo.Ittakessomeworktofinishabambooarrowandtheyareoftenmorecostlythancarbonifmadewell.Bamboo,likecarbon,stabilizesquicklyandwhileindividualspinemaydifferbetweenshafts,theywillgroupwellthrougharangeofbowweightsandspeeds.Ifyouareinterestedinbuildingyourownarrows,checkoutthebonustrackinthebackofthebook.

Whenbuyingarrows,askforspinecharts.Manufacturersusuallyhavechartsthatletyougetaroughideaonhowtomatchanarrowatacertainlengthandpointweighttoyourbow.Whendealingwithspine,thelongerthearrowtheweakeritisandtheheavierthepointtheweakeritis.Anarrowspinedfor25-30poundsandthencutdownto24incheswithalighttargetpointisstifferthananarrowspined45-50poundsbut34incheslongandwitha125gr.fieldpoint.

Ifyoubuyarrows,makesuretheyareofgoodquality.Researchthemanufacturerormakerandifyoumakethemyourself,don’trushorcutcorners.Somearchersgiveupthesportafteranarrowbreaks.It’sthatjarringandfrightening.Alwaysinspectarrowsbeforeshootingthem.Flextheminyourhandsandiftheycreak,makenoisesorcrack,don’tshootthem.

Themainthingtopayattentiontowhenpurchasingarrowsiswhattheyarefletchedwith.Fletchingisthearrow’smethodofguidingandsteering.Feathershavebeenandarestillpreferredbymanyarchersastheyareveryforgivingtoshootandlighterthanplasticvanesofasimilarsize.Plasticvanescanalsobeusedonarrows.

Isuggestusingarrowsfletchedwithfeathersasthesebowsareshotoffthehandorashelf.Featherswillliesflatwhenpressedandthenspringbackwhenpressureisreleased.Whenthefeatherspassoveryourhandorshelf,theyfolddownandthencomebacktostabilizethearrow.

Plasticvanesontheotherhanddon’tfoldflatdown,theyrippleandfoldtoeithersideasthearrowpassesover.Thiscancausethearrowtokickofffromtheshelf,makingithardertostabilize.Overtimethevanescangetrippledfromrepeateduseandtherippledvanewillaffectthearrow’sflightasitgetsmoreandmoredistorted.

Plasticvanesarelowermaintenanceandarelesslikelytoberuinedbymoistureandmud.Feathersrequiremoremaintenance.Iftheygetreallywetthewebwillbunchupandthearrowwillnotflyasconsistently.Thefeatherswillneedtobesteamedgentlyandthendriedquickly.Therearesomeplasticvanesavailablethatmimicfeathersenoughtomaketheyworkbetterthanotherplasticvanesforarrowsshotontheshelf.

StringsSelectingbowstringsisanimportantandoftenoverlookedaspectespecially

withPVCbows.Thestringisjustasimportantasanyotherpartofabow.InordertogetthemostoutofyourPVCbow,aproperlymatchedstringisvital.Hereareafewideasthatwillhelpwhenselectingstrings.

Abowstringiswhattransfersenergyfromthebowintoanarrow.Bypullingthestringback,anarcherloadsenergyintothebow’slimbs.Atthesametime,

energyisbeingloadedintothestringaswell.Ifthestringistooweakandcannothandlethestressofbeingunderpressure,itwillbreakandfeedwhatenergywasloadedintothebowbackintothebow’slimbs.Thestringwillalsotrytoreleaseitsenergyandcouldcauseinjury.

Ifastringisstrongenoughbuttoostretchy,itwillabsorbmoreenergythanitshouldwhenthebowisdrawn.Thismeansthatthereislessenergystoredinthebow’slimbs.Whenthishappens,efficiencyisreduced.

Whenthestringisreleasedandthebow’slimbsbegintosnapback,theenergythatwasloadedintothemgoesbackintothestring.Sinceagoodstringcan’tholdmuchenergy,thestringbeginstoputitsomewhere.Ifthereisanarrowonthestring,thestringputsenergyintothearrowandthearrowwillaccelerate.Ifthereisnoarrowonthestring,thestringwillfeedthebow’senergybackintoitself.

Ifthestringistooweak,itwillbreakjustasthearrowleavesthebowandanyresidualenergyinthelimbsfeedsbackintothestring.Ifitistooflexible,thestringwillabsorbmoreenergywhenthebowsnapsback.Asaresult,lessenergygoesintothearrowandthearrowtravelsslower.Oncethearrowleavesthestring,astretchystringwillgiveundertheresidualenergyofthebow’slimbs.Thisdissipatesenergyandmaycausethestringtohityourwristevenifthebraceheightishigh.

Whenselectingastringforyourbow,youwanttofindastringthatisstrongbutnotverystretchy.MostcommercialrecurvestringsaremadewitheitherDacronorlow-stretchandlow-creepmaterialslikeFastFlightandDyneema.

Dacronisapolyester,lowstretchandstrong.Itdoesstretchalittle,makingitmoreforgivingonthebowwhilestillofferinglotsofperformance.Theotherblendsaredesignedforspeedandconsistency.Theseproduceaverystrongandlightstringthatusesenergymoreefficientlyandwon’tstretchfromtheweightofabow.

PVCbowswillworkwithbothDacronandmodernstringmaterials.Becausemodernstringshavealmostnogivetothem,stringnocksneedtobepaddedwithleatherorrubbertopreventthestringfromcuttingthroughthenocks.

Therearetwodifferenttypesofstringcommerciallyavailable.Thefirstiscalledacontinuouslooporendlessloopstring.Itisastrongdesignthatlessensstringcreepandstretchandoffersalittlemorespeed.ThesecondiscalledaFlemishtwistorFlemishsplice.Itisoftenseenonselfbowsandlongbowsandisquieterthoughoftenalittleslowerthanendlessloopstrings.Thestringinthebonustrackisofthisstyle.

Whilebothhavetheirownstrengths,bothwillworkforastring.Reallyitjustcomesdowntoyourownpersonalpreference.

Commercialstringsaresoldeitherbythelengthofthestringitselffromlooptolooporbasedonastandardizedmeasureforbowlength.Tofindboth,youneedtomeasureyourbow.Yourbow’seffectivelength,ornocktonocklength(ntn),isthedistancefromonenocktotheother.Useapieceofstringtomeasurefromonestringnock,acrossthecontourofthelimbsandtotheothernock.

ThismeasurementwillbeusedinplaceofanAMObowlengthorstringlength.Ifyoufindstringssoldbytheirownlength,takeyourbow’sntnmeasurementandsubtract3to4inches.Whilenotperfect,thiswillgetyourstringinthegeneralsizerangethatcanbeadjusted.

Ifyouarebuyingastringforabowbeforebuildingit,onewaytofigureoutthefinishedntnlengthwouldbetostartwithyourbow’sstartingpipelength.Subtractabouthalfaninchforflatteningandthenhoweverfarawaythenocksarefromtheendsofthebow.Soabowthatstartsoutwitha48inchpipeandnockscut3/4inchesinfromtheendwillbeabout46inchesntnandusea42to43inchstring.

Ifyoudonotwishtobuyacommercialstring,youcanusenylonropeandparachutecordasastring.Keepinmindthatnylonisverystretchyandcanstoreagreatdealofenergy.Whiletheywon’thurtyourbow,nylonstringswillrobthebowofpowerandspeed.Togetthemostofyournewbow,don’tskimponthestring.AparacordorropestringmayseemfittingforaPVCbowasatoyanditwillperformlikeatoy.

Usingalow-stretchstringonaPVCbowwillbringitsperformancetothelevelofhigh-qualityhandmadebows.Forinstructionsonmakingyourowninexpensiveyetsolidlyperformingstring,checkoutthebonustrackattheendofthebook.

SafetyandPrecautionsWhilemakingPVCbowsisrelativelysafe,therearesomehealthandsafety

risksinvolved.We’llgoovertheseandwaystoprotectyourselfandworktopreventinjury.

PVCpipeismadeofpolyvinylchloride,athermoplasticpolymer.PVCismadefromvinylchloridemonomer,whichisadangerouscarcinogen.Asapolymer,purePVCisinertandsafe,especiallyinrecentyears.Someolderpipecanreleaseunpolymerizedvinylchloridemonomerwhenheated,sobesuretousepipethatisnomorethan20yearsold.Asageneralrule,Idon’tusepipeolderthanayear.

MostwhitePVCplumbingpipesarecomposedalmostentirelyofPVC.Therearevariationsamongmanufacturersofpipeanditcanbedifficulttoknowwhatiswhataspipesareratedonpressureandsize,notingredients.WhilePVC

issafe,chemicalsknownasplasticizerscanbeaddedtopipetoincreaseflexibilityorgivethepipeotherbeneficialproperties.

PlasticizersareknowncarcinogensandsomearepresentinPVCpipessuchaselectricalconduitandpipesdesignedfortransportingcorrosivematerials.Itisimportanttobeverycarefulwhenhandlingorusingthesepipesastheycanreleaseharmfulfumeswhenheatedorworkedwithtools.SomePVCpipescontainplasticizersonthesurfacelayersofthepipeandnotthroughoutthepipe.Itisimportanttoalwaysworkinawell-ventilatedenvironment.Aqualityrespiratorishighlysuggested.

EvenPVCpipesthatdonotcontainplasticizersorarestablewillreleasedioxinswhenincineratedorburned.Dioxinsarealsocarcinogensandarepersistent.NeverburnPVCwhenworkingwithitasitisnotonlydetrimentaltoyourhealthbutcanalsocausetheresultingbowtobeflawedandmorelikelytobreak.Asarule,youshouldnotbeabletosmellPVCwhenworkingwithit.Alwaysworkinaventilatedareawithfreshairandheatpipegently.

Whenheatedorburned,PVCcanalsoreleasehydrogenchloride,whichcanbefatalifinhaledinlargeamounts.HeatingPVCpipewillnotreleasemuchofit,whileburningitwill.AvoidburningPVCatallcosts.

PVCpipeisawonderfulmaterial,butitdoescarrypotentialhealthrisks.I’mnotascientistordoctor,butIwouldn’tworkwithPVCaroundinfants,youngchildrenorwomenthatarepregnantornursing.Ialsowouldnotsand,cutorheatPVCwithoutadequateventilationandprotectiveequipment.AlwaysuseadustmaskwhensandingPVCpipe.

IfI’vescaredyouwithallthis,justkeepinmindthatPVCisrelativelysafe,especiallycomparedtoothermethodsofbuildingbows.Manyspeciesofwoodareirritatingorevenlethalifsawdustisinhaled.Yew,oneofthemosticonicbowwoods,ishighlytoxic.Workingwithsolventsandsyntheticresinsaswellasglassandcarbonfibersposeabighealthandsafetyrisk.Alwaysweararespiratorifworkingwithspraypaintsoranysolvents.

BecarefulwhenheatingPVCpipe.Asidefromanychemicaldangers,PVCpipethatisflexibleenoughtobeformedisalsohotenoughtocausesevereburns.AlwaysuseheatresistantglovestohandlehotPVCpipe.Don’tletsoftenedplastictouchyourskinandmakesurethatthereisnothingflammableorvolatilenearyourworkarea.MakesuretonotburnormeltPVCpipeasitcansticktoyouandcausesevereburns.

Andaswithanybow,PVCbowsareweaponsandshouldbetreatedwithrespect.Anybowcanfail,andwhilePVCbowsaremoreresilientthanmost,neverabuseyourbow.Abuseorneglectingyourbowcouldcauseittofailwhichmayinjureyouandthosearoundyou.Alwaysmakesurebystandersareasafe

distanceawayandbehindyouwhenshootinganybow.Neverfireabowwithoutanarrowonthestring.Neverpointabowat

anotherperson,animalorobjectofvalue.Alwaysunstringyourbowandkeepitinacool,darkplacewhennotinuse.Ifyoutreatyourbowwithrespectandbuildit,shootitandmaintainitwithcare,itwillrewardyouwithmanyyearsofservice.Treatitlikeafinebowworthyofrespectanditwillbe.Treatitlikeacheaptoytobebeatenandabusedandthenfail,itwilldothattoo.Thesamecanbesaidforanywoodbowaswell.

Likeall-woodselfbows,PVClosesflexibilitywhenitgetscold.Asthetemperaturedrops,theplasticwillbecomelessforgiving.Itcantakeagreatdealofpracticebeforeastableshootingcoldweatherbowcanbemadeasittakesafeelofthematerialtogetittoperform.Ifshootingintemperaturesbelowfreezing,trytokeepthebowaswarmaspossible.Andbeforeshooting,takeacouplehalf-drawstohelpgetthebowusedtobendingagain.

Asanadditionalnote,PVCgainsspeedandpowerasthetemperaturegoesdown.Byshorteningyourdrawaninchorso,youcanretainthesamespeedandpowerasfulldrawinwarmerclimes.Ifindthatmyrangeofmotionisalsolimitedwhenitisverycold,soashorterdrawcomesnaturallytome.

PVCcanbebrokendown,likeallpolymers,byUVlight.Overtime,exposuretoUVlightcancausetheplastictobecomebrittleanditcanbreakifstrungordrawn.OnewayofknowingifapipeisUVdamagedisitwillappearyellowcomparedtonewPVCpipe.RegardlessofthefinishyouchooseorifyouwanttoshowofftherawPVCpipe,UVblockingisimportant.ThereareafewqualityplasticspraypaintsandclearcoatsthathaveUVblockers.Ialwaysapplythisunderawrappedorgluedonfinishandoveranypaintedordyedfinish.

