How to Construct a Recurve Bow

Building you own custom recurve bow is probably easier than you might think. With a few basic materials and a little practice, you can construct a bow perfectly suited for your size, strength and purposes. With the use of fiberglass, you can quickly build a strong bow that will last much longer than wood. The tips of the arms of recurve bows face slightly forward when unstrung, and when strung, the bowstring maintains contact with a section of the arm. Recurve bows require stronger materials than longbows due to the increased stresses placed on the arms, making the use of fiberglass ideal.

Things You'll Need

  • 2-by-6 plank, 6 feet long
  • Band saw
  • C-clamps
  • Fiberglass cloth
  • Epoxy resin and hardener
  • Paint brush
  • Sander
  • Bowstring
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw the shape of your unstrung bow onto the 2-by-6 plank. This should be the view from the side, incorporating the handle and any other contours you wish. Recurve bows gain their strength from the curvature of the arms of the bow, not with length as in longbows, so the design of your recurve bow is not limited by your height.

    • 2

      Cut out the template to create a top and bottom mold you will use to clamp your fiberglass bow into. Use a band or jig saw to cut out the template.

    • 3

      Place one side of your template on a table, then lay a single layer of fiberglass cloth onto it.

    • 4

      Mix the epoxy resin and hardener. When it has been mixed, you need to act quickly before the epoxy sets. Ensure you have plenty of fiberglass strips close at hand.

    • 5

      Paint some epoxy mixture onto the fiberglass cloth. Use a paint brush and ensure you cover all surfaces of the cloth.

    • 6

      Add more layers of cloth followed by the epoxy mixture until you attain the desired thickness in the arms of the bow. Then build up the middle section to build the handle.

    • 7

      Clamp the other side of the template on top of your lower template and fiberglass bow and compress them together using C-clamps to sandwich your bow and force out any air bubbles.

    • 8

      Allow a few hours for the epoxy to cure, then remove the fiberglass bow from the template and clamps.

    • 9

      Shape the sides of your bow by drawing on the outline, then cutting it out with a band saw. Remember to include the string notches and arrow rest. Sand it smooth using a belt or other type of sander. String and test when complete.