Just built my first (technically 3rd, but the other two snapped during tillering) bow. Maple board bow, 66" nock to nock, draws 46lbs at 28". Your videos and book were what got me started. Love your channel, thanks for all the great info and inspiration.
I started about 1 year ago from watching your videos . I have not made a perfect bow but I've had several perfect journeys . Making the bow is the enjoyment . The more you enjoy the journey the better your bow turns out . I flint knap and have never made the perfect blade but I've knapped thousands. I've enjoyed bleeding out on every one . Spending time with other people making stuff is also just as valuable. You can't learn if your not cutting,chopping,and bleeding .
AWSOME speech. I am just about to finish my first black locust bow and you sir are the one who inspired me about a year ago to start building self bows . I have picked up a Osage bow stave at a primitive art festival that's going to be my next bow love your videos clay keep them coming.
Spot on Clay! I’ve been making bows over 50 years and have never seen a perfect example. Every one is unique and all have flaws. The old Bowyers had a saying “If you’re not breaking bows you’re not making bows” it is so true. Failure is the cornerstone to success!
Good video as always. I have been building bows for several years and like anything getting started is the hardest part. Once I let my first arrow fly from a bow I made, I was hooked.
I made my first bow 4 ft long I was using oak when I did it. It turned out really good but at the same time the growth ring messed me up and it's the last part of it it cracked on one of the limbs. He was devastating to 1% but it was a good experience to learn learning the grain of the would
It is really cool to look at some of your first bows and see how far you have come. My first Osage Orange bow I call Old Ugly. I started making bows about 11 years ago and have seen a huge difference in my first bows to what I make now. Thanks for the great video!
Great video. I just harvested a black locust sapling I've had my eye on for about 4 years, and split and roughed out a hop hornbeam stave for my next bow.
Great video Clay. I have a problem with patients in building my own bows. As far as any of those bows being ugly, beauty is in the eye of the bowholder. Keep up the great work.
@@clayhayeshunter does your book require a lot of tools for bow building? Or is it more a minimalist kind of book? I'm a broke father of two and would really like to get into bow making... I don't have a shed with a ton of power tools. I'd be able to buy some hand tools but that's about it.
Main point: sense of accomplishment. Are you a killer or a hunter? Is the sole purpose to take game or is it to experience the hunt, to learn game habits and how to get close to them, to experience nature at a more primal level, to hold something in your hands that you've made, know its limitations, and make it a part of your eye, your hand, and your thought. Do I get an amen, Clay?
Learning the grain of the wood now I am trying to figure out how to make bow strings for various length bows and I haven't quite understand how you was doing it seven strands of one string 7 strands of the other string and making the bull length out of it I'm making a bow for my grandchildren that are 4 ft long, how do you get the string length out of it? Then on a 6-foot bow how do you measure the string length for a 6-foot boat I don't quite understand your logic. You measured out a peg on the wall and drove two nails in it
G'day Clay, since I saw your first video 6 months ago I'm 10 bows in and broken 3 (one literally exploded and scared the McDooley outta me)...I'm so hooked and always trying different timbers here in OZ. Thanks for all your information mate, it's great having to adapt to the different woods over here and working out what shape and size of limb works best. Cheers, Clay
@@clayhayeshunter I'm in the snowy Mountains in a ski resort. It's all National park so no hunting, but my friends have farms...planning on trying to sneak up on my first deer before winter with one of my bows! I'm sure it'll be a laugh first time ;)
Is his book on bow building using basic tools or if I buy the book does it requires me to have a full garage loaded down with tools.???? I want a book that uses basic hand tools.