HowDoPVCBowsCompare?Thisisthemilliondollarquestion.HowdobowsmadefromPVCpipes

comparetoothertraditionalbows?We’llstartwithsomeofPVC’sstrengthsandweaknessesandcomparethemtothestrengthsandweaknessesofotherbows.

Byfar,oneofPVC’sbestattributesisitsflexibility.PVCissoflexiblethatitcanundergolargeamountsofstressanddeformationbeforefailing.ThatmeansthataPVCbowcanbemadeshorterwithalongerdrawthanalmostanyothermaterial.PVC’sflexibilityalsohelpsprotectthebowfrombreakingandwhenthebowdoesbreakitisnotascatastrophicasmostothermaterials.Insomecasesafailurecanbereversible.

Unlikemostbowswhichneedtobecompletelyrebuiltorhavepartsreplacedwhentheybreak,allbutthemostsevereissueswithPVCcanusuallybefixedeasily.Whenataper-flattenedPVCpipefails,mostofthetimeitfoldsonitself

ratherthansnap.Afoldorcollapsecanberemediedbyheatingtheafflictedareauntilthepipereturnstoitsoriginalshape.EvenbreaksinabowarenotascatastrophicwithPVCasothermaterials.Mosttimes,abowthathasbrokencanberepairedwitha4to5inchlongsleeveofpipeheatedoverthefracture.

PVCpipeisresistanttowater,manycorrosivechemicals,humidityandrot.Unlikemanytraditionalbowmaterials,PVCpipebowscanbecompletelyimmersedinwaterforprolongedperiodswithoutanyilleffect.Thismakesthemidealforuseinornearwaterwheremanybowscouldbeseriouslydamaged.APVCbowcanbestoredalmostindefinitelywithoutfearthatthebowwillrot,delaminate,soakupmoistureorcrackfrombeingtoodry.

Inmyopinion,thegreatestattributeofPVCpipeisthatitisunbelievablyforgivingtothebowyer.Makinggood,high-performancePVCpipebowsisnoteasyandtakespractice,butthelearningcurveandtimespentislessthananyotherbowmakingtechniqueIknowofshortofCNCmilling.ThereissomethingsurrealaboutmakingPVCpipebows.

PVCcombinesmanyattributesintoablendthatishardtodescribe.Itishardandhasspring,yetisflexibleandsupple.Itisstableandretainsitsstrengthinanormaltemperaturerange,yetwithamoderateamountofheatbecomeslikesoftrubber.Itcanbeformedandshapedwithoutanytoolsorforms.SomeofmyfavoritePVCpipebowswereformedcompletelybyhand,withoutanyjigsortoolsbesidesheatandglovedhands.

Asfarasweaknessesgo,PVCissoflexiblethatitlacksrecoveryspeedtoalargeextent.PVCisflexibleandsupplecomparedtowood,fiberglassandcarbonfiber.Thelessamaterialwillflexwhilestillresistingbreakage,thefasteritwillreturntoitsoriginalpositionwhenflexedandreleased.Thefastesttraditionalbowsareoftenjustattheedgeoffailurewheneverdrawn.Inordertoevencomeclosetoperforminglikeamorestressedandinflexiblematerial,PVCpipemustbemadeshorttocompensateforthisdiscrepancy.

AnotherdownsidetoPVCisthatplasticdegradesandfatigueswhenflexed.Itisalsosubjecttobeingweakenedandmadebrittlefromexposuretoultraviolet(UV)light.Theshorterthebow,themoreitneedstoflex.Theshorterthebow,thefasteritwilldegrade,thoughwithdailyshootingmostPVCpipebowscanlastforyearsiftheyaretakencareof.

PVCpipebowsareslowbytoday’sstandards.Manymodernrecurvebowsshootwellover200feetpersecondwithamatchedarrow.Thefastestsinglepipebowsjustbarelyscratchthe200fpsbarrier,withfastbowsrangingfrom160to180fpsandmostinthe130to150fpsrange.Youthandchildrenbowsareevenslowerthanthat.Thebowsinthisbookhoverinthe110to150fpsrange.

Whilethesenumbersaren’tstaggering,theyareamazingtome.Oneofmyearlybowswasaselfbowmadefromguavawood.Ittookadaytostripandsplitthesaplingand6monthstoseasonthewoodenoughtostartbuildingabow.Initialshapingandshavingwithasharpdrawknifetookdays.Justtilleringthebowfromnobracetofulldrawtooktwoafternoons.Finishingthebowtookanothercoupledaysforthefinishtodry.Forallthattimeandallthatwork,thebowshotatonly120fps.

ItwasanamazingexperienceandIdon’tregretitorthecountlessotherbowsI’vebuiltinthatway.Formetherestillisnothingliketeachingafallentreetobendandbuildabowfromalivingstave.Yetitfloorsmethatabeginnerinvestingacouplehoursoftimecouldeasilybuildabowthatcouldoutperformawoodenbow.Evenmyfastestselfbowsarestillbelow170fps,aspeedIregularlyexceedwithPVCpipe.

Stackedagainstmodernbows,PVCbowsdon’tcompareunlessyoualsocomparelength.Theshortestbowsarenotveryefficient,andPVCisonparwithmostfiberglasslaminatedbowsatequallength.AwellmadePVCbowwill

matchorexceedmostsolidfiberglassbows.Themainpointtorememberisthatthisisabowyoucanpossiblybuildinasingleafternoonwithoutanyspecialty

toolsoryearsofexperienceanditwillstillhavesolidperformance.

ChapterTwo–Tools

WhilebuildingPVCpipebowsisn’tincrediblytoolintensive,thereareacoupleoftoolsthatareneeded.Attheheartofit,onlyaheatsource,flatteningjigandacuttingtoolareneededtomakeadependableandserviceablebow.

Hereareafewbasicgroupsoftoolsthatareveryusefulaswellassomethatcaneasilymaketheworkgoveryfast.Themostimportanttool,aheatsource,canbefoundinmosthomesorcanbeeasilyobtainedinexpensively.Alltheothertoolscanbefoundusedornewaswellasimprovised.

Keepinmindthattoolsofanykindcanbedangerous,sobecareful.Whenheatingpipe,workinaventilatedarea.Italsohelpstowearanorganicvaporrespirator.AlwayswearadustmaskwhencuttingorsandingPVCpipeandusegloveswhenworkingwithheatorsharptools.

HeatSourceThefirstandmostimportanttoolyou’llneedisaheatsource.Itwillbeused

forflatteningandformingPVC.Itcanalsobeusedtotweakandfixyourbowlaterwhenitsbeingbrokeninandadjusted.

Aheatsourcecanbejustaboutanythingthatgivesoffatleast300degreesF.Themostcontrollableareheatguns(ratedtoatleast1,000degreesF)andcook-topswhethertheybegasorelectric.Torches,grillsandopenfirescanalsobeused,butextracareneedstobetakentoavoidburningthepipe.Fillingthepipe

withhotsandorimmersinginboilingwaterworkveryquicklybuttheseareverydangerousmethods.

CuttingPVCisaneasytocutmaterial,somostsawsandtoolsforwoodormetalcan

alsobeusedonPVC.AsaworPVCcuttingtoolliketheoneabovewillbeusedtocutlengthsofpipeaswellasforminorclippingandshapingofnocksandPVCpieces.

Thesawatthetopisactuallyatilesaw,acarbidecoatedmetalwireinahacksawframe.ThistypeofsawisidealforPVCasitdoesnotcloganditcanbeusedforeverythingfromcuttinglengths,cuttingtapers,formingalltypesofnocksandusedasafileforroughwork.Arotarytoolcanbeusedforsimilarapplications.

GrindingandShapingFilesandsandpaperareinvaluableforshapingnocks,pointsandtapers.

Theywillevenhelpmakequickworkofflatteningedgesofarrowrestsandsuch.

Atilesawornockfilewillbeusedtocutstringgroovesinnocks.Anockfileissimplyarat-tailorroundfilethatisabout1/8ofaninchindiameter.Sandpapercanberolledupintoa1/8inchthicktubeasasubstituteforatilesawornockfile.

PowerTools(Optional)Hereisapictureofmymost-usedpowertools.Thebandsawontheleftis

usedforeverythingaafinesawcouldbeusedfor.Themitersawisusedalmostexclusivelyforcuttinglengthsofpipeandoccasionallyforcuttinganglesfornocks.Thelittlebeltsanderdoesalltheroughgrindingandsandingwork.

WhileIusethesetoolsoftenenoughtomentionthem,theyaren’tneeded.MostoftheworkIdoisdonewithhand-toolsanyway.AlwaysweararespiratorandeyeprotectionwhenusingpowertoolsonPVCastheygenerateheatandproducefinedust.

RecurveFormsRecurving,orbendingthetipsofthebowforward,issimpletodowithPVC.

Whileabasicrecurvingjigcouldbemade,asimplewayofrecurvingcanbedonewithanycylinderoftherightdiameter.Pots,cans,trashcans,barrelsandtiresallmakeexcellentformsforgettingagoodcurveinyourbow’slimbs.

Forthetypeofrecurveswe’llbedoing,aformwithadiameterequaltothelengthoftipbeingrecurvedisideal.Thisallowstherecurvetoalmostcurvebacktowardsthebow.Thishelpsmaximizesthespeedrecurvesimpart.Inapinch,recurvescanbesetbyeye.

ChapterThree–FlatteningJig

ThekeytogettingoptimumperformanceoutofasinglelengthofPVCpipeisbyflatteningthebowintoasmoothtaper.Thekeytogettinganeventaperistheuseofaflatteningjig.Thisjigisjustoneofmanyvariationsthatcanbedone.

It’smyfavoritestyleofjigasitallowsthepipetobeheatedandflattenedonthesamesurface.Usingarigidboardalsoallowsthejigtobeclamped,allowingforrepeatableresultseverytime.

Thejigissimple,alonger2x4onthebottomwithashorter2x4ontop.Aspacerblockinbetweenensuresthatthehandlesectionofthebowisthickerthantherestofit.Onceaheatedpipeisplacedinthejigandweightorpressureapplied,theanglethespacerblockmakesensuresaneventaper.

Thejigitselfcanbemodifiedandadjustedtomakeiteasiertouse.Theshorterandlongersidecanbeseparatedifthesinglelongjigisawkwardortakesuptoomuchspace.Ifcuttingthejiginhalforonlybuildingonehalfofthejig,thejigcanworkwithorwithouttheflatteningboard.Todothis,heatthepipeonaflatsurfacelikeafloororworkbenchandthenplacethejigbaseontop

ofit,upsidedown.

Startwitha2x4,8feetlong.Makesuretheboardisstraightandfreeofanylargeknotsorholes.Smallordenseknotsareokay.Cutoffone3-footlength,leavingtheotherlength5feetlong.Thelongerboardwillbethejigbaseandtheshorterboardwillbetheflatteningboard.

Fromoneedge(itdoesn’tmatterwhich),measure24and30inches.Markalineateachmeasurement.Youwillusethesetolinethepipeuptothejigwhenflattening.

Here’swhattheboardlookslikenow.The30inchmarkshouldbethecenterpointoftheboard.

Cutfourspacerblocks.Theshorterblocksshouldberoughly3/4incheswideanddeepandexactly3/4inchestall.Placetheseonthe24inchmarkside.Thetallerblocksshouldalsobe3/4incheswidebut1inchtall.Placetheseonthe30inchmarkside.

Gluetheblocksintoplace.Makesurethetallerblocksareonthelongersideandtheshorterblocksareontheshorterside.Keepthemontheinsideofthelines.

Here’sthefinishedbaseoftheflatteningjig.Itgivesanicesolidbaseforheatingandformingbowsaswell.

Tousethejigforflattening3/4inchpipe,placetheflatteningboardontheshorterside.

Whenflattening1inchpipe,placetheflatteningboardonthelongerside.

ChapterFour–YouthRecurve

OneofthemaindrawstobuildingabowfromPVCpipeistheprice.Comparedtoothermethodsofbuildingbows,PVCisamuchmoreeconomicalchoiceinregardstomoneyandtimespent.ThismakesPVCanexcellentoptionforyoungandbeginnerarchersofallages.

Designedforshorterlengthsofdrawandlighterdrawweights,thisbowisgreatforyoungarchersjustinterestedinthesport.Itisalsoagoodwaytoexerciseandbuilduptoaheavierbowifyouarenewtoarcheryorarerecoveringfrominjury.

Thisbowissimpleinitsshapeandformwhiledeliveringbalancedefficiency,powerandspeed.Itisalsoaverysimplebowtobuildandmakesforagreatweekendproject.Itislightandcompactaswellassmoothtodrawandforgivingtoshoot.

Asis,thisbowmakesagreatbackyardshootingbowandisperfectforthebuddinginstinctivetraditionalarcher.Byaddingarestandmakingitcentershotlikethesnakeyrecurve,thisbowisconsistent,accurateandforgivingenoughtoexcelattargetshootingandotherformsofarchery.

DesignTheyouthrecurveisthebasisfortheotherbowsinthisbook.Itisalsoa

solidfoundationforyourownexperimentsandprojects.Sincethemethodsandstepsinvolvedinbuildingthisbowapplytomanydifferentbowsthisdesignsectionwillgoovertheseaspectsaswellashowtoadjustthisbowdesignforyoungerarchersorforlightweightpractice.

ThicknessTaperingThefirstdesignelementthatreallysetsallthesebowsapartfrombeinga

simplePVCpipewithastringisthetaperinthelimbs.Inchapteronewewentoverhowabowthatflexesinmanyplacesismoreefficientthanonethatdoesnot.InaPVCbow,thicknesstaperingiskey.

