Archery Bow Wood

Archery Bow Wood - How to Make Your Own
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Etan_Calvert]Etan Calvert

You can make your very own Archery Bow Wood and this is great if you have complex skills with hand-held blades. You can construct a simple but effective starter bow for somebody who is just starting to develop an interest in archery. You can craft this type of bow using minimal tools however, you need to have a lot of patience and a steady hand.

When constructing a good Archery Bow Wood, select a dry seasoned wood such as osage orange, yew, mulberry, red cedar, white ash, black walnut, black locust or juniper. Among these materials, yew is the most popular. In general, it is best for you to avoid using pine woods and other conifers. A standing dead wood also makes a good material. Look for a length of wood that is at least 4 feet long and 4 inches in diameter. As much as possible, choose a piece of wood that is straight and free of knots or other off-shooting branches.

The next step would be to cut the wood in half down its length and then cut the half-piece down the middle of its length to get a ¼ section of the original log. Start from the inside edge of the wood and cut along the entire length until you have a flat side about 2 ½ inches wide. This side will serve as the "belly" side of the bow when it is strung. Start on the outside of your wood and cut down 1 inch or more to a single layer at the edge of the growth ring.

Cut a gradual taper on the belly side from the handle of the bow down to the end of each tip. Your end tips should me 3/8 inch thick. Taper the sides of the bow, the end tips should be about ½ inch wide. Don't forget to check the flexibility of the bow from time to time. Adjust the taper and thickness until you achieve an even bowed arch. To finish the archery bow wood, carve the handle into a rounded form, create a smooth taper on the edges from the handle to the flat of the bow. Sand the bow smooth and seal with varnish-stain.

For information on how to properly use archery bow wood, please visit http://archerylessons.org