HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ARCHERY EQUIPMENT...Beware: Archery is addictive. One shot can have you hooked for a lifetime. While the elite athletes shooting at the Olympic Games might spend

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN

ARCHERY EQUIPMENT

2017

Introduction 3BOW & STRINGHow to make bow handle (riser) 4 make bow limbs 6 make string 9 tie a nocking point by Heather Flint 15 wax a bowstring by Heather Flint 16 make bow stringer 17 make sight 18 make arrow rest 19 make pressure button 22 make draw length checker (clicker) 23 build a youth PVC bow by William Sephton 24ARROWS How to make arrow shafts 40 fletch an arrow (with plastic vanes) by Heather Flint 43 howtoapply arrow wraps by Heather Flint 45 make fletchings 46 make arrows by Ludys Tejada 48 make arrow container 49 put points in arrows by Heather Flint 50ACCESSORIESHow to make finger protector (tab) 51 make tab by Ludys Tejada 52 make arm guard (bracer) 53 make arm guard by Ludys Tejada 54 templates for tab and armguard 55 make finger sling 56 make quiver 59 make quiver by Ludys Tejada 60 make ground quiver 61 make jigs by William Sephton 62TARGETHow to make target 63 make target stand 65 bow stand 67OTHER RECOMMENdEd PUBLICATIONS ANd WEBSITESOther recommended publications and websites 68

TABLE Of CONTENTS

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ARCHERY EQUIPMENT 3

Archeryisanextremelyaccessiblesportincountriesaroundtheworld.Itisasportforallagesandabilities-andcanbeasrecreationalorcompetitiveasthepersontakingpartwants!

Beware: Archery is addictive. One shot can have you hooked for a lifetime.

WhiletheeliteathletesshootingattheOlympicGamesmightspendhourseverydaytraining,thereisnoneedtodedicatesomuchtimetoarcheryifyourgoalsarenotsolofty.Casualarchersmakeupthebulkofthearcheryfraternityandanyonecanconsistentlyhitthetargetwithaslit-tleasanhourofpractice.Moreadvancedaspectsofthesport,however,cantakeyearstomaster.

Doremembertobeconsciousofsafetyandyoursurroundingswhenpractis-ingarchery.Thereareplentyofarcheryrangesandclubswithproficientcoachestoguideyouthroughyourfirststepsintothesport.

Therearemillionsofarchersallaroundtheworld.Doyouhaveareasonnottojointhem?

fINdING SOMEWHERE TO SHOOT

Thebestwaytostartarcheryisfindacluborrangewithdedicatedinstructorsandbeginnerequipmentavailable.Gettinganintroductiontothesportdoesnotcostalotofmoneyandnewarchersimproveveryquicklywithpropercoaching.

Likeanysport,it’sbettertolearnthecor-recttechniquefromtheverybeginning!

Itisencouragedtocompleteanintroduc-torycourse–andtryoutthedifferent

kindsofbows,recurve,compoundandtraditional,anddisciplineswithinthesport–withalocalarcherycluborcentre.

Facilitiescanrangefromadedicatedvenuetohiredsportshallsorfields.

Theimportantthingistofindawell-or-ganisedclubwithinstructorsaccreditedthroughtheWorldArcheryorrespectivenationalfederationcoachingsystem,whowilloffertheappropriateadviceforsomeonestartingoutinthesport.

MAKE TOUR OWN EQUIPMENT

Thereisamyththatarcheryisanexpen-sivesport.Thisbookletdemonstratestheopposite.Thisbookletisagreatcontribu-tiontoarcherydevelopment.ThepriceofoneOlympicbow=180PVCbows.

AnOlympicarcherhasthesamegreatfeelingwhenshootingthananovicewithhishomemadebow;theonlydifferenceisthatthenoviceisprouderthantheOlym-picarcherofhisequipmentbecausehemadeithimself.

BECOMING COMPETITIVE

Itwilltakesometimeandpracticetobecomfortableenoughasanarchertoenteracompetition.