Theflatteningjigandthegeneralguidelineofflatteningthelimbstothesameasthebow’sinnerdiameterdoafewsubtlethings.First,theylowerthepotentialstrengthofthebowbyreducingstressmorethanisabsolutelynecessary.Ifthebowiskeptthickerthroughout,morepowercanbeobtained.

Yetbyweakeningthewholebowitismademoreresilientandresistanttobreakagethanifitwerebeingpushedtoitslimits.Thisalsoallowsthehandletobemadeconsiderablythickerandthereforestifferthantherestofthebow.Thishelpslowerhandshockandvirtuallyeliminatesthechancesofthehandlebreakingbymovingthepointofweaknessawayandintothelimbs.

Thismethodofflatteningalsosetsthestageforanyadditionaladjustments.Abowstraightofftheflatteningjigwillworkmuchlikealongbowwithalmostallofthebowworking.Fromherethebowcanbemadethinnerorthickerinplacestoincreaseordrawoutstrengthallowingthissimpleformtobemodifiedintoalmostanyhistoricalorimaginedconfiguration.

Taperflatteningalsohasthebenefitofstabilizingthebow.Afullyroundpipecannotmaintaintruerecurvesforverylongbecauseitisdimensionallystable.Thismeansthatanyforceaffectsthewholestructureequally.Byflatteningthepipe,oneplaneismadestrongerthantheother.WhileaflattenedPVCbowwillflexeasilyupanddown,itresistssidetosidemotion,givingthebowastablebaseforrecurvesandmakingsidetosidebendspossible.

Andwhenitcomestogettingthemostintermsofspeedandperformance,arecurveisagreatadvantage.

RecurvingArecurveisacurveinthetipofabowawayfromthearcher.Atrue

recurvedbowisonethathasthestringrolledoverontothetipsofthebowat

brace.Abowthatlookslikearecurvebutdoesnothavethestringrolledoverthetipsatbraceisnotreallyarecurvebutareflexedbow.

Recurvingabowdoesafewthings.Butfirst,therearetwodifferenttypesofrecurve,workingandstatic.Astaticrecurveholdsitsshapeanddoesnotunfurlwhenthebowisdrawn.Aworkingrecurvewillactuallyunfurlwhenthebowisdrawnbackandthetipmayappeartohavelostitsrecurvewhileatfulldraw.

Astaticrecurvewillnotflexwhenthebowisdrawn,stressisconcentratedlowertowardsthebow’slimb.Aworkingrecurvewillflexwhenthebowis

drawn,reducingoverallstressandcausingthelimbtoelongate.

Astaticrecurveworkslikealever.Thestringrollsoffofitduringthedrawandthenrollsbackontoitwhenreleased.Thisrollingactionincreasesspeedasthestringreturnstorestonthelimbsandthenthetipsroll.Astaticrecurvethatkeepslimbcontactwiththestringatalltimeswillbeveryquiet.

Aworkingrecurveworkslikeaspring.Thebowstoresenergyattwoseparatetimesthatcanoverlap.Thefirsthappenswhenthestringliftsofftherecurvesasthetipunfurls.Oncethestringisclearofthetips,therestofthebowfollow,storingmostofthebow’senergy.Whenthebowisfired,thelimbssnapbacktorestandthentherecurvesgivealittleextraboostastheysnapbacktorest.Becauseofthisslappingaction,workingrecurvescanbealittlemorenoisyandthestringcouldpossiblycausecracksfromstrikingthelimbsrepeatedly.

WhileworkingrecurvescanbedonewithPVC,theyarequitetrickytogetbalancedandsmoothinthedraw.StaticrecurvesaremucheasiertodowithPVCthanmostothermaterials.It’sacombinationofthelastfewinchesoflimbnotbendinganywayandthe90degreecurveofthestaticrecurvethatkeepsitnonbending.

Arecurvewilldoacouplethingstoabow.Firstitshortenstheeffectivelengthofthebowandputsthebowundermorestrainatbrace.Thismeansthattherecurvesortof‘pre-loads’thebowwithenergy.Thiscanmakeabow

heavierandfaster.Recurvesalsomakedrawingaboweasier.Shortbowscanbeuncomfortable

todrawbecauseoftheanglethestringmakeswhenyouholditatfulldraw.Recurveshelpkeepthestringanglealittlewider,makingthemmorecomfortableonthefingers.Thisalsohelpsyourconsistencybecauseahardanglecancausestringpinchonyourfingers.Thiscanmakethestringhanguponyourfingerswhenyourelease,foulingtheshot.

ChangingDrawWeightThisbowisfairlylowweight,thoughitmaybetoomuchforsometostart

with,especiallyyoungerchildren.Byusing1/2inchpipeinsteadof3/4inchpipe,alighterversionofthisbowcanbemade.Itwillbearound20poundsat28inchesandaslittleas5poundsata22inchdraw.

Anotheroptionforloweringweightistolengthenthebow.Thelongerthebowthelessstressitisunder,thoughitwillalsocarrymoreweightandbelessefficient.Whilelessefficient,itismoreimportanttomakeabowthatissafe.Ifyoucanachievethesameweightwithalongerbowitissafertochoosethelongerbow.

Increasingtheweightofabowcanbedonebyeithershorteningtheboworgoinguptothenextpipesize.Everytimeyoushortenabow,itschancesofbreakingorfailinggoesup.Differentpipescantakedifferentlevelsofstress.Thesnakeyrecurveinchapter6isagoodexampleofthis.Thatiswhythesafelengthfor1inchpipeisaboutafootmorethan3/4inpipe.

BuildOverviewThisbowthatwe’remakingisgreatforteensorwomen,thoughmostmen

willfinditagoodstarterbowtofigureoutthefinerpointsofmakingaPVCbow.Eventhesnakeyrecurve,ahunting-weightbow,isbasedonthisdesign.

We’llstartwitha48inchlongSchedule40PVCpipe.Afterflatteningandapplyingstaticrecurves,thebowwillenduparound30-35poundsata26inchdraw.Ata24inchdrawthisbowwillberoughly25pounds.Atafull28inchdraw,thisbowwillgetaround40poundswhichisagoodstartingweightformostlargermen.

Thetipsorstringnocksonthisbowaresimpleandcalledpinnocks.Pinnocksworkgreatandallowcommercialstringnockstofitontothebow.Justkeepinmindthatthestaticrecurvekeepsthetipsofthebowpointedupanddownatfulldraw.Astringcouldslipoffabowwithpinnocksthatisn’trecurvedoratleastflippedforwardinthenocks.

Asfarasfinishinggoes,thisbowwillbecoveredinducttape.Ducttape,

whileitcanbetacky(bothinlooksandtothetouch),makesagreatcoveringtoprotectyourbow.Ifabowisgoingtobepotentiallydroppedorscraped,ducttapecanhelptokeepanyscratchesfromgettingtotheplasticunderneath.It’salsoagreatwaytocustomizethelookofyourbowandissomethingkidscandothatdoesn’tinvolveharshchemicals.

Thebowitselfshouldendupataround46inchesntn,47.5inchesunstrung.Whenstrungitshouldbe43inchesfromtiptotip.Itwilluseastringthatis42to43incheslongdependingonyourpersonalbraceheight.Withoutfurtherado,let’sgetstarted.

Startwitha3/4inchschedule40PVCpipe.Forthisbowwithoutmodifications,thepipewillbe48incheslong.Markthecenterofthepipe.

Here’sthecenterofthepipe.Mark2inchesawayfromthecenteronbothsides.Thiswillbeyourhandleandsettheboundariesforflattening.

Mark6inchesinfrombothends.Thiswillsethowfarintherecurveswillgo.6inchesisagoodmeasureforbowsshorterthan55inchesand9inchesforbowsthatarelonger.

Withthebowmarked,beginheatingonehalfofthepipefrompastthecentermarktothetiptoprepareforflattening.Onemethodforheating,whichworkswellforanystationaryheatsourcelikeastovetoporanopenflame,istopassthepipeslowlyovertheheatsource.

Keepthepipemovingtoavoidburns.Ifburnsdoform,leavetheareato

avoidexposuretofumes.Alwayskeepthepipemovingasevenslightburnscouldbreakthebow.

Anothermethod,whichworkswellfordirectableheatsourceslikeheatgunsandtorches,istopasstheheatsourceoverthepipe.Doneoverapoorconductorofheatlikewood,ithastheaddedbenefitofheatingthepipefasteraslessheatislosttoair.

Passtheheatsourceoverthepipe,turnthepipea1/4turnandrepeat.

Oncethepipestartstodrooplikethis,itisgettingclosetobeingsoftenough.Atthispoint,beverycarefulastouchingthesoftpipecancausepainfulburns.Ifyouneedtohandlethepipe,useheatresistantglovesorahotpad.

Keepheatingthepipeuntilyoucanflatteneachsectionwithhandpressure.

Oncethepipeissoftenoughthateverysectioncanbeflattenedwithlightpressure,itisreadytobeplacedinthejig.Linetheouterhandlemark,theone2inchesfromthecenterofthebow,withthelineonthejig.Makesurethepipeisstraight.

Quicklyplacetheflatteningboardontothepipe.Theflatteningboardwillstartatthecentermarkofthehandleinordertomaintainaneventaper.Ifthepipeissoftenough,itshouldtakeonlyfiftypoundsofpressuretoflatten.Thiscanbedonebystandingontheflatteningboardorusingclamps.Whiletheclampsinthepicturearehandclamps,screw-typeclampsallowmorepressuretobeapplied.

Afterthepipehasbeenallowedtocool,removetheflatteningboard.Thereshouldbeasteadytaperfromthecenterofthebowtothetip.Ifthereareany

unevenspotsorthebacklookswrinkled,reheatthelimbandclampitagain.

Fromtheside,thisisthepropertaper.Thetipshouldbenoticeablyflatterthanthehandleinasmoothtaper.Ifthebowiscompletelyflatorthetipisthickerthanthehandle,thebowwillbetooweakandmaybreak.Ifthishappens,reheatthelimbandre-flatten.Theveryendsofthetipshouldjusttouchtogether.Therestofthebowshouldbecompletelyhollow.

Sightdownthelimbofthebow.Mosttimes,thelimbwillbealittlecrooked.

Findtheareathatisbendingthemost.Inthiscase,it’sthesectionnearthecenteronthehandleside.

Heatthecrookedareaoflimbgentlyandevenly.Thepipewillbecomeslightlypliablebeforeitbeginspuffingbackuptoitsoriginalshape.Rightwhenitissoftenoughtobend,flexitgentlyagainstthecurvetostraightenthelimb.Ifthelimbdoesstarttodeform,placeitbackintotheflatteningjigafterensuringitisstraight.

Thisamountofcrookednessisacceptable.PVCisveryforgivingofslightimperfections.Itisnotimportantforthehandletobestraightnowasthatwillbefixednext.Justmakesurethatthelimbitselfismostlyin-linewithitself.

Withbothlimbsflattened,passthehandlesectionoveryourheatsource.Heattheentirehandlesectionplusoneinchoveroneachsideevenlyuntilthepipereturnstoitsoriginalshape.

Onceitissoftenough,thehandlewillreverttothisshape.Itmaytakealittle

time,butjustkeepthepipemovinganddon’tholditinonespotfortoolong.Burnsinthehandlewillweakenthebowandmaycauseittobreak.Gentleheatinghereisimportant.

Oncethehandleisflexible,pressthehandlefromthesideswhilethepipeisonaflatsurfacelikeaboard.Thisgivesthehandleamorecomfortablegripwhilealsostrengtheningthehandleandreducingitsabilitytoflex.Keeppressingandmovingasthepipewillwanttospringback.Onceitbeginstoset,checkittomakesureit’sshapingupproperly.

Fromthebellyside,youcanseethedifferenceinwidthfromthehandletothelimbs.Thefourinchhandlesectionshouldbefairlyuniformwithagentletaperforaboutaninchonbothsides.Thehandleshouldbeabout1inchwide.

Whenpressingthehandleintoshape,besuretokeepevenpressureandnotpresstoohardattheedgesofthehandle.Youwantasmoothtransitionfromhandletolimblikethepictureabove.Ifthereisasharpcreasehere,thehandlecouldfoldwhenthebowisstrungupordrawn.Ifthereareanycreasesorifthehandledoesfoldover,justre-heatthecreasedsectiongentlyandre-formit.Re-

formingpipewillnotweakenitifdonegently.

Oncethehandlesetsbuttheplasticisstillslightlysoft,sightdownthebowlikethis.Ifthehandlewasn’tstraightorifthelimbsweretwistedbefore,youcancorrectthisnowbyflexingthehandlegentlyuntilthelimbslineup.

Here’sthebowafterflatteningandhandleshaping.Fromherewewillformtherecurves.Ifyouwantabowwithoutarecurveorwanttotryyourownvariationsonbowshape,thisisthebaseshapetobuildupon.Ifstrungupnow,

thebowwouldbeaforgivingandsweetshooter.

Toformourrecurves,wewillneedourheatsourceandaform.Forthisbowa6inchdiameterpotwillbeusedforthe6inchlongrecurve.

Heatthetipfromtheendtothesixinchmark.Keepheatinguntilthetipbeginstodroopslightly.Stopheatingthetipandlettheheatsoakintopreventthetiplosingitsflattenedcrosssection.

Bendthetipofthebowaroundtheformbyholdingthetipagainsttheformandpullingthebowarounduntilthemarkedaretouchestheform.Theplasticwillveryhot,soahotpadorheatresistantgloveshouldbeworn.

Alternatively,thetipcanbeclampedintoplaceiftheformyouareusingishollow.Thisallowsgreatercontroloverthecurve.Ifthetipisnotbendingsmoothly,gentleheatcanbeappliedwhilethetipisontheform.Noticehowtheoutsidecurveofthetipisslightlyconcaveorslopedinward.Thiswillhelpkeepthestringfromslippingoffthebowwhenthebowisstrungandshot.

