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Post by THE_SUPERWEIRDO on Jul 12, 2012 18:08:22 GMT
As like my last post on here, I have the urge to buy a bow and some arrows and shoot crazy. (°□°) But before I even decided if I should buy a bow, I saw this video on Youtube: And the obvious hit me, I SHOULD MAKE MY OWN! It seems cheap, probably not that complicated, and makes it a bit more personalized. But I have no idea how durable it is or if it's worth it. I mean it's cheap, but I also want a bow that shoots accurately with an appropriate amount of power as possible. Plus I have the fear of the bow failing on me, and causing some serious injuries. So, safety, price, and performance is basically what I'm looking out for. So, what do you guys think? Any suggestions? (I am a hopeless newb at archery :? )
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2012 19:35:28 GMT
I doubt bows made like this are going to last very long before loosing their spring, but if you would enjoy making bows as much as shooting them it seems like an ok way to go. If you want more resources on home-made bows you can go to poorfolkbows.com/On the other hand, if you are less interested in making bows, and more interested in spending your time learning how to use them I would buy one. Even a cheap production bow is going to outperform something from the plumbing department at home-depot.
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Post by THE_SUPERWEIRDO on Jul 12, 2012 20:13:34 GMT
Though me making a wood bow sound like a disaster waiting to happen, and my patience isn't that long. With a PVC Bow, it sounds like I can make one in a shorter amount of time then compared to making a wooden one. And I've also discovered this one Youtuber, BackyardBowyer, that seems to know what he's doing with PVC Bows and shows some tutorials on how to make some. And I think his bows can hold up like a low cost wooden one... Now don't get me wrong, I would also love to get a wooden bow, I just can't decide which has the slightly better quality-price ratio. So has anybody have any experience with a PVC Bow?
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Taran
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Post by Taran on Jul 14, 2012 11:22:59 GMT
PVC is brittle. When it fails (not if), it will go in a rather impressive fashion.
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Post by Ceebs on Jul 15, 2012 0:21:14 GMT
Wood is infinitely better than PVC. Better to get something that will last without the risk of catastrophic failure.
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Post by ineffableone on Jul 15, 2012 2:53:15 GMT
For wood bow tutorials check out www.youtube.com/BoarriorBows/videos He has some very good build along video series. He also is now offering a low cost high quality premade bow to buy. I think it runs in the $100 range. Of course there is also the long bow seller on ebay that is often mentioned by Greg, KP archery stores.ebay.com/KP-Archery?_rdc=1 long bows under $50 anyone? PVC bows would make a good emergency bow, or just a fun play toy bow, but if you want to get some serious shooting in you want a real wood bow.
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Post by Kataphractos on Jul 19, 2012 3:18:28 GMT
I made a bow out of a diamond willow trunk when I was a kid. No formal construction or finishing, just a shaft stripped of branches and nocks cut on each end for the string (baling twine in my case). Don't know what the draw weight was, but it could shoot a fiberglass arrow ~70 yards.
It developed a slight curve to it as I shot it, but otherwise retained a fair amount of springiness until it dried out and snapped a few weeks later. It broke far enough away from my hand that I didn't get any splinters, though.
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Post by THE_SUPERWEIRDO on Jul 19, 2012 17:35:14 GMT
Well, it seems that wood is the best way to go then. Though for bows, I originally wanted to get a Japanese Yumi bow, either a Daikyu or a Hankyu, but since after all the searching I did on the internet, I only found one in Kult of Athena Here. Though I don't know if this is the best and cheapest option. If all fails with my search for a Yumi bow, I'll just decide on getting a Longbow, if I have any money from my budget to spend. :?
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Post by ineffableone on Jul 19, 2012 18:05:04 GMT
The cheapest decent bow you will find are the KP Archery bows linked above, unless you luck out on a used bow (though used bows often have dangerous flaws in them). With a $35-$45 long bow from KP Archery you will end up spending more on arrows than on the bow at that price range. Seriously, arrows range $40-$100 for wood $60-$120 for carbon $50-$75 for Aluminium. So a Bow under $50 means your likely to end up spending more on your arrows than the bow. *edit BTW the cheapest wood arrow source is probably www.dmerrill.com/page.php?funct=as&pName=ArrowsThey are selling a dozen cut to size and tipped arrows for prices often charged for only 6 wood arrows without the cut to size and tips.
