Compound Bow From PVC Pipe:

   This instructional video shows step by step how to make a compound bow from innexpensive, readily available materials. Anyone can do it if you have some patience and are willing to try. This is a good project for anyone who wants to get into archery with a compound bow but doesn't want to pay for such an expensive item. Or you could just make it to learn about how these types of bows work and gain experience working with this sort of thing.

   For those that don't already know a compound bow is a bow that uses a set of cables, pulleys, and eccentric wheels to create leverage and manipulate the force that it pulls with at different draw lengths. Normally you want this type of bow to pull with a lot of force during most of the draw, then "let off" to a lower weight once drawn all the way back. This way it is easier to shoot but still gives better performance than a more traditional type of bow.

Contests:

   I would like to enter this instructable in the UP! contest because it demonstrates that I do projects where I need unusually shaped custom parts made of plastic or other materials.

Step 1: Optional, Make a Sight

This step will show you how to make a sight for the bow. This isn't a traditional bow sight. It is more like an "iron sight." But it does work well on this bow.

The instructions are on the pictures.

To adjust this sight (assuming sight is mounted on left-side of bow):
-arrow shoots left of target = turn screw out.
-arrow shoots right of target = turn screw in.
-arrow shoots above target = tilt sight up.
-arrow shoots below target = tilt sight down.

Step 2: Scan of the Cams

I recieved a request for a template of the cams, so I scanned them. Yard stick included for scale check. The cam has several axel holes that I tested with. I am using the one that is lowest and furthest clockwise in the picture.

The second picture is an improved cam design, including the template and a tracing onto some light blue foam. I will cut it out of the foam and cast it in aluminum. The third picture is two finished cast aluminum cams.