Repeatontheotherlimbandthensightdownthebow.Therecurvesshouldlineupwitheachother.Iftheydonot,gentlyheatthebaseoftherecurveandbenditfromsidetosideuntilthetipslineupacrossthebow.

Here’sthebowrecurvedandreadyfornocks.Takesometimetomakesurethatbothrecurvesareidentical.Theyshouldeachberoughly90degreecurves.Atthispointthebowwilllookalotlikeasteelcurtainrod.

Layoutthenock.Thisstyleofnockiscalledapinnockandisasimplewaytoallowacommercialstringloopfitoverthewidetipofthebow.Thepinis3/4ofaninchlongand1/2aninchwide.Thenockneedstobecenteredortherecurveswon’tlineupproperlywhenthebowisstrungandthelimbsmaytwist.

Cutthenockfreewithasaw.ThistipwascutwithaPVCcutterandfinishedupwithafile.Oncethepinnockiscutout,sandorfilethestringcontactedgestohelpkeepthebowstringfromfraying.

Onthebellysideofthenock,fileorsandtwogroovestohelpthestringtrackbetter.

Toimprovethelookandperformanceofthebowalittle,cutorgrindtheedgesdowntoapoint.Thisisaboutasmuchmaterialasyouwanttoremove,asthetipwilllosestrengthiftheedgesarecutthroughtoofar.

Youcanseethegapfromwheretheedgesofthepipewerecutthrough.Thisisaboutasfarasyoushouldgoorthenockmaysnaporcollapsepermanently.

Finishupthenockontheotherlimbandthenthebowisreadytobestrungforthefirsttime.

Therearemanywaystostringabow.Becauseofhowshortandhowradicallyrecurvedthesebowsare,thestepthroughmethodisoneofthesafestmethods.Theseinstructionsareforright-handers,soifyouarealefty,reversethedirections.

Tobegin,loopthelowerstringloopontothebottomnock.Bracethebacksideofthelowerrecurveagainstyourleftleg,holdingtheinsidecurveoftheotherrecurveinyourrighthandandthestringloopinyourleft.

Stepoverthebowwithyourrightlegandbracethebackofyourkneeagainstthehandleofthebow.

Holdyourkneeagainstthebow’shandlewhilepushingthebowlimbforwardwithyourrighthand.Bringthestringloopuptothenock,preparingtoslipitontothebow.

Twistyourupperbodyslightlyforincreasedleverage,flexingthebowinwardanddownward.Slipthestringintothenockandmakesurethestringis

trackingalongbothrecurvesevenlybeforereleasingpressure.

Oncethebowisstrungupitwillbeatwhatiscalledbrace.Thedistancebetweenthestringandbowhandle,orbraceheight,willbeanywherefrom6to8inches.Asyoushootyourbow,youwillfindthebraceheightthatbestsuitsyou.

Lookingatthebowwhileatbrace,onelimbwillusuallybebendingmorethantheother.Thislimbwillbethetoplimb,asthelowerlimbneedstobeslightlystiff.

Here’sthebowatafull26inchdraw.Atthislengththebowwillpullapproximately30to35pounds.Noticehowthelimbsevenoutwhenthebowisdrawnandthestringisstilljustrestingontheendsoftherecurves.

Here’sthebowat28inches.Whileitiscapableofbeingdrawnthisfar,itisoverdrawn.Youcanseethatthestringisfullyoffofthetipsandthelimbsseemtobealmoststretchedout.At28inchesthisbowpullsaround40pounds.

Here’sthebowatahigherbrace,justtobringoutthelimbimbalance.You

canseethattherightlimb,whichisthetoplimb,isbendingmorethantheother.Thisiswhatthebowshouldlooklike.Ifonelimbisbendingmuchmorethantheother,itcanbefixedbyheatingtheweakerlimbandlettingitpuffupenoughtomatchtheotherlimb.Checkoutthenextchapterforfixingthisproblem.

Sightdownthebowatbracetoensurethatthestringtracksstraightdownbothrecurvesandthroughthecenterofthebow.Bothrecurvesshouldstilllineupatbrace.Iftheydon’t,filethestringnotchalittledeeperonthesidethatthestringisleaningtowards.

Thestringloopshouldsitevenlyandlevelonthenock.Roundtheshouldersofthenocksothatthestringloopwrapssmoothlyaroundthenock.

Thestringshouldtrackdownthecenterofthelimbontherecurve.Ifyourrecurveisnotconcavebutisroundedandthestringkeepsslipping,youcanfileorsandashallowgroovedownthecenteroftherecurvesothestringcantrackproperly.

Enjoyyouryouthrecurve!Onceit’sbeenstrungandshotthepipewillpermanentlyflexandsetintothisslightdeflex.Thebowcanbeusedas-isorcanbefinishedandhaveanarrowrestputonit.AsprayofUVresistantclearcoatwillhelpkeepUVdamageataminimumifyoudon’twishtofinishitup.

Eitherway,it’sagoodideatoshootthebowatleastahundredtimesorsobeforecompletelyfinishingitupsothatanyadjustmentsandfixescanbemadefirst.

Aquickanddurablefinishperfectforyouthbowsandbowsthatmaygetthrownaroundisducttape.Itcomesinavarietyofcolors,soletyourimaginationrunwild.Thisisalsoagreatwaytopersonalizeyourbow.Thisisjustonepossiblewayoftapingabow.Thebackofthebowhasonestripoftaperunningfromthebasesofthetworecurves.

Thebellyofthebowiscoveredintwoseparatestripsandthehandleiscoveredinonestrip.Thebowisdecoratedwithalternatingblackandsilvertape

bands.Asasidenote,besuretouseheavyducttapeasverythintapewillpeeloffandtearapartwithtimeanduse.

Thetipiscoveredinthinstripsoftapetoworkaroundthecurvesandintothenock.Aflexibletapelikecohesivebandageorvinyltapehelpstosmoothoutthisareanicely.

Theblackbandtotheleftisontheuppersideofthehandle.Itiswrappedfivelayersthicktoprotectthebowfromarrowwear.Thearrowwillpassover

thetaperatherthangougeintothesideofthebow.Theotherstripisjusttheretoaddsymmetrytothehandle.

ChapterFive–HorseBow

Archersonhorsebackhavebeenfearedforthousandsofyears.Mountedarcheryhasshapednationsandculturesaroundtheworld.Today,amoderninterestinhorsebackarcheryhasincreasedtheneedforabowsuitableforstudentsofthisancientart.

SimpleinitsdesignandmadeofonlyPVCpipe,thishorsebowisagreatbowfortrainingintheuseofatraditionalAsiaticrecurvebow.Likemanybowspreferredformountedarchery,thisbowhasaroundedhandle,canbemadewithoutashelfandcanbeshotoneithersideofthebow.

Thisbowisjustonestylethatlendsitselftoarcheryonhorseback.Itisshortandcompactyetdrawsandreleasessmoothly.Itsrecurvedtipsareshapedliketraditionalsiyahswithastringbridgethathelpsthestringtrackandpreventsanyaccidentalunstringing.

Evenifyoudon’thaveahorse,thisbowisagoodintroductiontoshortbows.Itissmoothdrawingupto30inchesandshootsconsistently.

DeflexingAdeflexisabendtowardsthearcher.WhileaPVCbowmaygainsome

deflexnaturally,bendingdeflexintothelimbsfromthebeginninghassomeeffects.First,theinnerlimbshavetodolessworktogetthebowstrungandpulledtofulldraw.Thisforcestheouterlimbstoflexmorethantheynormallywould.

Combinedwithrecurves,abowlikethisovercomesthelossinefficiencythatdeflexedlimbscancause.Deflexedlimbsarealsomoreforgivingtoshootandhelptocutdownonhandshockeveninveryshortbows.Withoutrecurves,adeflexedbowstoreslessinitialenergy.Wherereflexingandrecurvingloadabowwithenergywhenbraced,adeflexedbowcutsdowntheamountofenergyinthebowatbrace.

Ingeneral,deflexesdrawstressawayfromtheareatheyareapplied.Ahandlethatisdeflexedisunderlittlestressandisverystable.Combinedwithreflexedlimbs,abowlikethiscanbedrawnsmoothlywithlittlestackandhavealmostnohandshock.

ReflexingAreflexisabendawayfromthearcher.Arecurveisessentiallyatypeof

reflex.Areflexedhandleputsthebowundermorestress.Itdrawsstresstowardthecenterofthebow,makingforabowwithmorehandshockwhilegreatlyincreasingspeed.Abowwithahighlyreflexedhandleandnorecurvescanbejustasfastifnotfasterthanarecurvedbowwithahandlethatisnotreflexed.

Reflexesgenerallyincreasestresswheretheyareapplied.Ifareflexisappliedtothelimbsofabow,thebowwillalreadyhavesomeenergypre-loadedintoit.Whilethiswon’tgivethebowanextraboostattheendofthedrawcyclelikerecurvesdo,itwillincreasespeed.

SiyahsandStringBridgesThereflexedcompositebowsofAsiawhichhavebecomeknown

collectivelyandperhapsmistakenlyashorsebowsarethebasisforthisbow.Mostofthesebowshadstatictipsofwood,oftenreinforcedwithhornandbone.Somewererecurved,somewerereflexed.Eitherway,thesestifftipsaddedspeedbyactingasleversandconcentratingstresstowardsthemiddleofthelimbs.

Thesetipsareknownassiyahsorbowears.Whiletheyvariedinsizeandlength,theyallservedthesamepurpose.Somewerequiteextremeandrequiredaidstokeepthestringalignedandonthebowwhilethebowwasstrungandshot.Onsomebows,alargestringloopwouldstraddlethesiyahandstabilizeit.Onothers,thestringwouldrundownthebellysideofthesiyah.

Ifthestringcontactedthebellysideofthesiyah,theconstantstrikingcoulddamagethebow.Andevenslighttorqueonthebowcouldcausethebowtounstringitself.Stringbridgesarepadsofvariousmaterialsthatservetosolvetheseproblems.

Somearesimplepadsdesignedtoprotectthebow’slimbs.Somehelpkeepthestringalignedwhileatbraceandaftertheshotistaken.Yetothersaredesignedtocausethestringtosnapintoplaceratherthanrollsmoothlyontothesiyahs.

BuildOverviewBasedontheyouthrecurve,thisbowstartsoutalittledifferent.Insteadofa

48inchpipe,thisbowstartswith50inchesfortheaddeddrawlength.Otherthanthat,thebaseofthisbowisflattenedandrecurvedinthesameway.

Wewillbedeflexingbothlimbsevenlyandthenreflexingthehandle.Thiswillgivethebowasmoother,moreefficientlyworkinglimbsetforalongerdraw.Therecurvesandthereflexinthehandlewillhelppre-loadthebowandaddspeed.Thisalsokeepsthestringtaughtatbrace,whichmakesnockingeasier.

Thetipsofthebowwillbeformedintostiffsiyahsthathavestringbridgesformedintothem.Thestiffsiyahswillallowpartofthetiptobecutawayandshapedtoformthestringbridges.Alightertipwillhelpbringupspeedandlowerhandshock.Thestringbridgeswillkeepthestringtrackingalongthesiyahsandalsoholdthestringinplacetopreventanyaccidentalunstringingevenifthebowisthrownordropped.

We’llbepaintinganddyingthebow.ToreplicatethelookofanAsiaticcompositebow,whichoftenhadanimalhornonthebellyofthebow,thebellywillbefinishedwithdyestomimicthelookofhorn.Thebackwillbepainted

withspraypaintandfinishedwithawebpatternreminiscentofreptileskin.Thebowitselfshouldendupataround48inchesntn,49.5inchesunstrung.

Whenstrungitshouldbe44inchesfromtiptotip.Itwilluseastringthatis43to44incheslongdependingonyourpersonalbraceheight.Isuggestaslightlyhigherbraceheighttohelplessenparadoxandmakenockingeasier.

Thehorsebowstartsoutwitha3/4inchPVCpipe,50incheslong.Flattenandrecurvethebowinthesamewayastheyouthrecurveinthelastchapter.

Startingwiththeflattenedandrecurvedbow,findsomethingcurvedtoexertpressureonandaheatsource.Eachlimbwillbeheatedandcurvedintoagradualdeflex.

Startingfromthehandle,heatatwoinchsectionupjustuntilitgetssoftenoughtobendwithoutcollapsingthearea.

Taketheheatedsectionandjustbarelyflexittowardsthebellyside.Continueheatingandbendingtheboweverytwoinches.Stoprightbeforereachingthebaseoftherecurve.

Thebowshouldenduplookingsomethinglikethis.Ifthebowisplacedonaboardbacksidedownwiththetipsoftherecurvestouchingtheboard,thetipsshouldlineupwiththehandle.

Youcanseehowthetipslineupwiththehandle.Getthecurvesasevenaspossible.Laterontheycanbeadjustedandbalanced.

Heatthehandlegently,concentratingtheheatwithinthefourinchhandle.Whenthehandleissoftenoughtoflex,bendthebowforwardtowardthebackofthebow,impartingsomereflex.

Thetipsofthebowshouldextendaboutfourinchesinfrontofthehandle.Thehandleshouldbecomfortabletoholdandnotflexedtoofarforward.

Nowthatthemainshapingisfinished,thenockswillbereshaped.Fromherethebow’snockscouldalsobeshapedliketheyouthrecurveorthesnakeyrecurve.

Heattheendofthebowupsothatabout2/3ofthetippuffsuptoitsoriginalshape.

