Making a simple laminate longbow

This is a short guide on how to make a VERY simple laminate longbow. If at the end of this tutorial, you have any questions that are not answered, or you would like more detailed instructions on how to make a longbow, check out www.makingtraditionalbows.com

Step 1:

Step 1
Cut the laminates using a circular saw or a band saw. The dimensions of the belly laminate should be about 75" by 1 1/2" by 1", and the dimensions of the back laminate 75" by 1 1/2" by 3/16". The grain of the back laminate must run straight down the length of the board and be uncut.
When shooting a bow the belly side is towards you and the back is facing away.

Optional belly woods: Yew, osage, lemonwood, ipe, oak and more.
Woods for backing: Hickory, ash and more.

Comments

[Imcrazydude]

Does titebond 3 work for glueing the laminations

[Imcrazydude]

For the dimensions given whats the draw weight?

[Doug1965]

Thanks for sharing this, I really liked seeing this how to. My question is this: I live near a recycling facility for plants and trees. Do the laminate materials need to be from a log or can they be from larger diameter branches?

Also, although I don't have any photos, I have made a long bow from white oak. It's a shade under 7 feet and still isn't finished. I need a backing material and still need to tiller it. The backing material I am considering using is strips of bamboo flooring. I doubt I will find a length of 7 foot bamboo so I plan to finger joint a couple pieces together. Any thought son this.

Thanks,
Doug

[thebowyer]

how long is the handle of this bow?

[ChrisMBows]

I wanted to make this instructable as simple as possible so there is no handle as such on this bow. The common length of a handle on this type of bow (a bow that bends through the full length of the bow) is 4" and the handle is offset from the centre of the bow by 1", making the lower bow limb shorter than the upper.

[samick]

trés beau travail
felicitation

[iacchus]

Hello, well done instructable & wonderful e-book (exactly what I've been searching for). My question is on fletching; arrows today have fletching that is slightly turned so the arrow will rotate during flight. Is this truly helpful in the arrows distance & impact?

[ChrisMBows]

Thank you for the kind words.
Offset or helical feathers on an arrow will make the arrow spin when it is in flight, just like a bullet shot from a rifle. If there are any inconsistencies in the the flight path of the arrow these inconsistencies will be spun in all directions, making the arrow more accurate.
I am quite sure that this style of fletching arrows do not make the arrow fly further, it is much more likely that it has the opposite effect, though I have not done any testing.

[herkavar]

It seems that you kind of skipped the whole tillering process.

[ChrisMBows]

Yes, you are right, the tillering process is missing. I tried to make the guide short and simple.
If you want to know more about tillering, I have written a book on how to make longbows and other traditional archery equipment and there is a free version which you can download for free at my site. The free version contains a lot of information on how to tiller a longbow: http://www.makingtraditionalbows.com/light.html

[armored bore]

So, you basically need something stiff like oak for the back, and something springy like pine or yew on the front? I'm just trying to think of anything I can get from Ganahl Lumber or Home DesperateDepot.

[ChrisMBows]

For the back of the bow you need a type of wood that is strong in tension and for the belly of the bow a type of wood that is strong in compression.
Examples of these types of wood are mentioned in step one.
Oak will also work for the back of a bow.
Avoid pine wood, it is not very reliable for a bow.
Chris

[jmichelin]

I eas wondeing how to make a bow out of thinner materials, and i was wondering how thick all you guys make your bows, a laminated english war bow would be neat

[ChrisMBows]

Suggestions for a war bow: 75" - 80" long and 1/2" thick at the tip and about
1 1/4" thick at the center of the bow (the exact dimensions depend on which type of wood you chose). A war bow bends all the way through the handle section (no handle raiser). Making a bow this way will maximise shooting distance, but you will lose some control and accuracy.
Chris

[mvankan]

I think you are missing a few steps.... to make a good longbow anyways.....

[fatchumba667]

Just remember this is an 'ible of a SIMPLE laminate longbow, made easy for people probably who want a neat project for a sunday afternoon or simply learning bow making :)

[a4great]

I agree... It would have been nice if he also showed stringing (was a tad confusing).