Competitionlevelsvaryahugeamount,meaningtherearetournamentsappro-priateforverynewarchersrightuptointernationaleventsatwhichonlymem-bersofnationalteamscanshoot.

Yournationalfederation,andotherarch-ers,willbethebestpeopletoidentifyrelevanteventsinyourarea.

INTROdUCTION


› amodelorpattern› amedium-sizedsaw› a small saw› a saw blade› awoodplane› aspokeshave› a cooper tool› ahammer› a rasp› aflatfile› aroughtriangularfile› abowsquareorsetsquare› ameasuringtape› a“barclamp”or“Gclamp”› a ruler

› pincersorpliers› aluminiumorothermaterial

intheformofanU(withalengthof7cm,awidthof 4cm,aheightof2cmandathicknessof1mm)

› aplatemadeofaluminiumoranothermaterialwith alengthof12cmto14cm, awidthof4cmand athicknessof1mm

› apencil› aneraser› nylonthread› sandpaper

› amacheteorahandaxe,› use2to3yearsolddried

largebamboosticks(thick-ness=1.5to2cm,length:1.5m

NB!Cutthebambooneartheearth´ssurfaceduringwaningmoonanddryitforatleast45days.

Cutoutaplankofmahogany,teakoranotherhardwoodwithalengthof50cm,aheightof 11cmandathicknessof4cm.

Necessary materials for making the riser:

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BOW RISER (BOW BOdY / HANdLE)

MAKING THE RISERCutting out the shape of the riser.

How to make the sight window for a lefthanded archerYouhavetocutoutthesightwindowtotheright,whichmeansthatyouhavetoholdtheriserwithyourrighthand.Drawalineonthecurvedpieceofthenowroughlyshaped“riser”atadistanceof2cmtotheupperedgeoftheprotrudingcornerandanotherlineatadistanceof2cmtotheloweredge.Drawalongitudinallinewhichdividesthespaceof4cmintotwoequalpieces;seeillustrations1.6,1.7and1.8.

1.Drawtheformoftheriserontheplankofmahoganybymeansofthepattern;seeillustrations1.1,1.2and1.3.

2.Usethe“barclamp”or“Gclamp”tofixtheplank

toabenchsothatthedrawnshapecanbecutout.

3.Sawouttheshapeoftheriser.Seeillustrations1.4and1.5.

4.Atthisstagecutoutasightwindowintheupperpartoftheriser(totheleftforright-handedarchersandtotherightforlefthandedarchers).

Illustration 1.1 Illustration 1.3

Illustration 1.5

Illustration 1.2

Illustration 1.4


Illustration 1.6

Illustration 1.9

Illustration 1.8


Illustration 1.7

Illustration 1.10

Cutoutthesightwindowfollowingthelinesontherightsideoftheriser.Theriserisfragileneartheprotrudingcornersandislikelytobreakorchipifcareisnottaken,seeillustration1.9.

Roundofftheupperandlowerendsofthesightwindow.Thesecurvesdonotweakentherisertoomuch.Theuppercurvecanbeabit“larger”thanthelowercurve.Hereyoucanseeanexampleofformwhichisagoodcompromisefortheedgeofthesightwindowwhilemaintainingthestrengthoftherisersee,illustration1.10.Takethesandpaperandpolishthewholeriser.

Thereistwowaysofmakingthefixingforthelimbs.Onewayistobendapieceofthemetalintoachannelandscrewittotheriserasshowninillustration1.11,orthemetalcanbeshapedintoachan-nelandfixedtotheriserasshowninillustration1.12.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BOW RISER (BOW BOdY / HANdLE)

Besttips&tricksinYoutube› SurvivalLifehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_KwoB0yaLk› AlistairToogoodhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AgRQWuYcts› Dabbertyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q60qfgAIS0M› LatvianbowmakerArmandsVilistershttps://vimeo.com/151022175(longbow)

More ideas for making the take down bow


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BOW LIMBS

› malletorhammer› widechisel› measuringtape› saw› planeordrawknife› flatrasporfile› smallroundfile› wellseasonedbamboo

80cmlong

Materials needed:USING BAMBOOWhich bamboo to choose?Usematurebamboobetween2and3yearsofage.Youcangetanestimationoftheagefromtheyellowishcolourandfromthesoundwhenyouhitthebamboowithapieceofwoodoriron.

