A recurve bow is better than a traditional bow as it can shoot the arrows farther, having more power. While it takes a lot of skill and a lot of years of practice to build the perfect recurve bow, these instructions can help you get started.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Arch
Step 1. Buy or build a wooden base
From here you will shape your bow. It should be the length you want for your bow and made of sturdy, flexible and malleable wood.
American walnut, yew, lemon, and maple are all good for building a bow
Step 2. Gather the tools
A hatchet, a pliers, a shape for your bow, a balancer, a large file, a heat gun, some screw clamps and a chest knife will make the process a lot easier, rather than just using a knife and a large round object.
Step 3. Mark the outline
Draw the shape of the bow and the position of the arrow rest with a pen. Hold the piece of wood with one hand and use the ax with the other. Try to make the wood on the sides as smooth as possible.
You can decide the particular features on your own (flat, wide or narrow shape). Mark where you want the handle to be
Step 4. Test your piece of wood
Make sure it bends over by placing the bottom on the back of your foot and holding the top with one hand, and then pushing it (on the opposite side to where it will shoot the arrows). Do not push too hard or the wood could be damaged.
Step 5. Form the correct crack
After you shape the bow with the hatchet, you will need to shape it well. Put the bow part of the handle in the vise and close it. Make sure the back of the bow is facing up. Take the chest knife and cut the wood with firm, long strokes. Do this until the wood is the desired thickness.
- Sand any irregularities in the wood.
- If you make an arc that is too thin, it will break.
Part 2 of 3: Shaping the Bow
Step 1. Put the wood into the shape for your bow
Depending on the type of curve you want, you will need to move the arc to different sections of the template.
- The double curvature will consist of a curve that starts at the handle and one that returns towards it at each end.
- Use screw clamps to secure the wood to the shape.
- If you have trouble, use the heat gun to heat the wood and then fix the affected part of the arc to the jig.
Step 2. Make precise measurements
The two ends must have a fold as similar as possible. To do this, be sure to bend the wood at equal distances from both ends of the handle.
Step 3. Give each fold time to stabilize
Try to keep each section fixed to the shape for a few hours, the ideal would be a whole night. This way the wood will settle into the new position and you will have a longer lasting and more efficient bow.
Part 3 of 3: Stringing the Bow
Step 1. Make holes for the rope
Practice them at the top and bottom of the arch. Here the rope will then pass! It is best done with a long, cylindrical file, but if you want you can also do it with a knife and a flat, narrow file.
Make holes in the inside of the arch to protect the integrity of the outer wood
Step 2. Balance the arc
Balance is what gives balance to the bow. Once you have shaped the bow into the shape you want, put a string in it to balance it. This string should be at least twice as long as the normal bowstring. Make two loops at the ends of the rope and hook it to the holes you made earlier.
The parachute rope works very well as a balance rope
Step 3. Put the bow in a balancer
Place the balance rope on one of the holes near the top end of the balancer. Slowly and gradually draw the bow forward, paying attention to how it bends.
- The balancing operation is very long and gradual.
- If you hear some noise coming from the bow, stop and use the large file to shape the ends a little more.
- The balancing process can take months and doing it slowly guarantees you a good range.
- Once the balancing process has begun, you can smooth out the front of the arch with the large file.
Step 4. String the bow
Once the bow has reached an acceptable balance, remove it from the balancer and remove the string to balance. Now put on the actual rope. Make loops at both ends, over the holes.
- Nylon is used very often as a string for bows.
- The bow can be drawn and pulled during the balancing process, although not with maximum force; pulling it too much can ruin the balancing process.
Step 5. Finish the arc
Once you have finished the balancing process, you can think about the aesthetic appearance and put on some leather or a layer of protective coating.
Advice
Don't worry if the bow isn't a work of art - it's your first try! It takes years of practice to be able to make perfect bows
Warnings
- Do not shoot arrows in highly populated areas.
- Use store-bought, professional arrows. Homemade arrows can change direction and hit something you didn't want to hit.
- Don't aim at living beings, try to be responsible!