Whilepressingtheverytiptogethersidewayswithahotpadorheatresistantgloves,bendtherecurveagainsttheform.Usethesameformthatwasusedtocreatetherecurve.

Aftertherecurvecools,markthetipofthebow1/2aninchfromtheforwardedge.Drawacurvedandslopingline1and1/2inchesdown.Thiswillformanocksmallenoughforastringlooptofiton.

Cutalongthelinesandthensandtheedgessmooth.Makesuretokeeptheedgeonthebulgesharpasitwillbecomeastringbridgeaftersomeshaping.

Witharoundfileorsandpaperwrappedaroundadowelorarrowshaft,grindagrooveintothebellysideofthebulge.Thegrooveshouldbedeepenoughtocutintotheinsideofthepipefor1and1/2inches.Thewholegrooveis2incheslong.

Measure3/4inchesdownfromthetipofthebowandcuta1/8inchdiametergrooveforthestringtositin.Itshouldbefairlydeepsothatthestringstaysinplaceatfulldraw.

Withfinesandpaper,sandtheoutsideedgesofthegrooveandroundallsharpedgesonthenock.

Gentlyheattheedgesofthegrooveuntiltheyarepliable.Pressthemtotheside,openingthegrooveupsothatthestringwillrestinthegrooveandreturntothegrooveafterthebowisshot.

Thebulgeshouldnowbeabout1inchwide.Thiswillcatchthestringandreturnittothestringgroove.Itwillalsoprotectthestring,keepingthebowfromaccidentallyunstringingitself.

Here’sthebowatbrace.Thestringjustsitsinthestringgrooves.Thetoplimbisnoticeablyweakerthanthebottomlimb,whichwillhelpthebowevenoutatlongerdraws.

Atafull30inchdrawthelimbsaremuchmoreeven.Thelimbslookalittleoverstretchedandthebowpulls35to40pounds.Thisbowiswellsuitedtoanchoringbelowthejaw.

At28inches,thebowpulls30to35pounds.Itisalighterweightbow,allowingforasmoothdrawwhilestillbeingveryshortandmaneuverable.

Atbracethetoplimbisnoticeablyweakerthanthebottom.Thisisthelimitofhowunbalancedabowshouldbe.

Onewaytocorrectanimbalanceistolookatbothlimbsofthebow.Ifonelimbisthinnerinaspot,itwillbeweaker.Hereisathinspot.

Gentlyheatthethinspotuntilitbeginstopuffup.Withawetragortowel,pressontheheatedspot,makingsureitcomesuptoathicknessequaltotheoppositelimbbutnottoothick.Thismethodcanalsobeusedtofixcollapsedorfoldedlimbs.

Afteranylimbadjustments,sightdownthebowtomakesuretherecurveslineup.

Afterbeingstrungandshotatfulldraw,thebowwillsettledowntoitsfinalshape.Thetipsshouldstayaheadofthehandleforalittleextraspeedfromthebow.

Sandthebellyofthebowtoremoveallmarkingsandletteringwherethefauxhornbellywillbeapplied.Startwith80to100gritsandpaperandfinishwithatleast220forasmoothbutslightlygrippysurfacethatwillholdthefinish.

Applyastripofmaskingtapethewidthofyourfauxhornbellyfromthebaseofonerecurvetotheother.

Here’sthemaskingtapeappliedtothebellyofthebow.Liningthetapeupperfectlyonthehandlemaybedifficult,soextrapiecesoftapemaybeneededtosmoothitout.

Followingthemanufacturer’sinstructions,applyadarkbasecoattotheentirebow.Inthiscase,aflatblack.AdarkbasecoatwillhelpblockoutUVlightandwillalsohelpkeepthebowwarminsunlight,whichwillhelppreventbreakage.

Inordertocreateafauxsnakeskineffect,stretchafinemeshfishnetstockingoverthebow.Youmaygetsomestrangelooksbuyingthestockingsespeciallyifyouareaguy.Explainingthatit’sforaprojectmaygetevenstrangerlooks.

Whenthestockingissimplystretchedoverthebow,themeshislongandthin.Itisalsolooseinplaces.

Bypullingonthebellysideofthestocking,themeshiswidenedtoformdiamondshapes.Themeshalsoholdstightertothesurfaceofthebow.

Astripoftapestickingtoitselfthroughthemeshoraclipofsomekindcanholdthestockingundertensionwhilethebowisbeingpainted.

Securethestockingonthebellysideofthebowinenoughplacestoputagoodamountoftensiononthestockingonthebackofthebow.Trytokeepthetapeorclipswithintheboundariesofthemaskingtapesothatthebowcanbepaintedallthewayuptothetape.

Spraythetopcoatonthebow,carefultokeepthespraydirectlyabovethemeshtoavoidobscuringthelines.Thetopcoatcanbeanycolor.Hereitisadarkgreenforaverysubtleeffectandtokeepthebowwarmandelasticinsunlight.

Removethestockingafterthetopcoatisdrytothetouch.Makesuretoremoveitbeforethepaintfullycuresorthestockingmaypeelsomepaintaway.

Here’saclose-upofthefinish.

Nowit’stimetostartonthebellyofthebow.Peelthemaskingtapefromthebow,carefultogetalltheadhesiveoffthebelly.

Forthefauxhornbelly,youwillneedblackandbrownshoepolish.Liquidworksbestasitdriesintoaflexiblefilmanddoesnotcrackandpeellikesolidwaxpolishcan.Optionally,alow-poweredheatsourcelikeaheatgunonloworahairdryerwillquicklydrythepolishbetweencoats.

Wipethebellyofthebowdownwithadampclothtoclearoffanydustthatmaygettrappedunderthefinishandmakeitbumpy.

Applyacoatofblackshoepolish.Allowthepolishtodry,orusetheheatsourcetogentlyspeeduptheprocess.

Horncancomeinmanydifferentshadesfromhoneytojetblack,socontinueapplyingcoatsofpolishuntilthebowisagoodcolor.

Oncethebellyisdarkenough,applyonecoatofbrown.Thisaddsdepthandcharactertotheblackdyeandreallymakesthefinishstandout.

Oncethepaintanddyearecompletelydry,spraythewholebowdownwithclearcoatoroil-basedclearfinish.Thiswillhelpprotectthefinishaswellaskeeptheshoepolishfromscratchingoffaseasily.

Thisbowisverysubtle,especiallyonthebelly.Makingalighterbellywithadarkbasecoatordarkbellywithalightbasecoatwillgivemorecontrastandhelpthefauxhornstandout.

Byvaryingtheamountofstretchinthestocking,differentpatternscanbemadelikethewidemeshonthistipcreatedbyoverstretchingthestocking.

Thevariationintensionbetweenareasthatweretapedandtheintermediaryspotsgivestheillusionofmovementanddepthtothefinish.

ChapterSix–SnakeyRecurve

Oneofthemostunusualstylesofselfbowisthesnakeybow.Thesebowstesttheskillofthebowyerastheybeginwithwoodthatiscrookedandwavy.Theyfollowthecurvesandbendsofthetreetheywerecutfromandtheresultisoftenstunning.

Snakeybowsrangefromlightwavestosharpbendsandturns.Somehavehandlesthatareangled.Thisgivesthehandleanergonomiccantandmovesthehandletothesidewhilestillkeepingbalancefromtiptotip.

Bowslikethatareaccurateandforgiving,becauseliketheirmoderncousinswithcutpastcentershelves,thesebowsallowanarrowtorestonthecenterline.Theyarealsorareandverydifficulttobuild.YetbecauseoftheeaseinwhichPVCisshapedwithheat,replicatingevenextremecurvesisstraightforward.

Thesnakeyrecurvehasjustenoughsidewaysbendinthehandlethatitistrulyacentershotbowwithouthavingashelfcutintoit.Thisdesignisidealforthetargetarcherandbowhunterasitisaccurateandforgiving.At45to55poundsofdrawweightandunder4and1/2feetlongwhenstrung,thisbowisidealforbothstalkingonthegroundorperchedinatreestand.

Thedifferentstringanglesthatareformeddependingonhowclosetocenterthearrowis.Thefirstandsecondpicturesofeachofthe3sequencesisthebow

atbrace.Thethirdpictureisatfulldraw.

OffCenter,CenterandPastCenterOneofthemostimportantaspectswhendealingwiththeaccuracyofabow

isarrowspine.Spine,orthestiffnessofanarrow,affectshowmuchanarrowcanflex.Whenitcomestospine,itisimportantbecauseofarcher’sparadox.

Lookattheillustrationabove.ThebowontheleftisindicativeofbowslikemostPVCbowsandselfbowsthatrequireanarrowtocurvearoundthehandle.Archer’sparadoxcomesintoplayhere.

Whenabowlikethisisatbraceandanarrowisnockedonthestring,thearrowispushedawayfromcenterbythehandle.Whenthebowisdrawn,theanglethearrowmakesdiminishes.Thepointgoesfromwayoff-centertorightnexttothehandle.

Whenaiming,thearrowappearstoberightnexttothehandle.Thisiswherearcher’sparadoxcomesin.Whenamatchedarrowisfiredfromsuchabow,thestringdrivesthearrowintothehandleandthendeflectsitoffthehandleonlytoflexbackandcontinueoscillatingfromsidetoside,followingthepathofthestring.Sinceit’sthestringthatdrivesthearrow,thearrowstriestofollowthatpath.

Ifanarrowistoostiff,itwilldeflectoffthehandleandgoofftothesideofthebowitisplaced.Witharighthandedarcher,thisistotheleft.Ifanarrowistooweak,itwillwraparoundthehandleofthebowtoofarandenduptravelingtotheright(leftforlefthandedarchers).

Becausethedifferenceinanglebetweenbraceandfulldrawissoextreme,theamountofflexneededtocompensateisalsoextreme.Inordertolessentheeffectsofparadox,manybowshaveshelvesorrestscutintothebowtobringthearrowclosertocenter.

Thesecondpictureshowsabowthatisalignedtocenter.Thismeansthesideofthehandlelinesupwiththestring.Anarrowplacedonthebowwillmakeaveryslightangleoffofthecenterline.Whendrawn,thearrowgetsveryclosetobeingflatalongthecenterline.Whenthearrowisfired,thereislittlecorrectionneeded.Thismeansthearrowdoesnothavetobeperfectlyspined.

Inthethirdpicture,youcanseethearrowlinesupstraightalongthehandlebothatbraceandatfulldraw.Anarrowfiredfromthisbow,whichisactuallyalignedsothatthearrowrestsonthecenterline,willbeaffectedtheleastbyarcher’sparadox.Thearrowcanfreelymovealongthelinethestringforcesuponit,flexingonlytocompensatefortherear-thrustthestringimparts.Arrowsforthistypeofbowwilltypicallybestifferthanarrowsforanoffcenterbow.

SnakeyLimbsTherearefewwaystobringabowintopastcenteralignment,allowingan

arrowtositonthecenterline.Thefirstistocutashelfoutofthebow,allowingthearrowtositalongcenter.TheproblemwiththisisthatasolidPVCpipebowcannothandlethestressthiscauseswithoutbeingreinforcedinsomeway.

Differentmethodsofmakingabowcentershot.

Anothermethodistoflexthebowsidewaysuntilthearrowclearsthesideofthebow.Thisisatechniquesusedonselfbows,thoughbeingoutofalignmentcouldcausePVCtofoldsidewaysovertime.Attheveryleast,thePVCwouldtrytocorrectitselfandmostoftheeffectwouldbelost.Asnakeybowcanaccomplishthisbyretainingcenteralignmentandnotcompromisingtheintegrityofthehollowbow.

Snakeybowsoftenresemblesnakeswiththeirserpentinecurves.Theseverityofthesnakeycurvesandtheirplacementcanalterthecenterlineofthebow.Somesnakeybowsarejustlikeanyotherbowwiththecurvesnotaddinganysignificantadvantage.Somehavecurvesinornearthehandlesectionthat

affecthowcenter-alignedthebowis.Byreplicatingthesidetosidemotionofasnakeybow,thehandlecanbe

cantedsideways,allowingthearrowpasstositjustpastcenter.Whenanarrowisplacedonthisbow,itsitsatcenter.Thebowisnotweakenedbycutoutsorreinforcedinanyway.Thebowalsokeepsthisshapebecausethelimbsstilllineupandarealignedthroughthecenterofthehandle.

TaperedTipsSincethemajorityofaPVCbow’sstrengthcomesfromitsshape,thecenter

portionofflattenedsectionsislargelydeadweight.BycuttingalongVoutofeachend,thetwoendscanbebroughttogethertoformanewbowtip.Whiletheycanbereinforcedwithadhesivesorbywrapping,thetensionofthebowstringisusuallyenoughtokeepthesetipstogether.

Taperingtipslikethisdoesnotsignificantlyweakenabowaslongasitiskepttoaround6incheson3/4and1/2bowsand9inchesfor1inchbows.Thesetipsmakeabowalittlefasterasagoodamountofdeadweightistakenawayfromtheendsofthebow.Theyalsogiveabowamorepleasingandtraditionallookingoutline,anicecontrastfromnormalPVCbowswhichtaperfromnarrowatthehandletobroadatthetips.

BuildOverviewThisbowhasamixtureoffeaturesthatmakeitanexcellentbowforhunting

andfishingaswellastargetandfieldarchery.Itisthestrongestbowinthisbookandalsothemostaccurate.

Itstartswitha58inchlong1inchschedule40PVCpipe.Thesamebasicflatteningastheyouthrecurveappliesaswellasrecurving,thoughwitha9inchformratherthana6inchone.Thefinishedbowwillenduparound45to55poundsat28inchesandcanaccommodatedrawsupto30inches.

