As a new rookie bow builder I have very little in the way of experience or a vast pool of self learned knowledge. With all of that being said I feel like I do have some good advice to give so here goes. Stop being afraid to fail. I see everyday post about folks who are afraid to get started on a bow for fear of failing. I was in the same boat for at least a year and looking back it was foolish. After I finally got the gumption to start, I tried to find the cheapest most subpar wood I could find as I didn't want to ruin "good" wood. I finally realized that I needed to stop setting myself up to fail. Good staves still fail and I still make mistakes but I do my best to work to the woods potential not use wood that I think meets my potential. So in short learn all you can first but don't be afraid to jump in and make shavings. Once the wood hits the floor you will have a better understanding of the stuff you have read. Just some advice I wish I had taken looking back.

That's how I feel about fletching, now that I've done a couple.

Still making rookie mistakes, but you know what? So what? Not like I can't take an Exacto and try again....

Some things - and making good shots on animals is NOT one of them - but some things, it's a lot more important to make the attempt than to succeed. Most things are that way, really... You'll get there.

There's apprehension in most folks when it comes to trying something like that. It stops some right in their tracks. Others get past it with a little coaxing and direction, and some just go off and do it. But they all find their fears diminish then replaced by enthusiasm as the wood curls pile up underfoot.

It isn't rocket science, and doesn't require expert woodworking skills prior. It does take a will to do it, and good reference or instruction, quality bow wood and a basic, proven design raises the odds significantly.

You got to try, is what I tell myself. Your correct, that first cut, that first feather you fletch, that first time I glued up a bamboo fly rod all took a deep inhale. But you will never know unless you do it.

When learning to work with your hands it is inevitable that you are going to burn through some material while you figure out what you are doing. The only question is how much and for how long.

I would think the sooner you accept that you might produce a lot of kindling on your journey to sorting it then the sooner you can get started. Like you said, you can't be afraid to "waste" material.

Same path for me building surfboards, but I can say that I DID get to spend 5 years doing repair work on them before I tried to build one.

Helped immensely in building the necessary skill set. Not sure there is an analogous method for bow shaping.

I was the opposite and had ZERO fear, only images of sweet bows in my mind just beckoning for me to replicate them with my hands. I dove in head first and just cranked out bow after bow after bow, most were junkers. Eventually all the advice I received from those junkers led me to much better bows. I don't know what, "Slow down and take your time" means. Sometimes I wish I did.

I attempted at least a dozen bows before I bought my first books, again no patience at all. I learned the most from archery events that sport a self bow building area. Hands on with experts is priceless, totally priceless. I can teach a guy to build good bows in a day whereas it may take years of reading and experimenting otherwise.

Get to pappys this spring and learn from the experts he has there all week.

Pearl I was the same. This is good info for the beginner . Arvin

Good advice for any new endeavor.

I'm an advocate for good books. One good book, or maybe a chapter in a book or magazine article, on whatever topic you're interested in, will give you all the info you will need to have and save you a multitude of mistakes or differing and conflicting opinions on advice derived from the internet. Sure, one can learn from one's mistakes, but why make a bunch you don't have to? Shouldn't take years to read it either, though as your interest and expertise grows, you'll often find yourself looking for more materials to increase your knowledge.

Of course, if you can find someone to show you how to do it, take advantage of the opportunity. Most don't have that opportunity though. Reading and working with your hands aren't mutually exclusive. Can do both at the same time. Read about how to do it, then do it. Works for me.

BTW, Hunting the Osage Bow by Dean Torges is among the best books out there for teaching you how to build a good self bow the first time.

I dove in head first years ago and thought I knew what I was doing....I made selfbows and thought I was good until I hunted with Gary Davis then Dean Torges and saw what selfbows should look like OMG! Then I made glass bows and thought I was good until I met another trad hunter who had a pinecone Morrison OMG!

Fact is-aesthetics aside diving in and making bows is as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.JUST DO IT!

Parts of this thread are starting to remind me of the old cowboy joke -

There are those who learn from reading in books.

There are those who learn from observing the mistakes of others…

And then there are those who have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.

But good luck with it, no matter what your approach! Better to get started and fail than to fail to begin.

I might say I am still building like crazy and still learning . Arvin

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