How to cut the bamboo?

Selectthebamboothathasalargediameterandawallthicknessofbet-ween4and6millimetres.Cutthebamboolowdownneartheearth´ssurfaceandcutthetrunkintolengthsof80centimetres.

DryingDrythebambooforatleast45daysbeforeusingit.

How to determine the length of the limbs?

Thelengthofthebowmadefrombamboocorrespondstothesizeofthearcher.Inthefollowingexample,wehavetakenthearchertobeapproximately170cmtall.Therisershouldhavealengthofap-proximately50cm.Andthelengthofeachlimbshouldbeapproxi-mately71cm.Theoverlappingzonesbetweenriserandlimbsforfixingthelimbsontherisershouldbe9cmoneachside.Thestringnockhastomeasure1.5cm.fromtheendofthelimb.

PRESENTATION Of THE ALUMINIUM PARTS fOR fIxING THE LIMBSGuide of the limbsTheguidesaremadeofaluminiumboxsectionbars(length:6cm,width:4cmandheight:1mm)whichareavailableinstores.Cutthemintotwopieceslengthwiseandyougetseveral“U”swith7cmlength,4cmwidthand1.6cmheight,seeillustration2.1.

Braces of the limbsForthebracesofthelimbsseeillustrations2.2and2.3.Youhavetochoosebetweentwoalternatives:

A Youcanusetheremainsofyourbarwhichyouusedformakingtheguidesofthelimbs.Forthis,opentheanglesandyougetpanelswithalengthof12to14cmwhilethewidthandheightremainthesame,seeillustration2.2.

B Cutoutpiecesof12to14cmlongfromthepanelmadeofalu-miniumorasimilarmaterial.Thelimbswillbeputintotheguidesthatarefixedtoeachendoftheriser.Fixthealuminiumpanelsintheformofa“U”withtacks2cmlongtothetwoendsoftheriser.Eachendis9cmlongand4cminwidthandhasaguidewithalengthof7cmandawidthof4cmwithaheightof1.6cmseeillustration2.3.

Illustration 2.1

Illustration 2.2

Illustration 2.3

Illustration 2.4



Cutting the bamboo to sizeSplitthebamboointotwopiecesbymeansofabladeorahandaxeorwoodchiselbypayingattentiontothedirectionofthebamboofibres.Donotuseasawasthiswillpossiblynotruntruewiththefibres,seeillustration2.4.Ifthediameterofthebambooislargeenough,itmaybedividedintofourorsixpieceswithawidthof4cmforeachlimb.Theinnerknotsshouldberemovedasthesewillaffectthecurvatureofthelimb,seeillustration2.5.

Assembling the limbs

Putthebambooontheguidethatisintheformofa“U”ontheriser,andmarktheexcessivematerialwiththepencil.Theexcessivematerialhastoberemovedinorderforthelimbstofitintothe“U”guide,seeillustration2.6.Removetheexcessivematerialtoalengthof7cmusingwoodplaneorwoodchiselandfixthebamboo“limb”intothe“U”sectionontheriser.

NB!Evenifyouturntheriserupsidedown,theinsertedlimbsmustnotslipoffthe“U”guide.Find






Illustration 2.12


thecentralalignmentbytyinganylonthreadtothecentreofeachlimbtip,andusingthisasaguide,drawonthebambootheshapeyouwantthelimbtobe,seeillustration2.7.Thentakethe“limbs”offtheriserandremovetheexcesswoodthatisoutsidethelinesdrawn,seeillustration2.8.Whentheroughshapeisachievedeitheraspokeshave,rasporwoodplanecanbeusedtofinallyshapethe“limbs”,seeillustrations2.9and2.10.

