String nock files for making bows
When I first started making bows, the best instructions that I could find said to use a "6" rat tail file" for cutting in the string nocks at the limb tips. The 6" file made a pretty wide string groove…
Five common styles of longbow grips
It might seem like there are a million different types of longbow grips/handles, but I think they can easily be classified in five categories of common styles: 1) straight or “Hill”-style, 2) dished, 3) humped, 4) locator, and 5) sculpted/recurve…
Is this the best rasp for making a longbow or a recurve bow?
Probably the best rasp in my tool box for making bows is the "Universal Bowyer's Rasp," also called the "UBR10," designed and sold by Dean Torges. It is really useful for making all types of bows: recurves, longbows, and self…
Applying the designer’s “rule of thirds” to tip design
Anyone can glue on some tip overlays and shape them into a suitable bow limb tip, but do they look good? As a graphic designer, I'm always interested in making my bows look good and have good proportions. This applies especially…
Splitting an osage log into bow staves
A straight Osage Orange log is like a log of gold to a selfbow bowyer. As you probably know, Osage trees don't usually grow very straight, so finding a clean, straight one is a rare find. My friend Brent brought…
Thoughts about bow balance and vibration
I have developed a little different theory about bow balance than what seems to be understood and taught in most archery books, articles, and what you read on most archery forums. Most people are just doing what they have been…
How to make a simple bow
When I was a young boy, my brothers and I used to make a bow out of a hardwood stick and a piece of string. This was always a fun project. Sometimes I like just messing around and decide to…
How to install buffalo horn overlays on limb tips
Here’s a build along for adding buffalo horn overlays to your limb tips. I think they look great and make a good bow look even better. There's just something about polished horn on a trad bow that makes it look really professional.
Adding layers of horn, antler, or linen phenolic to your limb tips will make your bow limb tips more durable for use with high performance strings, stronger to avoid scratches and denting by rough use while hunting, plus...they just look fantastic.
Grip and shelf location
A question that appears often in many of the internet bow making forums is "Where should I locate the grip and shelf on my bow?" I'm sure there are as many opinions about this as there are bowyers, so I'll…