| From: RJH1
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| Date: 31-Aug-18 |
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Looking for input on the u finish hickory self bows from places like gravyn archery. I think they sell them at 3 rivers or at least they did in the past. It comes with a tillering board, scraper, and a somewhat finished bow. Just wondering if they are any good, and might be good for someone wanting to stick their toe in the waters of selfbows.
Thanks
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| From: Eric Krewson
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| Date: 31-Aug-18 |
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You could go that route, I haven't seen any of these your finish kits in person so I can't speak to the quality.
Personally, I would buy a stave off ebay, lots of reference material, accumulate some tools and really learn to make a selfbow. If you go slow you can pull it off.
Make a tillering gizmo, it will take the guesswork out of getting your limbs bending properly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqvwUqn-EFQ&t=1
If you don't live in a city, finding bow wood is relatively easy, you do have to ask around but it is there.
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| From: PEARL DRUMS
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| Date: 31-Aug-18 |
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I wouldn't touch it. I have heard enough about them to say I would not waste my money. Every once in a while somebody will find a decent grained board in their kit, but most are junk and are spit out the door very quickly. You would be light years ahead by taking Eric's advice. Either buy your own hickory board for $10 or a stave.
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| From: Bjrogg
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| Date: 31-Aug-18 |
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I seriously considered that route. I can't tell you personally what those kits are like. I have heard like Pearl said. Got some bad reviews, but inexperienced bowyers could break or ruin a good stave to. I personally am glad now that I didn't choose that route. I just cut my own stave. Broke the first one after around 150 shots. I learned so much from it though and have had much success since. I've got a pretty nice supply of staves and roughed out staves waiting for me now. I can't say for sure but I really don't think I'd have gotten the same satisfaction or knowledge from a u-finish stave. I guess I'll never know for sure, but I'm very happy with the route I choose. Good Luck, hope you give a selfbow build a try. It certainly can be a life changing experience. Haven't looked at a tree the same since. Bjrogg
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| From: scp
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| Date: 15-Sep-18 |
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Anything is better than nothing. I would back the blank with linen and titebond3 before tillering. But I would rather get a dimensional lumber. I sometimes make a quarter-sawn board out of stave, if that makes it simpler to tiller. Good luck.
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| From: George Tsoukalas
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| Date: 15-Sep-18 |
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See my site for info. Jawge
http://traditionalarchery101.com
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| From: Pa Steve
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| Date: 15-Sep-18 |
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Take Eric's advice. There are experienced bowyers willing to help out and share their knowledge. Obviously you have the desire. I just completed my sixth selfbow and like Bjrogg said "haven't looked at a tree the same since". Good luck.
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| From: Laserman
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| Date: 16-Sep-18 |
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I bought a kit years ago from rudderbow. My son and I finished it and it came out great for our first attempt. Ended up #40 which is what we wanted. Took a long time scraping but I made him help scrape and tiller. Don’t know if rudderbow is still around but stay away from the finished bows. The bow we made is still shooting but the bamboo backed bow I bought at the same time got a hinge on lower limb after 3 months.
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