Forming the groove on the end of the limbs to take the string endFinallyshapetheendsofthelimbsanddrawalineacrossthelimb2cmawayfromtheendofthelimbonthesidewhichisvisibletothearcherwhenintheshootingposition,andanother1.7cmfromtheendofthelimbonthesidewhichisnotvisibletothearcherinshootingposition.Fordeterminingtheformofthefuturestringnock,drawamarkatadistanceof5mmofeachsideofthecentreline.Thisneckingcarriesthestringloop.Thenecking(shaping)mustbesloping,see

illustration2.11.Cutouttheshapeofthelimbtipwithasaworasawblade,seeillustration2.12.

Thenfinishyourworkbysmoothingthelimbtipwithasmallroundfile,seeillustration2.13.Ensurethatthisareaisnotleftwithanysharpcornersasthiswillcutthebowstring.Whentheriserandlimbsarefittedtogetherandthestringisfittedyouwillhaveabow,ascanbeseeninil-lustration2.14.

NBForawhileoccasionallylookatthestringendstoascertainthatnowearisappearingontheserv-ingattheloopendsofthestring.Ifanyweardoesappearremovethestringandremoveanysharpareasonthelimbtipswherethestringisfitted.

Illustration 2.11


Dacronshouldbeusedformakingastringforabeginner’sbow;other materialscoulddiminishthelifeofthestringandthebowconsiderably. Whateverthematerialused,thebasicmethodtomakeastringremains thesame,butwatchforthenumberofstrands.

Installation onto the string jigIfyoualreadyhaveabowstringtothelengthofthenewoneyouareabouttomakeitwillbeeasiertomakethenewonetothecorrectlengthatthefirstattempt.Ifyoudonotalreadyhaveastringwhichisofthecorrectlengththereareproceduresandmeasurementswhichwilltohelpgetclosetothelengthofstringrequired.Thiswillbediscussedalittlelater.

If you have a string that is the correct length

Turnthestringjigpostcarrierendssothattheyareinline.Thispartdependsonthelengthofthestring,butundobetween10and15ofthetwists.Placeiton,andadjustthestringjigsothatthereisnosagonthestring.Donothavethestringtootightasthiswillhaveaneffectonthestringlengththatisbeingmade.

If you do not have a string that is the correct lengthSetthestringjigtoalengththatis3½inches(9cm)shorterthatthelengthofthebow.Thismeasurementdependsonthemakeandmodelofthebowbutitwillbringyouclosetotherequiredlengthforsubsequentstringmaking.Taketheoldstringoffthejig.Turnthejigendssotheyaresquaretothelineofthejig.Looselytieoneendofthestringmaterialtoastringpostabout2centimetresbelowthegrooveonthepostwhichtakesthestringmaterial.Thenwindthestringmaterialroundtheposts(keepingtothegrooveatthetopofeachpost)makingsuretherotationstartsbygoingroundthepostthatisthenearesttothepostthestringmaterialistiedto,seeillustration3.2.Thesecrettoagood,reliablestringliesintheequaltensionofeachstrand.Ifthetensionisnotequalbetweenallstrands,thestringbreaksbecausethepressurewasheldonlybyafewstrands.Asthepressureofbeginnerbowsisalwayslessthan25lbs,itisrecommendmakingstringsusingDacronwitheightstrands.Ifyouaremakingan8strandstringgoroundthejig4times,ifyouaremakinga10strandstringthentheneedwillbetogoroundthejig5times.Alwaysmakesurethefinishingendistiedlightlytothepostthatispasttheposttowhichthestartofthestringmaterialwastied.Thisallowsanoverlapofthestringmaterialthatissecuredundertheloopserving.

