How to Cut Out a Recurve Bow From a Board

A recurve bow is a bow that curves away from the shooter at the top and bottom tips. The advantage of this design is that it gives the arrow more power when it is released. While you can buy a bow kit, you can make a bow at home for much less money.

Things You'll Need

  • Band saw or table saw
  • Rasp
  • Sander or sandpaper
  • File
  • Pencil
  • Large pot
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut your board to the following dimensions: 5 ½ feet long by 3 inches wide and 5/8 inch thick. A band saw will work sufficiently, though a table saw is preferable.

    • 2

      Draw a line across the center of your board. Then draw lines 3 inches on either side of the center line. This will become your handle.

    • 3

      Cut the thickness of one end of the board, using the band-saw, so that it is 3/8-inch thick, stopping 1 inch from the handle. Do the same on the other end. Measure before you cut. If you cannot make the two ends of the bow 3/8 inch thick, make them a little over 3/8 inch. The cuts should be made on the same side of the board.

    • 4

      Sand the bow. If you could not make the bow 3/8 inch thick, sand it down to the proper thickness now. Some people prefer to begin with a rasp, then file and then sand. Make the transitions between the 3/8-inch-thick ends of the bow and the 5/8-inch-thick handle smooth.

    • 5

      Cut notches at both ends of your bow, on the side that has been cut away. These notches should be at least 2, but not more than 3, inches away from the end of your bow. They should result in a 1/2-inch thickness of the wood at the notches. You may also want to bring the tips of your bow to a point. This will not affect its shooting but does improve the aesthetics of the bow.

    • 6

      Boil water in your large pot. The pot should be deep enough that you can soak about a foot of your bow at one time. Soak one end of your bow for 3 hours.

    • 7

      Clamp the end of your bow, with the notched side facing out, to a large round object, such as a tire, for at least a day.

    • 8

      Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the other end of the bow.