Thebasewillbeshapedtoformcurvesthatwillpushthehandlepastcenter.Thisinturnwillmakethisbowacentershotbow,givingitamazingaccuracyandconsistency.Thecurvesalsohelpblurtheoutlinesofthebow,enhancingitscamouflage.Taperedtipsaddtothebow’sappearanceandspeed.

Afauxsnakeskinfinishwillbeappliedtothebowusingspraypaint.Thefinishedbowshouldbearound56inchesntnand51inchestiptotipunstrung.Itusesa52to53inchstringandisaround52incheswhenbraced.Becauseoftheextremerecurve,itisactuallylongeratbracethanunstrung.

Thisshortlengthmakesitaverymaneuverablebowwhilestillcapableofsmoothdrawsevenwithheavierweights.Thestaticrecurveskeepitfairlyquietandmakeitquitefastwithaheavyarrow.Thesnakedpastcenterarrowpass

alsoallowsforaccurateshootingofheavy,unfletchedfishingarrows.

Startwitha58inchlengthof1inchpipe.Measureandmarkthecenterjustliketheyouthrecurve.Thehandleisalso4incheslong.

Mark9inchesinfrombothendsasaboundaryfortherecurve.9inchesisagoodlengthforbowsover55inchesinlength.

Heatandflattenthepipe.Theheatingwilltakelongerasthepipeisnotonlylongerbutalsolargerindiameter.Usethetallerflatteningblocksonthelongersideoftheflatteningjig,

Heatandflattenthehandlesidewaysagainstaflatsurface.Thehandleshouldbearound1and1/4incheswide.

Whentaperingthetipofarecurvedbow,itisagoodideatolayoutthetaperlinesonthebackofthebowbeforethetipisrecurved.ThebottomoftheVisthesame6or9inchlineforrecurving.For3/4inchbowsmeasure1/4inchinonthetipsandfor1inchbowsmeasure5/16ofaninch.

Heattheentiretipofthebowuptotherecurvinglineandthenrecurvethetipoveraform.Inthiscaseitisa9inchdiameterpot.

Hereistheflattenedandrecurved1inchbow.Thisbowcanbeusedasabasetomakeheavierandlongerversionsoftheyouthrecurveandhorsebow.

Tobeginatiptaper,markthebacksideoftherecurvewithalongV.Thetopedgesare1/4inchesfromtheedgeon3/4inchbowsand5/16inchesfromtheedgeon1inchbows.IftheVwasmarkedbeforerecurving,makesureitisstillevenandcentered.

CuttheVoutlineoutoftherecurve,makingsuretocutstraightthrough.Fileandsandtheedgessmoothtoprepareforgluing.

HeatthebottomoftheVjustuntilthetwosidesofthetipcanbepushedtogether.Gluethetwoedgestogetherandletthegluecompletelycure.HeavybodiedPVCcementworksverywellforthis.FollowallinstructionsonPVCglueandmakesuretoweararespiratorwhenworkingwithsolvents.Plasticepoxyputtyacleanerfinish.

Oncetheglueiscured,sandthetipsmoothandroundthenockendofthebow.Heavy-bodiedPVCcementisgoodforfillinggaps.Epoxyputtycanalsobeused.

Measure3/4inchesdownfromtheendandcutstringgroovesata45degreeangleddowntowardsthebellyofthebow.

Onthebellyofthebow,fileorsandthestringgroovestohelpthestringtrack.Thestringgroovesshouldbeonlydeepenoughforthestringtostayputwithoutcuttingthroughthepipe.

Nowthatthetipsarefinished,beginthesnakeycurvesbyheating1inchoutsideofthehandleonbothsides.Bendthelimbsbackslightlytogivethebowaslightdeflexoffofthehandle.

Todeterminetheangleofyourfirstcurves,holdthebowataslightanglelikethisforrighthandedarchers.Forlefthandedarchers,reversethedirection.Agoodangleisonewhereanarrowwouldcleartheupperportionofthehandleandbarelytouchthebowifthestringwasrunningstraightupanddownalong

center.

Herearethefirstcurves.Heatoneinchoutfromthehandlegentlyuntilthebowstartstopuffup.Thenstartflexingitgentlyuntiltheplasticstretches.Goingtoofastcouldteartheplasticasthecurvesarefairlyextreme.Forlefthanders,thecurveswillflexintheoppositedirection.

Sightingdownthebow,bothlimbsshouldbeparalleltoeachother,connectedbythehandlegoingatanangle.

Placeamarkhalfwaybetweenthehandlemarkandrecurvemark.Bendthisareaintheoppositedirectionofthehandlecurves.

Sightingdownthebowyoucanseethecurvessofar.Thislastsetofcurvesshouldbringthetipsbackpastcenterbutnotbymuch.

Thefinalcurveisveryslight,justenoughtobringtherecurvedtipsbackinlinewitheachother.

Sightdownthebowandmakesuretherecurveslineupstraightwitheachotherandthecenterofthehandle.Ifyoucanimagine,therecurvesneedtolineupasiftherestofthebowwasinlinewiththetips.

Thethreemaincurvesononelimb.Foramorenaturallook,heataslightlylargerareaforeverycurvetomakethebowlookmorelikeacrookedsapling.

Thesnakeyrecurveisnowreadytobestrungforthefirsttime.Gobackandmakesurethatbothlimbslookequalinthicknessbeforestringing.Becarefulwhilestringing.Iftherecurvesdon’ttrackrightwhenstringing,removethestringimmediatelyandadjustthetips.

Thebowatbrace.Fromtheside,itshouldlookjustlikealongerversionoftheyouthrecurve.Thelimbthatflexesmorethantheotheristhetoplimb.

Thebowatafull28inchdraw.Noticehowthestringisjustrestingonthenocksatfulldrawandthelimbsformasmoothandcontinuousarc.

Thisbowpulls45to55poundsdependingonhowshortthesnakeycurvesmakethebow.

Thecurvescanmakecheckingthebalanceofthelimbstricky.Lookatbothsidesofthebowbeforemakinganadjustmentsasthecurvescanplaytricksonyoureyes.

Themainissuewiththesnakeyrecurveisgettingtherecurveslinedupperfectly.Inthispicture,thestringisbeingpulledoutofalignmentbythelimbclosesttothecamera.Ifthebowwereshotnow,theriskofthestringslippingoffthebowisveryhigh.

Heatingthebaseoftherecurveandflexingitslightlytotherightallowsbothrecurvestotrackproperly.Thisalsobringsthestringinlinewiththecenterofthebow.Iftherecurvesareunevenintheotherdirection,flextherecurvetotheleftinstead.

Here’sthemainpointofthesnakeycurves.Whenanarrowisonthebowatbrace,thehandleisflexedfarenoughoutofcenteralignmentthatthearrowrestsrightonthecenterline.Thisallowsthebowtobemuchmoreaccuratewithstifferandlighterarrows.

Enjoyyoursnakeyrecurve!Hereitisafterbeingstrungandshot.It’sabowpowerfulandfastenoughtobeusedforhuntingasaselfbowwould.Italsomakesagoodtargetbowwithitspast-centerhandle.Fortargetshooting,startingoutwitha60inchpipewillgiveyou35to40poundsofpull.Thebowwillbemoreforgivingtoshootatthatlength.

Here’sanothershotofthebowshowingoffitscurves.TheamountofsidetosidecurvePVCcanhandlereallysetsitapartfrommanybowmakingmaterialsasfarasforgivenessisconcerned.

Spraytheentirebowwithabasecoat.Forwarmerweather,yourdarkercolorwillbethebasecoat.Incolderweather,thelightercolorwillserveasthebasecoat.

Stretchthestockingoverhalfofthebowandthehandle.Tapethestockinginplacefromthebellysideofthebowandonthehandle.

Tobetterreplicatethelookofsnakeskin,stretchthestockingsidewaysuntilthegapsarealmostsquaresbutstillslightlyelongateddiamonds.

Aninterestingeffectcanbeobtainedbydeliberatelytwistingthestockinginplaces.Thisgivestheillusionofmovementasifthebowiscoveredinrealskin.

Sprayyourtopcoatlightlyoverthebowafewtimes.Makesuretospraystraightdownsothepaintdoesnotgetunderthestockingandfadethelines.Keeptheveryedgeofthebowthecolorofyourbasecoat.

Letthepaintdry.Oncethislimbisdry,repeatontheotherlimb.Thepicturedoesn’tgivejusticetohowuniqueandeye-catchingthisfinishis.

Oncebothlimbsaredry,spraytopcoatontotheentirebellyofthebow.Careshouldbetakentoavoidgettingpaintonthebackandsidesofthebow.

Thefinishedbowfromthebackside.Thisfinishmakesthebowlooklesslikeit’scoveredinsnakeskinandmorelikeitismadeoftwosnakesstucktogether.

Fromthebellyside.

Whenplacinganarrowrestonthisboworshootingoffthehand,Imakesuretoplacethearrowwherethehandleispastcenter.Thiswillallowthearrowtositdirectlyinthecenterofthebow.Itmakesthisoneofthemostaccurateall-PVCbowsmadewithasinglepipe.

ChapterSeven–ArrowRest

Anarrowrestisaplatformthatallowsanarrowtositinthesamespotontheboweverytime.Arestorshelfalsokeepsthearrowinplacewhilethebowisdrawnandshot,protectingthebowhandandofferingmorestability.Whilenotneeded,arestcanhelpincreaseconsistencyandallowsforgoodpracticewhilealsomakingabowsafertouse.

We’llbegoingoverthreesimplereststhatarebuiltontotheoutsideofthebow.Thefirstoneisverythinonthehandle,allowingforamorestreamlinedgrip.Theothertwoarebuiltuponthesideofthehandleandincreasetheoverallsizeofthegrip.

Anarrowrestcanbeagreattoolforthebeginningarchertohelpbuildconsistencyandconfidence.Agoodrestcanalsoprotectthehandwithoutagloveagainstthebrushofthearrowoverthehand.Thiscanbeadeterrentforsomepotentialarchers.

TabRest

Thetabrestisasimpletabwhichprotrudesfromthesideofthehandlejustbelowthearrowpass.Itisgluedontothebow’shandleandisverystreamlinedunliketheotherrests.Italsocreatesaspaceforthehandtofallrightbelowitformoreconsistenthandplacement.

Oneofthebenefitstothetabrestisthatitallowsawiderestwithouttakingupalotofspaceormakingthebow’shandlewider.Itcanbeusedonanybowandisgreatforputtingarestonbothsidesofabowforrightandlefthandedshooting.

Unliketheotherrests,thearrowisdirectlyabovethebowhand.Itservesmoreasafingerguardthananythingelse.Bymakingtherestlongerorshorteritcanbeadjustedfrombeingasimpleindexwhilethearrowismainlyshotoffthehandtobeingatruearrowshelfthatwillholdthearrowtothebowevenwiththebowheldvertically.

Thisismypersonalfavoriterestforhorsebowsasitprovidesexcellenthandandarrowplacementwithoutgettingintheway.Foryoungchildren,thisrestcanbemodifiedwithalongershelfthatactuallycurvesbacktowardsthebowlikeaCwithenoughspaceatthetopforanarrowtoslideunder.Thisallowsarrowstobeplacedontheboweasilybutkeepsthemfromfallingoff,whichcanbefrustratingforyoungarchers.

StartwithalengthofPVCpipethesamediameterasthebowyouare

makingahandlefor.Measureandmark3and1/2inchesinfromtheendand1/2aninchfromtheend.Thewidthofthestripis1/4thecircumfrenceofthepipe.

Fromtheend,marktwolinesacrossthepipe,breakingitintofoursections.Onepieceofpipewillyieldfourtabrests.

Cutthepipealongthelinestomakefourseparatepieces.Cutthepiecesfromthebaseofthepipe.Pickonesectiontobecomethetabrest.

Withafile,sandpaperorgrinder,grindthetabdownfromtheinsideedgeuntilthetabhasanicetaperfromthickatthetoptothinatthebottom.Taperthelasthalfaninchofthebottomtomakeitroundedandsmooth.

Roundthetopandbottomofthetab.Roundingthetopofthetabwillhelpkeepitfromcatchingonthingswhilestillprovidingawideshelfforanarrowtorest.

Heatthetabatthe1/2aninchmarkandthenflexitintoarightangleinthedirectionoftheoutside.Yourbenttabshouldlooksomethinglikethis.

Placethetabonyourbow.Theportionofthetabthatsticksoutshouldbeinlinewiththeplacewhereyourarrowgoes.Forrighthandedarchersshootingthreefingers,thisisontheleftsideofthebow.Forlefthandedarchers,thisisontherightsideofthebow.

Therestshouldgo1to1and1/2inchesfromthecenterofthebow.Shootthebowafewtimeswiththetabtapedon,justsoyoucanadjustittowhereitis

comfortable.

Onceyou’vefoundacomfortableplacementforthetab,paintorclearcoattheoutside,visiblesurfaces.Thengluethetabtothebowwithanytough,flexibleandwaterproofadhesivelikehotglue,epoxyorsiliconesealer.Cleanofftheexcessandwhenthegluesetsthebowisreadytogo.

Tohelpsmooththetransitionbetweenbowandrest,giveacleanerappearanceandincreasegripinthehandle,somesortofhandlewrapcanbe

applied.A5inchlengthof1and1/2inchheatshrinktubingmakesacomfortablehandlewrap.

Oncetheheatshrinkisinplace,gentlyheatitwithsomeheatsourceuntilitbeginstoshrink.Startfromonesideandkeepthehandlemovingtoavoidmeltingorburningthetubing.Onceshrunkdown,thetubingmakesaquickandattractivehandle.