@@13629094 yes it will make a good bow, just make sure you follow Clay's build videos to make sure it has propper grain orientation and go slow you will have a good bow
I am trying to make out of hickory Birch or maple wood longbows my grandchildren are 6 and 12 so I was thinking about a 4-foot bowl for each of them set up at 20 lb I figure the draw length to make that right at 21 to 23 in draw length? And then at the same time I'm going to make 6 ft bows for the other family and I'll be making 6 ft bows and I'll be making them for the other family and they will poundage you be between 35 and 40 lb I still haven't got an understanding yet as to the length of the string for the bows. And you did not give me the size of the strings for the bows 14 strands 7 on each side to wrap I don't know what we're doing I'm totally confused at this point do the simple fact I have dyslexic I'm trying to get this straight in my head where I understand what I'm doing I need the information on how you figure on a length of all how do you make your bow strings what length are they not quite sure on that. Do you get the proper length on the Bose so that you have a right at a 6-inch from the handle to the string when it's dra
I was terrified that my first bow would break ,however it was 85 lb , Osage , I've built them out of ash ,hickory, Russian olive , hornbeem, My first elk hunt was so cool the elk was 15ft away with a total pass thru
I was building a bow the other day out of a hard wood from the local hardware store, I was working on it for a few hours and In the process of tillering, the bow snapped. This was my first attempt at crafting a bow so I am aware of the facts that bows break but I am struggling to find a good wood to uses as everything I have found from the local hardware store has a short grain. Are there any tips that you have to help me ? Thank you
Hi Sean, sometimes you have to look through a bunch of wood to find a good piece. They may have a different selection a little later. You could also go out and harvest a few staves. There's usually something suitable nearby no matter where you live. ch
i have made half a dozen bows or so some have been good some were not so much I don't have that many tools i have made some with just and old rubbish Axe some with just a knife. I don't have great sheds with the best tools like others but I have enjoyed doing them all if you are not enjoying doing it find something else because you are not doing the right thing. if you just enjoy shooting buy a bow that suits you and get on with enjoying the experience and be a great archer but everyone should live with the bow and arrows make them part of you. my dream is to have my own wood were I can shoot al day every day and be an exceptional Archer
Great video Clay! I was wondering how fast the bow you killed your first deer with shoots a 10 gpp arrow? I've made a handful of bows and just wanted to see how well I'm doing
Got me some wood. Started making shavings. Thank you for getting me into this Clay!
Just built my first (technically 3rd, but the other two snapped during tillering) bow. Maple board bow, 66" nock to nock, draws 46lbs at 28". Your videos and book were what got me started. Love your channel, thanks for all the great info and inspiration.
I started about 1 year ago from watching your videos . I have not made a perfect bow but I've had several perfect journeys . Making the bow is the enjoyment . The more you enjoy the journey the better your bow turns out . I flint knap and have never made the perfect blade but I've knapped thousands. I've enjoyed bleeding out on every one . Spending time with other people making stuff is also just as valuable. You can't learn if your not cutting,chopping,and bleeding .
very true!
AWSOME speech. I am just about to finish my first black locust bow and you sir are the one who inspired me about a year ago to start building self bows . I have picked up a Osage bow stave at a primitive art festival that's going to be my next bow love your videos clay keep them coming.
Thanks Chris
Spot on Clay!
I’ve been making bows over 50 years and have never seen a perfect example. Every one is unique and all have flaws.
The old Bowyers had a saying
“If you’re not breaking bows you’re not making bows” it is so true.
Failure is the cornerstone to success!
True!
Massive thanks to you Clay much of what I have learned about bow making I have learned from your videos.
I think your bows here are awesome. There's a rugged beauty in their ugly.
Their really cool
Good video as always. I have been building bows for several years and like anything getting started is the hardest part. Once I let my first arrow fly from a bow I made, I was hooked.
It’s addictive for sure!
I made my first bow 4 ft long I was using oak when I did it. It turned out really good but at the same time the growth ring messed me up and it's the last part of it it cracked on one of the limbs. He was devastating to 1% but it was a good experience to learn learning the grain of the would
It is really cool to look at some of your first bows and see how far you have come. My first Osage Orange bow I call Old Ugly. I started making bows about 11 years ago and have seen a huge difference in my first bows to what I make now. Thanks for the great video!
You’re most welcome.
Very well said as it is an adventure. As you progress your tastes will change.
Great video. I just harvested a black locust sapling I've had my eye on for about 4 years, and split and roughed out a hop hornbeam stave for my next bow.
Cool!
Great video Clay. I have a problem with patients in building my own bows. As far as any of those bows being ugly, beauty is in the eye of the bowholder. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Bill
Love it, just bought a maple board bow yesterday. Time to get cranking
Awesome!
@@clayhayeshunter does your book require a lot of tools for bow building? Or is it more a minimalist kind of book? I'm a broke father of two and would really like to get into bow making... I don't have a shed with a ton of power tools. I'd be able to buy some hand tools but that's about it.
Great Video and Thank you for the encouragement to get started.
You’re welcome
Main point: sense of accomplishment. Are you a killer or a hunter? Is the sole purpose to take game or is it to experience the hunt, to learn game habits and how to get close to them, to experience nature at a more primal level, to hold something in your hands that you've made, know its limitations, and make it a part of your eye, your hand, and your thought. Do I get an amen, Clay?