[Hippymike96]

I had some trouble finding that out too

[nerd12]

easy way to string most bows-
1. hold bow as normal and place lower end in ground
2. attach the slipknot of the string to the lower end
3. grasp the other end of the string and bend the bow down.
4. loop the knot over end.
5. check both ends for tightness (to see if the string is slipping or might when firing

Thats about it!
have fun and play safe

[PENNY1999]

where did you get those woods and how far does it shoot? and by the way YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

[ChrisMBows]

Thank you! This longbow has an ash back and the wood comes from the forest behind our workshop. The ipe belly is made from a board from my local hardwood store.
I have not tested the shooting distance of this bow, but my best guess is about 200 meters (218 yards) with the right arrow.
Chris

[edvannatta68]

see this cool want long mach this

[thomas 666]

what wood did you use to make it ?

[ChrisMBows]

The longbow shown in the photo has an ash back and an ipe belly.
Chris

[ChrisMBows]

Thank you all for all the wonderful comments and questions.
I have answered some of the questions and then I have updated the tutorial to address the rest of your questions. Thank you!
Chris

[highjacked]

What's the draw strength on this bow?

[ChrisMBows]

40-60 pounds - it is really hard to say because it depends on which type of wood you use, your bow making style and skill:) If this is the first time you make a bow, it will probably be lower than 40 pounds before you are done with it.

As mentioned, the draw weight also depends on your draw length (the distance from the back of the bow to the string when you draw the string back to shoot the arrow). On average when target shooting, this distance is 28" and most people use the corner of the mouth or the cheekbone as an anchor point.

[scorpman]

longbows do not have a set draw length like a compound bow. You pull it back to the length you need. The father you pull it back, the harder it get.

[Mrjamfunkalot]

Actually there is a draw weight to longbows. The draw length on average runs about 28" and the weight is measured by placing the bow on a suspended scale and pulling down to that distance. Based on the thickness and number of your tapered laminates including the length of your bow there will be variations to this weight. Material also plays a roll. Indeed there are different drawing distances based on who is pulling it back but the draw weight is measurable.

[Lord Jon Bigglesworth]

Longbows were originally drawn back to the ear or farther, while most other bows were pulled back to the eyes. Longbowmen required 10 years of training in order to build up the muscle in their drawing arm. A typical longbowman could fire 12-15 shots in a minute, with very high accuracy. In this way, they were actually more effective than the muskets which were coming into use. However, you didn't need 10 years to train a person to shoot a gun, so longbows were used only in England, and only for a very short window of time (around a century, if memory serves).

In any case, there is no measure of how much power the bow has per say, unless you know exactly how far back you draw it every time, and you know the equations based on your bow, the type of wood, the string, your draw length, etc.

[cblackwell]

Also, native american style bows were usually shot "instinctively", which is a different style. The bow arm is pushed forward while the arrow hand is pulled back to the area of the chin or corner of the mouth. One fluid movement and then released when 'instinct' said it was on target. The bow was not held in the pulled position for more than a second.
The hold position seems to come from a military background where archers worked in groups rather than a hunting style where they worked alone. For most native traditions the range was much closer than modern hunters would believe. 3 to 10 feet being the range for a honorable kill of the animal. "the arrow would enter the animal before the fletching/feathers passed the hand." It takes good stalking or hiding/camouflage/scent masking skills compared to a tree stand shot at 50 feet. A different skill set for a different time and tradition.

[DaiVrath]

One small correction: Longbowmen used back muscles just as much as arm muscles, both are required to use such powerful bows.
Other than that everything you said was right on.

[periodthree]

Where do you buy your timber?

[ChrisMBows]

For the most part I actually cut my own:) If I want more exotic woods like e.g. ipe, I buy it at the hardware store. A lot of fine hardwoods can be found there.

[Aaronius]

Simple, effective and beautiful. Can red or white oak be used?

[ChrisMBows]

Both red and white oak works great, especially when used as a belly laminate. Oak can also be used for a back laminate, but you have to make sure you do not cut the grain when preparing the laminate.
Chris

[Southclaw]

Yes,white oak can and is used,as for red oak,it is less common,you could use it for a backing.

[star_dust]

Belly side? Belly tapers? Please explain.

[cblackwell]

Think of holding the bow as dancing with your partner. The belly is towards you and the back is away.
Belly tapers are usually the fade from the thicker, unbending handle to the bending/working parts of the bow. Smooth and graceful to avoid a hinge type fracture of the wood.

[Sun Spirit]

Another way to describe the belly is the side of the bow closest the one sees as one shoots, easy to remember because it's the side closest to the one's belly.