Thefinishedtabrest.Foraddedsilenceandprotectionforthebow,aleather

orclotharrowpasscanbegluedon.Forthisseetheendofthehardrestsection.

SoftRest

Oneofthesimplestwaystoaddaresttoabowistowraportapeasoftpadontothehandleofyourbow.Thispadcanbemadeofjustaboutanythingsoftandflexible.Cloth,leather,vinyl,plasticandtapecanallbeused.

Thisversionisdoneinducttapetomatchtheyouthrecurve,butjustaboutanymaterialcanbeused.Therestneedstobeattachedtothebowwithawrap.Ifusinganonadhesive-backedhandlewrap,therestwillnotbepermanent.Tomakeitpermanent,athinlayerofcontactcementorall-purposeadhesivegoesalongway.

Thisstyleofrestisforgivingwithmanytypesofarrowsandkeepsthearrowoffthehand.Itisflexible,whichmeansthattherestwilladdcushiontoyourhandlegrip.Itcanalsobeadjustedandremovedeasily.

Whensettingamorepermanentrestlikethehardortabrest,thesoftrestcanbeavaluabletool.Itcanbeplacedonthebowandthenmovedeasilytoadjustitsposition.Thisallowsforfinetuningbeforepermanentlyattachingarestorshelfontothebow.

It’salsoagreatreststyle,especiallyifdonewithleatherorcloth,forshootinganewbowbeforefinishingifyoudon’twanttorestanarrowonyourhand.It’sagreatrestforanystickbowwithoutacutshelfasitwon’tmarordamageanyexistingfinish.

Beginwithastripofmaterial.Leatherandvinylrestsonlyrequireabout2

feetofmaterial,1inchwide.Withducttape,cutmultipleshorter1inchwidestrips,asmanylayerswillbeneeded.It’salsoeasiertodealwithalittleducttapeatatime.

Foldabout1/2aninchofmaterialdownandthenkeeprollinguntiltheresultingbundleis1/8ofaninchthick.Afterthat,folddowndoublethebundleandkeeprollinguntilthenewsectionis1/8ofaninchthick.

Keeprollingandmovingdownuntilthetopoftherestisatleast1/4ofan

inchthick.Ifyouwantamoresecurebaseforyourarrowtoreston,keeprollinguntiltherestisagoodwidth.

Placetherestontothebow.Forrighthandedarchersusingthreefingers,placetherestontheleftsideofthebowasviewedwhenshooting.Reversethatforlefties.Therestshouldsit1to1and1/2inchesupfromcenter.

Tosecurethesoftresttothebowitneedstobewrappeddown.Takeastripofmaterialthesamewidthasyourrestandtightlywraptherestdown,starting

fromthetopandendingatthebottom.Tapeworksverywellforthisasdoessporttapeandanyadhesive-backed

handlewraporbandage.Ifusingamaterialwithoutadhesive,tuckthelooseendunderthelastwrap,pullittightandcutthelooseend.

Thefinishedsoftrest.Noticethatthearrowisthickerthantherestitself.Aslongashalfofthearrow’sdiameterissmallerthantherest,itwillwork.

HardRest

Likethesoftrest,thehardrestgoesonthesideofthebowandoffersaplaceforanarrowtorest.Dependingonhowwidetheshelfsurfaceis,thisrestcanbeafullshelforsimplyanassistforshootingoffthehand.Likethetabrest,itoffersnopaddingontheshelf.Thiscanbefixedbygluingpaddingontotheshelfandarrowpass.

Itaddssomebodytothehandleandcanbeadjustedinlength.Ifmadethelengthofthehandle,itwilladdmorewidthtothehandlethroughout.Ifmadeshorter,itcanserveasaplaceforthehandtoreturntoeverytime,increasingyourconsistency.Ifyouhaveasnakeybow,thisrestmakesthehandlemoreuniform,removingsomeoftheslantinthehandle.

We’llalsogooverhowtowrapahandleinleatherorvinyl.Itcanaddcomfortandwarmthtothebowaswellaskeepthecenterofthebowflexibleandwarmincoldweather.Thissamemethodofwrappingahandlecanalsobeextendedtowraptheentirebow.

Ifyouwantanarrowindexpointandnotafullshelf,heattherestbeforegluingandpressitdowntotheshapeofthehandle.Thatwaytherestwillonlybe1/8ofaninchthick.Sandtheedgesflushandglueinplace.

Startwitha3inchlengthofpipethesamediameterasyourbow.Markalinefrom1/2waydownoneendtoabout1/8ofaninchontheoppositeside.Youshouldendupwithawedgeshape.Foramorestreamlinedrest,cutdownto1/4

ratherthan1/2.

Cutthewedgefreeandfileorgrindthetopedgedownsothatitisatarightanglewiththeinsideoftherestandthenroundthebottomfrom1/8ofaninchtoasmoothtransition.

Placetherestontothebow.Ifthehandleisnotgoingtobewrappedoracleanertransitionisneeded,wrapapieceofsandpaperaroundthehandle,abrasivesideout.Placetherestontothehandleandrubitacrossthehandleuntil

theinsideoftherestmatchesthecontoursofthehandle.

Gluetherestinplacewithaflexibleandwaterproofglue.Makesuretherestisontheleftsideofthebowforrighthandedarchersandontherightforlefthandedarchers.Thetopoftherestshouldsit1to1and1/2inchesabovethecenterofthehandle.

Towrapahandlewithleatherorvinyl,startwitha5by6inchsquareofpaper.Wrapitaroundthebowandtracewheretheedgesoverlap.Cutalongthe

tracedlines.Transferthattoapieceofleatherorvinyl.Finally,folddown1/2aninchofmaterialatthetopandbottomandglueitin

placewithcontactcementorwaterproofwoodglue.Thiswillgivethefinishwrapanattractiveandsmoothedge.

Marktheoutsideoftheleather,1/4ofaninchfromtheedge,withtwomarksperinch.Thiscanbedonebymeasuring,usingaleatherstitchingguideoraforkoftherightprongspacing.Mostforksarecloserto4perinch,sojustignorehalfofthemarks.Usealeatherpunchorawltopunchholeseveryhalfaninch.

Therearemanywaystolaceleather.Thiswasdoneinanover-underfashionlikelacingashoe.Iusedaleathershoelacefromanoldboot.Theleatherforthehandlecamefromanoldcouch.Proofthatrecyclingcanbeveryrewarding.Theleatherisfixedwithalittlebitofcontactcementonthebellysideofthehandle.

Finishthelacingbyeithertyinganoverhandknotortuckingthelooseendsunderandgluingtheluckedendsinwithsuperglue.

Toprotectthebowandhelpmufflesomeofthesoundfromthearrowpassingoverthebow,glueanarrowpassontothebow.Itissimplyaroundedtriangleofleatherorvinylatleastastallasdoubleyourarrow’sdiameter.Asimilarpadcanalsobegluedtotheshelfitself.Forevengreatersilencing,apieceoffeltorshortfurcanbegluedoninstead.

Thefinishedhardrest.Thisparticularrestwasdoneona1inchbow,soitlooksalittleoversized.Tomaketherestmorestreamlinedon1inchbows,startthewedgeat1/4ofthewidthofthepiperatherthan1/2.Therestismuchmore

streamlinedon3/4inchbows.

Gallery

Notallsnakeybowsneedtobecentershot.Some,likethisone,aremainlyforaesthetics.Thisoneisalittleclosertocenterthanacompletelyoffcenter

bow,thoughthatwasn’tthemainpurpose.

Thefinishedsnakeyrecurveatfulldraw.

Thesnakeyrecurvecanalsobemadewithoutthesnakeycurvestomakealargerversionoftheyouthrecurve.Thisisagreatbowforarchersalready

accustomedtoshootinglongerbows.

Thefinishedhorsebowatafull30inchdraw.

Anarrowonitswaytothetarget,firedfromthesnakeyrecurve.Youcanseethefletchingintheairabouthalfwaytothetarget.

Thefinishedyouthrecurveatfulldraw.

Glossary

ABS-Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene,aplasticusedoftenforplumbingapplicationsasitisclean.Itisalsotoughincoldtemperatures.

Aluminum-Alightandtoughalloyofmetalusedofteninmodernarrows.AnchorPoint-Theplacewhereanarrowisdrawntobeforereleaseevery

time.AMO-TheArcheryManufacturersandMerchantsOrganization,anold

nameforanorganizationthathassetmanystandardsforarcheryequipment.AMOLength-ThelengthofabowasmeasuredaccordingtoAMO

standards.ItalsoreferstoastringthatproperlybracesabowofalabeledAMOlength,regardlessoftruebowlength.

Archer-Apractitionerofarchery,auserofthebowandarrow.Archer’sParadox-Theeffectcausedbyanarrowflexingwhileleavingthe

bowafterrelease.Arrow-Theprojectileusedinarchery,firedfromabow.ArrowPass-Theplaceonabowwherethearrowisplacedandpassesover

whenfired.ArrowRest-Ashelforsimilardevicethatholdsanarrowontothehandle

duringthedrawcycle.ATA-TheArcheryTradeAssociation,thecurrentnamefortheAMO.Back-Thesideofthebowthatfacesawayfromthearcher.Belly-Thesideofthebowthatfacesthearcher.Bow-Aweaponthatusesspringlikelimbstopropelanarrow.Bowfishing-Usingabowtoharvestfishaboveandbelowwater.Bowhunting-Huntinggameanimalsusingabowandarrow.BowString-Astrongandideallyinelasticcordthatconnectsthetipsofa

bowandallowsabowtofirearrows.Bowyer-Apersonwhobuildbows.Brace-Eitherabowwhenitisstrung,ortheactofstringingabow.BraceHeight-Thedistancebetweenthehandleofabowandthestring

whenthebowisatbrace.CarbonFiber-Alightweightmaterialcomposedofcarbonfibersinamatrix

ofresinthatisverytoughandusedinmodernarrows.Centershot-Abowthatisincrediblyaccuratebyreducingtheeffectof

archer’sparadox.Collapse-Aconditionwhereabowfoldsinanareaduetoloststrength.

CompositeBow-Abowmadeupofdifferentmaterialsfixedtogether.CompoundBow-Amodernbowthatusesasystemofcablesandpulleysor

camstoincreaseefficiency.Compression-Acrushing,pushingforcethatthebellyofabowundergoes.Deflex-Abendinabowthatgoesawayfromthearcher.Drawing-Pullingabowbackinordertostoreenergyandpreapreforthe

release.DrawLength-Eitherthemaximumlengthabowcanbepulledtoorthe

lengthanarcherpullstheirbowto.DrawWeight-Howmuchforceisrequiredtopullabowtofulldraw,

usuallymeasuredinpounds.DryFire-Alsocalledadryreleaseordryloose,itisdrawingandreleasinga

bowwithoutanarrowonthestring.Fiberglass-Glassfibersinamatrixofresin,atoughcompositeused

regularlyforbothmodernbowsandarrows.FieldArchery-Shootingattargetsofunknowndistancesinafieldoropen

space.FlattenTaper-Ataperinapipeorcylinderformedbyflatteningoneside

progressivelymorethantheother,formingasmoothtaper.Fletching-Thefeathersorvanesthatstabilizeandarrowinflight.Flex-Theamountsomethingiscapableofbending.Handle-Thecenterportionofabowthatthearcherholds.HeatGun-Adevicethatusesaheatingelementcombinedwithafanor

blowertodeliverhotair.HorseArcher-Anarcherwhoshootsfromhorseback.Alsoknownasa

mountedarcher.HorseBow-Abowusedonhorseback.UsuallyreferstoshorterAsiatic

compositebows.LaminatedBow-Abowmadeofdifferentpiecesgluedtogether.Itmaybe

piecesofonematerialormanydifferentmaterials.Limb-Theflexiblearmsofabow.MountedArchery-Thesportofshootingabowfromhorseback.Nock-Canrefertothepointonabowwherethestringattaches,thenotchat

theendofanarrowwhereitattachestothestring,ortheactofattachinganarrowtothebowstring.

NocktoNock-Thelengthofabowmeasuredfromthebottomofonenocktotheother.

OffCenter-Abowthatdoesnotallowanarrowtorestnearthecenterlineofthebow.

OfftheHand-Shootingabowwithoutarest,thearrowrestsonthebowhand.

PastCenter-Abowthatallowsanarrowtositperfectlycenteredbecausethebowisalignedofftothesideofcenter.

PE-Polyethylene,acommonplasticusedforfoodandwaterstorageaswellaspipingforpotablewater.

Poundage-Anothertermfordrawweightasmeasuredinpounds.PP-Polypropylene,atoughplasticusedforropes,plumbingpipesandjoints

thatneedtobeflexedrepeatedlywithoutfailing.PVC-PolyvinylChloride,acommonplasticthatisusedformanydifferent

purposessuchasclothing,constructionandplumbing.Itishardandbrittleinitspureform.

PVCPipe-Plasticpipingusedforplumbing,drainage,wiringhousingandtransportofcorrosivefluids.

Quill-Thehard,fingernaillikemainshaftofanarrow,alsocalledtherachis.

Recurve-Acurveinthetipsofabowthatfaceawayfromthearcher.Arecurveisatypeofreflex.Canalsobeabowthatisrecurved.

Release-Canbetheactoffiringabowbylettinggoofthestring,astyleoflettingthearrowgooramechanicalaidfordrawingandreleasingabow.