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Post by THE_SUPERWEIRDO on Jul 19, 2012 18:15:49 GMT
So dmerrill sells in dozens for $65? That sounds cheap, since I saw only 3 arrows sets for the similar price... Though I don't get the description: "Dozen, 3 fletched, with 5" solid color feathers, Stained or clear coated shafts, with nocks and Field Tips" So does that mean that they will give me 12 shafts with 3 of them "fletched"?
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Post by ineffableone on Jul 19, 2012 18:37:53 GMT
LOL :lol:
3 fletched for $65 ,4 fletched for $75 is in reference to the amount of feathers on the arrow. 3 or 4. All the dozen will be fletched with 3 feathers. Or 4 if you buy the 4 fletched, but I would suggest you go with 3 fletched.
I can see how that might be confusing though if your not used to the way things work in archery. Remember there are two different types of feather on the 3 fletched, 2 hen feathers, and 1 cock feather. Usually the cock feather is different color or barred or something to differentiate from the other 2. This is because it helps you orient the arrow when nocking. The cock feather should be pointed out.
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Post by THE_SUPERWEIRDO on Jul 19, 2012 21:55:52 GMT
Oh... Well in that case it sounds like a sweet deal, for around $100, I can have a bow and a dozen arrows. Simply put, the "Different feather" is pointed up when you shoot an arrow?
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Aaron
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Senior Forumite
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Post by Aaron on Jul 19, 2012 22:06:18 GMT
The cock feather should be pointed out away from the bow, though many people report that facing it in doesn't impact flight and helps reduce wear on the fletchings.
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Post by ineffableone on Jul 19, 2012 22:36:02 GMT
What Aaron said. Looking down the arrow the cock feather will be about 9 O' clock This is a graphic showing shooting off a shelf but the idea is the same, the horizontal feather is the cock feather. You can see in this picture the nock would only allow you two shooting options, either facing the cock feather out like shown or facing in. You want to make sure you shoot with it facing out.
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Post by EvilDragonX on Aug 3, 2012 1:54:53 GMT
Im not sure what you are willing to spend on a bow but you can try www.3riversarchery.com/. They cater to traditional archery, not the cheapest but they cover everything.
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Post by ineffableone on Aug 3, 2012 1:58:27 GMT
Yep 3Rivers is great, it is where I bought my Samick Sage.
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Post by 14thforsaken on Aug 3, 2012 2:58:13 GMT
One thing you probably should get is a guard for your arm. After a while the repeated hits to the inside of your arm from the string will hurt. Make sure it is long enough to cover all of your inner forearm; I used one that was too short once and tore my arm up good. This is what happens when you forget to use a guard or use one that is too small and smack yourself a couple of times from sloppy form: This is the guard I use now:
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Post by THE_SUPERWEIRDO on Aug 3, 2012 3:29:41 GMT
Oh god! Though good protection will prevent this, this is one of the reasons why I tend to push off archery. :? I don't have to worry about swords. I accidentally cut myself more with paper cuts than with a sword. :mrgreen:
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Greg
Senior Forumite
Posts: 1,800
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Post by Greg on Aug 3, 2012 3:59:47 GMT
I can not stress how wonderful myworld.ebay.com/kpkpparson is. I've bought 3 bows from them so far, and they have all been wonderful, I will keep buying from them until I advance to a poundage they will no longer support, and by that time, I should be able to make one that won't break. About the picture above, you don't even need "good" protection. I have a strip of 3oz leather that I laced a string through and that is about all that covers my arm with a 65# bow. I think the problem above was that his armguard was to short. But if you are just after a very affordable longbow, seriously consider KP Archery. Oh, and I have built a PVC bow out of 3/4" pvc... lemme go find the quirky vid I made: www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUkMH ... Bac#t=371s That link will start ya when I actually shoot it, the time before that is just inane commentary.
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Post by 14thforsaken on Aug 3, 2012 5:04:07 GMT
Yeah, my guard was too short. That and I screwed up a couple of shots and tagged myself harder than normal; learning to use a thumb ring to draw is just weird until you get used to it and can make you have some really really wild shots until you learn control with it. I had to have one custom made to get one long enough. I got mine from Ravenswood Leather, I think they call it the Sherwood glove. What's nice is the padding between the forefinger and thumb, especially since the bow I use doesn't have a shelf or rest.
I wouldn't worry about trying to use a bow with a heavy draw if you're just out to have fun. I have a Mongolian horse bow with a 50 lb draw at 28" and that is plenty to take down most game.
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