Introduction: Woodland Bow
bow from your garden easy and no cost to make :D
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE OR HARM TO ANIMALS OTHERS OR YOURSELF. THIS IS USED BY YOUR OWN OR PARENTS SUPERVISION. BY MAKING THIS ITEM YOU AGREE THAT YOU CANNOT SUE FOR MAKING THIS ITEM AFTER READING THIS TEXT IN CAPITAL LETTERS!!!
Step 1: The Matierials!!!
All you need is a big sharp knife.
A ball of string .
And mans best friend a stick!!
Step 2: The Stick!!!
Mostly you need a straight bendy and thickish stick.
The one i used which grows in your garden is a privet stick,
they are bendy and strong and well the good properties for a bow.
make sure it is straight !
try to use a privet stick if u can.
Step 3: The Notches of Doom!!!
For the notches you use your big knife and cut a 90degree line into it ,then slope it off up out the stick.
NOT INTO THE STICK!!
Step 4: The String!!!
All you need is nomral houshold string that you can get from ur cupboard in ur kitchen or garage or the shop for 90p BUT NO!!! KNITTING STRING BECAUSE ITS CRAP.
Measure the string to 4.5ft and tie loops at the end of it a normal loop would be fine but if you know the lassooo not it would be better as it tightens when pulled on and loosens when unpulled
This will be perfect for your 5 ft stick
Step 5: The Putting Toghetherness!!!
Right all you need to do is put one end of the loops on one of the notches and turn it upside down
and put the other one on.
If the string is too loose or too tight undo one end and make it suitable for ur stick
Step 6: Arrows!!!
All you need to do is get a straight sitck about shoulder to hand length and sharpen one end and cut the other one so it is flat and place on your bow and fire
Step 7: Finished!
Even though you have a bow it will only fire at the max a couple of yards like tops 50 yards
you can add flights if wanted or weights at the front to make it more stable and arch more easilly
but remeber safety first and have a good time
please tell me and others what you have done to make it more better and cooler.
45 Comments
16 years ago
in the middle ages to find the correct size bow you put your thumb on your head and the height from the tip of your thumb to the ground was the right height for your bow.
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
its not a bow unless the stick is flexible like bamboo for example. most people call their creations crossbows when all the power comes from an elastic.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
Actually, a bow relies on more than just the wood. The string does need some give to it or it would break after a few shots. Also Bamboo may be a flexible wood but, it is more reliable to use a hard wood such as: oak, red wood, or hickory.
P.S. please forgive my bad punctuation.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
but that still isnt a crossbow
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
yep
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
my bow did not have to be as long because i recurved it
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Oh!
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
and just 5 min ago it broke
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Oh no!!!! Is it beyond repair?
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
yes, no mater how much i tape it up i predict the crack will spread and eventually split the bow length wise
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
So will you need a new piece of wood or are you going to leave it?
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
i have to make a new one
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Well at least you know how to do it now so you can improve it aswell.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
ya, don't use that type of wood
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
All you need is a hard wood with straight grain. Usually Oak, Hickory or Yew. I made a Red Wood bow several years ago and it still works. It has about a 50 pound pull so it is not that powerfully, I planed it too thin. The main thing is the grain DOES NOT RUN OUT. If you follow the wood grain for tip to tip on the bow and the grain does not go straight through the whole bow it will snap when you pull it back (not necessarily on the first pull). I had a bump on my head to prove that from my first attempt. Also you can glue a thin strip of flexible material on the backside ( the side away from you when you pull it) of the bow to help keep it from snapping. I used PVC vinyl.
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
If you get some rawhide dog chews, the largest you can find, soak them for a while till you can untie them, you will have a fairly good size sheet of rawhide. This makes a very good backing for a bow and will increase the strength of the bow somewhat. Hide glue is usually the best thing to use to put it on there.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
:P
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
A traditional English Longbow is the Archers full height plus one hand thumb up; this measurement still stands, also the string length for the archers bow is one hand with thumb up shorter than the length of the bow giving the correct brace height. History: Law: Every man child from the age of 8 years must own his own longbow and two arrows, and practice for one hour after church on the local common or the 'butts' (exemptions to this law were priests and women)this law has not been repealed.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Oh! I didn't know that, very interesting. Thank you.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
In the city of York, it is legal to murder a Scotsman within the ancient city walls, but only if he is carrying a bow and arrow. Another obscure law that has not been repealed, the list is endless..