Surfing the internet to find the best guide on how to make a bow and arrow? You are just at the right place. Bows and arrows take us to the past amongst the warriors and troopers. Though it is rare to find them today, they can be of great benefit if you get a hand on them. From using them in your school archery contest to putting down a deer during a hunting expedition, they can be of utmost value.
In fact, their uses just do not end here! If nothing else, you can hang them in your living room as a piece of art. So, there can be various reasons for investing your time in a DIY bow and arrow project. Not only is it a great form of exercising crafting and woodworking skills, but if you are doing it with your kids, it can be fun-filled and educating. Here is the simplest DIY bow and arrow guide you need to follow to get done with the finest bow and sharpest arrows.
Steps to Make a Bow
Begin your DIY bow and arrow venture by constructing a bow first, and then you can craft your arrows according to its size. Here are eight easy steps you need to follow:
1- Selecting the Right Piece of Wood for the Bow
The right selection of wood is crucial to your bow’s strength, flexibility, and longevity. The best tree woods you can select for this purpose maybe oak, lemon tree, hickory, yew, black locust, teak, ash, juniper, or madrone. The wood piece should be dry dead but not gray and cracking. The ideal length would be around 6 feet or any length of your height. You may need small pieces for the kids. Use Green and fresh wood sticks only if no other options are available.
2- Determining the Natural Curve of the Wood Piece
In the next step, determine the natural curve of this stick. Every wood has a natural curve, be it of any thickness. To determine it accurately, hold the wood on the ground by gripping it from the top with one hand. Position the second hand against its middle and press slightly. On getting the midpoint correctly, the wood piece will swivel, its natural belly will face you, and its back will face out.
3- Refining the Handhold and Limbs
This step is very critical to the proper balance and functioning of your bow. To find the handhold mark two points, one three inches above the mid-point and the other three inches below the mid-point. Above these marks are the upper and lower limbs and between these points is the handhold.
4- Shaping the Bow
While shaping the bow, make sure that it is thickest and the strongest at the handhold. While detailing the wood stick, shave off any excess material from the belly only. Whittling it from the back will decrease the strength of the bow and cause it to fracture. Once both limbs are flexible and are exactly alike both in carve and diameter, stop chipping off the wood any further.
5- Making Notches to Hold the Bowstring
Notches for the bowstring should begin from the sides and curve around toward the belly and in toward the handhold as they continue. There should be only one notch on each side and not longer than 1 to 3 inches. Make sure not to notch in the back of the bow as they may compromise the strength.
6- Choosing the Right Bowstring
There are numerous options when it comes to choosing the right bowstring for your bow. Your string need not be too stretchy because it is not the string that powers the arrow but the bow. Those preparing a bow in the wilderness should try different materials before choosing the most suitable. We have rawhide, thin nylon rope, hemp cord, fishing line, strands of cotton or silk, or simply an ordinary twine when it comes to possible materials.
7- Stringing the Bow
For the next step, you need to know how to string a bow because even the best string may be of no use if installed improperly. There are two steps in stringing your bow, making the right knots, and using the right length of the string. Make two loops with secure knots at the two ends of the bow. After that, slip the string over the lower and then upper limb. The string should be a little shorter than the length of the unflexed bow. This is to make sure that both the string and the bow are stiff.
8- Tillering the Bow
After you have accurately strung your bow, it is time to tiller it. For this purpose, adjust your bow in a tree branch or similar support so that you can pull down on the string. Pull it down and carve away the wood as required so that it can reach up to your jaw with the arm fully extended out from the shoulder.
Steps to make an Arrow
After your bow is ready, it’s time to make arrows and arrowheads. While you may be thinking that you have passed the difficult stage, making arrows involve more technicalities. If you want to get it right, just follow these four steps:
1- Selecting the Right Piece of Wood for the Arrows
For the arrows, select the straightest wood available. Here again, the wood should be dead and dry but not cracky. Each arrow should be half of the length of the bow. An arrow that cannot be pulled back with a bow is of no use. Therefore, try different wood lengths with the bow before making a fine arrow.
2- Giving Arrows the Right Shape
The next technical step is giving your arrows the right shape. This involves whitling the wood around the circumference of the arrow to make it smooth. One way to straighten your arrow is to heat its shaft over hot coals. However, care must be taken not to burn or scorch the wood in this process. After the heating, hold the arrow straight and let it cool gradually. At the back tip of the arrow, make a small notch or nock for the bowstring.
3- Sharpening the Tip of the Arrow
Many people simply sharpen a point in front of the shaft of the arrow for it to serve the purpose of an arrowhead. A carved tip of the arrow can therefore be called the simplest arrowhead. To make it more piercing, you can treat it on hot coals after an excess whittle.
4- Design a Dedicated Arrowhead if possible
If you want your arrows to have dedicated arrowheads, you can design one with metal, glass, or bone**.** To make an arrowhead, chip the material using a hammer and fix it in your arrow’s tip. To prepare the arrow tip for better lodgment, notch the wood and insert the arrowhead material in the notch. After this, secure it with a cord or string.
Final thoughts
All those who intimidate you saying making a bow and arrow is not something everyone can do is all crap. The initial attempts may not come out as a success, but you will surely learn and will perfect the process if you keep trying. Before taking your hand-crafted bow to hunt, make sure you have practiced with it enough.
To keep your bow in the best shape, oil it once a year and never leave it strung for more than 30 minutes. In addition to that, when tillering the bow, leave it strung for a few minutes before pulling it.
