How to Make Traditional Recurves

Making a traditional recurve bow may be a little easier than you think. Recurve bows have been found, over centuries, to provide the maximum amount of power from a non-pulley operated bow. You can build you own recurve bow by laminating together many thin layers of wood to give it strength. With a little practice and some persistence, you can find yourself shooting like Robin Hood with your own hand-made, customized bow.

Things You'll Need

  • 2-inches by 6-inches plank (6 feet long)
  • Wooden slats (10 1/32 inch thick, 2 inches wide, 6 feet long)
  • Wood glue
  • Band saw
  • C-clamps
  • Sandpaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw the outline of the bow you want to make onto the flat side of your 2-inches by 6-inches plank. This should be the side view of the unstrung bow, including all details around the riser and bow limbs.

    • 2

      Cut out the bow outline on a band saw to create an upper and lower template mold you will use later to clamp the bow in place.

    • 3

      Lay one side of your template upright onto a work surface, then place one wooden slat over the cut out edge. Cover the upper surface of the slat with a thin layer of wood glue then add another slat on top of it. Laminating thin wooden slats in this manner increases the strength, resiliency and flexibility of the bow.

    • 4

      Add more wooden slats and glue until the thickness you wish has been attained, taking note that several more layers will be required to build up the riser than for the limbs of the bow.

    • 5

      Place the other side of the 2-inches by 6-inches template over the wooden slats and the lower half of the template, then clamp them together using some C-clamps to sandwich the slats together to dry.

    • 6

      Remove the bow from the template and clamps after allowing the glue to cure over two days, then shape the sides of the bow by drawing on the outline you desire before cutting it out on a band saw. This outline should include the notches at the ends of each limb for the bowstring, as well as the details on the riser which should include the arrow rest shelf.

    • 7

      Sand your bow smooth using some sandpaper wrapped around a block. Start with a heavier grit (60-80) and finish with a finer grit (400) before painting or lacquering. String it with an appropriately sized string for the length and test.