Archery Bow Making Instructions

Whether you are a competitive archer, hunter, re-enactment officiando or simply someone who enjoys target practice in your backyard, you may have never considered expanding your hobby by creating your own weapon. With a few simple tools and a bit of creativity you can enjoy the satisfaction of making your own bow. The key to success is the proper selection of wood and allowing enough time for it to cure properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Saw
  • Wedge
  • Mallet
  • Pocket knife
  • Large knife
  • White glue
  • Plastic bags
  • Rubber bands
  • 2-by-4 piece of wood (at least 6 feet long)
  • Twine
  • 2 wooden blocks of equal size (2-by-2-by-4 inches)
  • Pencil
  • Rasp
  • Sandpaper
  • Waxed string
  • Wood finish
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Select a hardwood sapling that is straight and has a diameter of about 2 inches. Cut the sapling down. It should be as long as your are tall or at least up to your nose. There should not be any twists or knots along the length of it.

    • 2

      Use a wedge and mallet and carefully split the sapling in half length-wise. You will only use one-half for the bow shaft. The other half can be discarded.

    • 3

      Remove the bark from the outside of the shaft with a sharp pocket knife. Avoid cutting into the outer growth-ring of the sapling.

    • 4

      Use a large knife to pare down the inside, flat side of the shaft. This process is known as tillering. The diameter should be 1 inch when you are done. If you are concerned about the shaft being too thin, err on the side of caution and leave a bit more. You can always remove more later.

    • 5

      Seal the ends of the shaft to prevent cracking as it dries. You can accomplish this by spreading white glue over the edges or covering the ends with a plastic bag and securing them with rubber bands.

    • 6

      Tie your shaft to a piece of 2-by-4. The flat side should be facing up. Secure the middle first, then place two equal-sized pieces of wood under each edge. The tip of the shaft should extend past the blocks of wood. Tie the ends down to the 2-by-4. This will allow the tips to curve as the wood dries.

    • 7

      Allow the shaft to dry for at least a month. The longer you leave it to dry, the better. A green sapling will take on a bend in the direction the string is pulled and will lose the resistance needed to cast the arrow. The wood must be seasoned in order to perform. Cured wood will also last longer.

    • 8

      Draw an outline on the shaft. Mark each tip approximately 8 inches from the end. Draw a taper from that point to the end so the resulting diameter is about 1/2 inch. Mark the handhold in the center of the shaft. Depending on your hand size, it should measure approximately 4 inches wide.

    • 9

      Use a rasp to shape the shaft in accordance with the markings you just made. Check the shaft periodically for flexibility. The handhold should be solid with most of the flexion coming from the ends. Finish the process by using sandpaper to smooth everything down.

    • 10

      Cut a notch in the tip of end. Tie a knot in the end of the string and lay it through the notch. Use a second piece of string to wrap around the tip of the bow and secure it. The string should not be too tight at this point. It should be just taut enough to encourage the shaft to bend. Look for stiff areas and use the rasp to work them down. Each side of the shaft should flex equally with no stiff spots.

    • 11

      Continue tightening the string until your bow reaches the desired curve. Your new bow will take quite a bit of breaking-in. Start by short-drawing the bow about 50 times, then 50 full draws. You should then be able to take it out and shoot it. Keep your rasp and sandpaper handy so you can adjust any stiff spots that show up. Once your bow is broken in, you can apply a wood finish.