Reflex-Acurveinabowthatfacesawayfromthearcher.Riser-Centerportionofabowthatcontainsthehandleandarrowpass.It

fadesintothelimbsoneitherside.Selfbow-Abowmadeofonematerial,usuallyofwood.Siyah-ThestatictipsorearsonanAsiaticcompositebow.Spine-Themeasureofhowmuchanarrowcanresistbendingandflexing.StaticRecurve-Arecurvethatdoesnotmoveorbendduringthedraw.Stave-Asinglepieceofmaterialusedtomakeabow,usuallyastripof

wood.Stickbow-Abow,regardlessofmaterial,thatdoesnotmakeuseofsightsor

otheraids.Oneexceptionistheuseofanarrowrestorshelf.Calledastickbowbecauseit’s“justastickandastring”.

StringBridge-Aplaceonasiyahwherethebowstringsitsandtracks.StringLength-Thelengthofastringfromlooptoloop.Itisusually3to4

inchesshorterthanthebow’sntnlength.NottobeconfusedwithAMOlengthwhichistheapproximatelengthofabow.

TaperFlattening-Theactofflatteningsomethingwithataperinthicknessfromoneendtotheother.

TargetArchery-Shootingatfixedtargetsatknowndistances.

Tension-Apullingforcethataffectsthebackofabow.ThicknessTaper-Thetaperinthicknessinabowlimb.TraditionalArchery-Atermthatusuallyexcludescompoundbowsand

othermodernmechanicalbowswhileincludinglongbowsandrecurvebows.Thetermcanrangefromtheuseofonlynaturalmaterialequipmentallthewaytosolelyman-madematerialsaslongascompoundsaren’tused.

UVLight-Aformofradiationthatcandamagepolymersbybreakingbonds.ItcancauseplasticpolymerslikePVCtodiscolorandgrowbrittleovertime.

Web-Alsocalledthebarbsofafeather,themainbodyofafeatherthatconsistsofindividualbranchesthatconnecttogether.

WorkingRecurve-Arecurvethatbendsorunfurlsasthebowisdrawn.

BonusTrack:PartOne–PolyProString

Commercialbowstringsaregreatifyoucangetthem.ThenormalmaterialsforstringslikeDacronandFastFlightarealsogreatifyoucangetthem.Ifnot,therearesomeoptionsforbuildingyourownbowstringsfrommaterialfoundinmosthardwarestores.

Polypropylenetwine,alsocalledPolyProorPPisaverytoughmaterial.Itisusedformanypurposes,mostcommonlyforlighttyingandbinding.ItisnotasgoodaspolyesterDacronorFastFlight,butitisfairlylow-stretch.Moststorescarryitintwineform,thinenoughtobemadeintoabowstringwithtwostrands.Eachstrandneedstohaveabreakingstrengthofatleast180pounds.

Ifyoucannotfindpolypropylenetwine,lookforpolypropylenerope.Mostropecanbestrippeddowntotheindividualstrandsandthosecanbeused.Theseinstructionsalsoapplytoanyotherstringmaterial.Inapinch,mostwaxeddentalflossandDacronfishinglinewillwork.Ifusingathinthread,makesuretostartwithtwobundlesthattogethermakearoughly1/8inchthickstring.

Polypropylenetwinecomesindifferentstrengths.Abreakingstrengthofatleast180poundsperstrandisbest.

Takethelengthofyourbownocktonock,subtract3inchesandthenadd22inches.Cuttwostrandsoftwinethislength.

Withafirmgrip,pullthetwineoverbeeswaxorstringwax.Keeppullingthestrandthroughquicklyuntilthewaxheatsupandbeginstosoakintothetwine.

Thestrandontophasbeenwaxed.Thewaxwillallowthestringtoholditselftogetherandwilllessenwearandtearduringuse.

Fromoneend,measure12inches.Thiswillbecomethetoploop.Holdbothstrandstogetheratthe12inchmark.

Whileholdingbothstrandstightlywithonehand,twistthestrandswiththeother.Iliketotwistthemcounterclockwise.Twistthemequallyuntiltheybunch

together.

Aftertwistingenoughtimes,thestrandswillstartkinkingandmaystartfoldingonthemselves.

Holdthebasetightandtwistbothstrandstogetherintheoppositedirection.Herethestrandsaretwistedclockwise.Don’tforcethetwistorthestringmay

unravel.

Continuetwistingtheindividualstrandsandthentwistingthemainstringuntilyouhave4inchesoftwistedrope.Thiswillgiveyoua2inchloop.

Foldtheropeoversothatthelooseendsmatchuptoformthetoploop.

Matchthelooseendsup.Pressandwaxthetwobundlestogether.

Makesureallthebundlesareuntwistedbeforewaxingthemtogethersothattheloopwillnotunravelitself.

Justliketwistingthetwooriginalbundlestomaketheloop,twistthetwobundlesbelowtheloopcounterclockwiseseparatelyandthentogether

clockwise.

Continuetwistinguntiltheloopissecured.Applywaxasyougotohelpthestringholdtogether.

Twistaboutaninchpasttheendofthesplice.Thiswillkeeptheloopfromunravelinginthenextstep.

Takeoneofthelongendsoftwineandtwistitcounterclockwise.Aquickwaytodothisistoplacethetwineonyourlegandpressdownwithonehand.

Theloopisontheleft.

Rollyourhandbackwards.Thiswillcauseacounterclockwisetwistontheleftofyourhandanaclockwisetwistontheother.

Keeptwistingthestringuntilitjuststartstobunchup.Trytoputthesameamountoftwistsintoeachstrand.

Stretchbothstrandsoutandmeasure12inchesfromtheend.

Repeatthesamestepsasbeforetomakeasecondloop.

Finishtheloop.Oncethefinaltwistshavebeencompleted,you’llnoticethattherewillbeaportionofstringwithagapwherethetwistsaredifferent.

Openthestringuplikethis.Fromherewe’llbeabletomakethetwistsequal.

Griponestrandfromthesidewherethefirstloopis.

Pullyourhandacrossthestringwhilegrippingtightly.Thetwistswillmovefromonesideofthestringtotheother.

Oncethetwistsareallequal,givethestringafewclockwisetwiststokeepthestrandstogether.Atthispointthestringneedstobestretched.Eitherputthestringonthebowandshootitorhangthestringfromoneloopandsuspenda

weightfromit.Leavetheweightovernight.

Tohelpprotectthestringfromfrayingandtotackdownanyloosefibers,coatitwithwax.Oncecoatedwithwax,rubthestringwithapieceofpaperto

smooththewax.

Enjoyyourfinishedstring!Foraddedreinforcement,wraptheareawherethearrowandyourfingersgowithheavythreadortape.

BonusTrack:PartTwo–GardenStakeArrows

Buildingyourownarrowscanbeexciting.Thereisnothingmoresatisfyingthanshootingarrowsyoumadewithyourownhandsoutofabowalsocraftedbyyou.Thatsaid,arrowsarenoteasytomake.AgoodarrowismuchhardertobuildthanaPVCbowandrequiresmuchmoretuningtoflyright.

Agoodarrowmustbeabletowithstandnotonlytheforcesofflexintheair,buttheimpactofstrikingatarget.Anyweaknessinthearrowanditcouldbreak.Whenarrowsbreakduringtheshot,theycouldeasilyshatter.Thesepiecescouldhityoureyesorembedthemselvesinyourskin.Abrokenarrowcouldevendriveintoyourhandwhereitwillneedtobesurgicallyremovedandmayruinyourhandpermanently.

Whenbuildingasafearrowforavarietyofbows,Ioftenusebambooandcane.Ifyoudon’thavebambooorcanegrowinginyourarea,mosthardwarestoressellbambooortonikncanegardenstakes.Whencarefullyselected,straightened,temperedandfinished,thesearrowsarestrongandcanbeshotthroughavarietyofbowweightswithoutmuchlossofaccuracy.

Startwithsomebamboogardenstakes.Youwanttolookforbambooorcanestakesthataresomewherebetween5/16and3/8inchesthick.Rejectanythatarecracked,burnt,rottedorlookgreen.Bambooandcaneshouldlookbrownor

yellowincolor.

Figureouthowlongyouwantyourarrows.Thetwoshaftsonthebottomarealreadystraightenedandcutout.Atthispoint,justgetanideaofwherethearrowshaftwillbecut.We’llbemarkingtheshaftsnowbutnotcuttingthem

yet.

Thethickerendofthecaneorbamboowillbefrontend.Thefrontshouldbemarkedatanodeorthethickerportionofthebambooforstrength.

Thethinnerendwillbethebackornockendofthearrow.Trytopickasectionofbamboowherethisendfallsonornearanodeasitwillstrongerthan

iffromthemiddle.

Removeanystemsorleafycoveringsfromthebamboo.Gentlycutsmallbranchesandoffshootstowardthenodetokeepthemfromstrippingtherestof

thebamboo

Here’swhattheresultingnodeshouldlooklike.

Sightdowntheendsofyourshafts,concentratingontheareasyoumarked.Youcanseethattheyarenotstraight.

LikePVC,bamboogetssoftwhenheated,butkeepinmindthatyouonlygetoneortwochances.Heattheareabetweennodesfirst.

Onceitisheatedenough,itwillflex.Straightenitandkeepstraighteninguntilitcoolsandsets.

Afterallthesectionsbetweennodesarestraightened,startworkingonthenodes.

Thenodesrequiremoreheattobendthemeasily,sothebamboomaygetalittletoastedhere.

Justbecarefultonotoverheatthenodesastheycouldsplitandsplinterlikethis.Throwawayanyarrowshaftsthataresplittingorcracked.

Whenstraighteningnodes,ithelpstorestthemagainstapadortoweloveryourknee.Thatwayyoucanpressthenodeintothecurveofyourlegformore

leverage.

Herearethestraightenedshaftsreadytobetrimmed.

Cuttheshaftsdowntolengthalongthelinesmarked.Agoodwaytocutbambooistosawallthewayaroundratherthanstraightthrough.Thishelps

preventsplintering.

Theresultingcutwillbecleanalongthetoughfibersofthebamboo.Theendscanthenbesandedsmooth.

Sandeachnode.Somelightsandingwithapieceofsandpaperbackedwithablockofwoodworkswell.

Eithersandthenodesjustuntiltheyaresmoothorsandthemtilltheyareflushwiththerestoftheshaft.Thenodesshouldnotaffectarrowflight.

Oncetheshaftsaresandedsmooth,applyyourfinishofchoice.Ifyoucompletelyflattenthenodeareas,alacquerorpolyfinishwillhelpkeepthe

nodesfromsplitting.

Ifgluingoncommercialpointsandnocks,glueasmalldowelintoeachendaninchdeep.Thiswillhelpreinforcetheendsofthearrow.

We’llstartfletchingbymakingasimplefeatherclampthatwillhelpyougluefeathersmoreconsistently.Startwithalengthof3/4inchpipe,6inches

long.

Heatthepipeandflattenitcompletelybetweentwoflatsurfaces.

Withafileorsandpaper,grindawayoneedgeuntiltheinsideofthepipeisexposed.

Thefeatherclampwillworkwithorwithoutaspringclamp.Simplefingerpressurewillholdfeathersinforgluing.

Afterapplyingathinlineofcraftcement,superglueorfletchingglue.Pressthefeatherontotheshaft,holdingituntilthegluesets.

Yourfirstfeathershouldbealignedwiththesideofyournocksothatthisfeatherwillstickoutfromthebowwhenonthestring.

Itshouldbeperpendiculartothenockgroove.

Arrangetheotherfeathers120degreesawayfromthefirst.

Besurethatyourfeathersallcurlinthesamedirectionbeforegluingasthiswillaffectflight.

Ifyoudon’twanttobuypre-cutfeather,youcancutthemyourself.Startwiththewingortailfeatherofturkey,peacock,gooseorotherlargebird.

Withasharpknifeorrazorblade,splitthefeatheralongthecenterofthequill.Workcarefullyastheknifemaypulltoonesideandcutthequill.

Pickonesideofthefeathertouse.Ifusingmultiplefeathersfromabird,makesureeachisfromthesamewingasthiswillaffectarrowflight.

Cutthefeathertoyourfinishedlength.Iprefer4to5inchfeathersforbambooandwoodarrows.

Thequillwillbethickandwideatthispoint.Clampthefeatherinthefeatherclampandcarefullycutthequilldown.

Becarefulwhilecuttingthequillasit’seasytomakeittoothin.Thequillshouldbesmoothanduniforminsizenow,around1/8ofaninchwide.

Yourfeathersarenowreadyforgluing.Ifyouarecuttingthembyhand,itiseasiertodowhenthefeathersareontheshaft.

Whenworkingwithfull-lengthfeathers,Iliketouseamodifiedfeatherclampcutdowntothelengthofthefeather.Thisallowsyoutogetthelength

exactoneachfeather.

Applythefeathersjustlikethepre-cutfeathers.Thebackofthefeathershouldbearoundainchfromthebottomofthenock.

Dependingonhowyoucutthebackofthefeather,youmaywanttofletchtheshaftlower.

Trimthefeatherwithalargepairofscissors.Ifleavingtheendsofthefeathersfulllikethis,makesurethereisenoughroomforyourfingerstogripthe

arrow.

Applythenocksontoyourarrowifyouhaven’tdoneso.Mostcommercialnocksneedan11degreetaper.

Alternatively,useanockfileortilesawtofileagrooveintotheendofthearrowforanock.Bindjustbelowthenockwiththreadortape.

Mostglue-onpointsrequirea5degreetaper.

Sincebambooarrowsarehollow,duplexnailscanbesharpenedandthengluedintothefrontendofthearrowasapoint.

Enjoyyournewarrowsandhappyshooting!

Ifyou’veeverwantedtobuildawoodenbow,checkoutTheBackyardBowyer:TheBeginner’sGuidetoBuildingBows