Absolutely
Learning the grain of the wood now I am trying to figure out how to make bow strings for various length bows and I haven't quite understand how you was doing it seven strands of one string 7 strands of the other string and making the bull length out of it I'm making a bow for my grandchildren that are 4 ft long, how do you get the string length out of it? Then on a 6-foot bow how do you measure the string length for a 6-foot boat I don't quite understand your logic. You measured out a peg on the wall and drove two nails in it
G'day Clay, since I saw your first video 6 months ago I'm 10 bows in and broken 3 (one literally exploded and scared the McDooley outta me)...I'm so hooked and always trying different timbers here in OZ. Thanks for all your information mate, it's great having to adapt to the different woods over here and working out what shape and size of limb works best. Cheers, Clay
What part of Oz ya from?
@@clayhayeshunter I'm in the snowy Mountains in a ski resort. It's all National park so no hunting, but my friends have farms...planning on trying to sneak up on my first deer before winter with one of my bows! I'm sure it'll be a laugh first time ;)
Cool, there’s a fellow here taking a bow building class from about 2 hours north of Melbourne.
@@clayhayeshunter Sweet! That'll me me next year I'm hoping! I bet he's the bloke with the Bluey singlet and thongs ;)
A week ago I thought thongs were underwear that showed your a$$ cheeks 😂 I’m learning all sorts of new terms!
Is his book on bow building using basic tools or if I buy the book does it requires me to have a full garage loaded down with tools.???? I want a book that uses basic hand tools.
Great words of encouragement, applicable to many aspects of life; glad I subscribed, wish I could patron.
Great video
awesome video thanks, I still have my first bow a unbacked Red Oak bow, dont shoot it anymore but its been a heck of a journey.
tradbowyer1975 i have à bord of oak i was wondering if it was a good Wood for a bow im a total beginner in selfbow?
@@13629094 yes it will make a good bow, just make sure you follow Clay's build videos to make sure it has propper grain orientation and go slow you will have a good bow
I am trying to make out of hickory Birch or maple wood longbows my grandchildren are 6 and 12 so I was thinking about a 4-foot bowl for each of them set up at 20 lb I figure the draw length to make that right at 21 to 23 in draw length? And then at the same time I'm going to make 6 ft bows for the other family and I'll be making 6 ft bows and I'll be making them for the other family and they will poundage you be between 35 and 40 lb I still haven't got an understanding yet as to the length of the string for the bows. And you did not give me the size of the strings for the bows 14 strands 7 on each side to wrap I don't know what we're doing I'm totally confused at this point do the simple fact I have dyslexic I'm trying to get this straight in my head where I understand what I'm doing I need the information on how you figure on a length of all how do you make your bow strings what length are they not quite sure on that. Do you get the proper length on the Bose so that you have a right at a 6-inch from the handle to the string when it's dra
I was terrified that my first bow would break ,however it was 85 lb , Osage , I've built them out of ash ,hickory, Russian olive , hornbeem,
My first elk hunt was so cool the elk was 15ft away with a total pass thru
Thanks from Oklahoma
I was building a bow the other day out of a hard wood from the local hardware store, I was working on it for a few hours and In the process of tillering, the bow snapped. This was my first attempt at crafting a bow so I am aware of the facts that bows break but I am struggling to find a good wood to uses as everything I have found from the local hardware store has a short grain.
Are there any tips that you have to help me ?
Thank you
Hi Sean, sometimes you have to look through a bunch of wood to find a good piece. They may have a different selection a little later. You could also go out and harvest a few staves. There's usually something suitable nearby no matter where you live. ch
i have made half a dozen bows or so some have been good some were not so much I don't have that many tools i have made some with just and old rubbish Axe some with just a knife. I don't have great sheds with the best tools like others but I have enjoyed doing them all if you are not enjoying doing it find something else because you are not doing the right thing. if you just enjoy shooting buy a bow that suits you and get on with enjoying the experience and be a great archer but everyone should live with the bow and arrows make them part of you. my dream is to have my own wood were I can shoot al day every day and be an exceptional Archer
Great video Clay! I was wondering how fast the bow you killed your first deer with shoots a 10 gpp arrow? I've made a handful of bows and just wanted to see how well I'm doing
I’ve never soljot it through a chrono but I’d guess somewhere in the 150s.
I split out about 15 hard maple staves last summer. I think they’re about ready to chop up!!!
Good deal!
Clay, next t-shirt. “Go get ya some wood and start makin some shavins.
Haha, we’ll put that on the website!
we dont have home depot
Osage bows last forever I have my dad's and it's 40+ years old, he coated it every year with bear grease
One of my bows exploded stringing it. It cut me.😢
My first one broke... I'm only on my 4th.
Stick with it!
Grabs a saw a buggers off to a tree I've been eying up....
Haha! Get it!
You are not going to make a perfect bow on your hundredth try, and arrows are even harder. =)