Serving the loopMakethefirstlooptobeservedtheendofthejigthathasthestringmaterialoverlap,thiswillbebeneficialandstopthoseendscominglooseasthestringmanufacturecontinues.Untiethestartingendthatwastied2cmdownthefirstpostandloop

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN STRING

› astringjigasshownin illustration3.1

› aspoolofDacron› braidedservingmaterial› stringservingtool› scissors› a ruler› 2 markers

(eachadifferentcolour)

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 3.1

Illustration 3.2

Illustration 3.3

Illustration 3.4


itroundthepostgrooveunderthewindings,seeillustration3.3.Allservingsmustbewoundonthestringinthesamedirec-tion;thiswillensurethattheywillnotcomeloosewhentwistsareaddedtothestringforactiveuse.Iprefertoservefromrighttolefthavingtheservingspoolcomingtowardmefromunderthestring.Ifallservingsarecompletedthiswaytheywillallbeinthesamedirection.

Making the loopWhenthecorrectlengthofservinghasbeenreached,seeillus-tration3.4,turnthejigswivellingend90degreesandslidethestringroundthejigsothattheservedsectionisnowroundtheoutsidepost.Theendstillattachedtotheservingtoolshouldbeabout4millimetresshorterthantheendwheretheservinghadbeenstarted;thiswillallow4millimetresofservingoverlapgivinganeatjointotheloop,seeillustration3.5.

Continueservingthenowjoinedloopinthesamedirectionasbefore.Makesurethetwolooseendsofthestringmaterialareheldalongthissectionandservedover.Afterabout6centime-trestheyshouldbecutoff,makesurethatthereareatleast4windsofservingbetweencuttingoffthefirstlooseendandcuttingoffthesecondlooseend.Thiswillstophavingasmallstepalongtheserving,whichmaypossiblywearandcausetheservingtobreakduringuse.

Serving to the correct lengthWindtheservingontowithin1centimetreofthedesiredlengthi.e.about10or12centimetres,seeillustration3.6(thismeas-urementdependsonthelimbrecurvecurvature).Keepingthetensionontheserving,pulltheservingtoolawayfromthestringandcuttheservingthreadleavingabouta45-centimetrelengthforfinishingofftheserving.

Making a neat end to the servingPassthetailendoftheservingoverthestringwiththelefthandabout3centimetresfromtheendoftheserving;makealoopholdingthiswiththefingersoftherighthand.Usingthelefthandpassthetailendtothethumbandforefingeroftherighthand.Thenkeepingthelooptight,bringthetailendthroughtheloopun-derthestringandpassitontothelefthandseeillustration3.7.

Locking off the tail endMakethispartofservingforabouttwelveturnsoruntilabout1centimetre

Illustration 3.5

Illustration 3.6

Illustration 3.7

Illustration 3.8

Illustration 3.10Illustration 3.9



long.Placethetailendundertheloopofservingthreadjustasitcomesofftheendoftheservingalreadycompletedwiththeservingtool,andlockittherebykeepingpressureontheloop,seeillustrations3.10&3.11.

Finishing off the servingOncethetailendhasbeensecured,andkeepingthelooptight,winditroundthestring,continuingonfromtheservingalreadydonewiththeservingtool.Indoingthistheservingwillgetlongerandthepartthatwaswoundthroughtheloopwillgetshorter.Byservingmanuallytherightpartoverthetailend,youun-servetheleftend,seeillustration3.12.

Pulling the end throughWhenallofthewindsontheloopendhavebeenwoundoff,stillkeepingthelooptight,pullthetailenduntiltheloophascompletelygone.Thethumbofthelefthandcanbeusedorevenapencilcanbeplacedunderthelooptomaintainthetensionwhilstthetailendisbeingpulledthrough.Bypulling,theendstrandcantwistonitselfand“refuse”topassundertheserver.Useapencil,orsimilar,tohelpguideitthrough,seeillustrations3.13,3.14&3.15.

Cutting off the tail endWhenthetailendhasbeenpulledthroughandtheservingisniceandtightthetailendcanbecutoff.Todothisplaceaknifeflatontheservingsectionthathasjustbeenwoundbacktomeettheservingthatwasdonewiththeservingtool,thengen-tlycutoffthetailend.Iftheknifeisplacedontheservingwhichwasdoneusingtheservingtooltheservingwherethetailendcomesoutmayinadvertentlybecut,asthiswillbealittleproudofthemainservingduetothetailendbeingunderneathit,seeillustration3.16.

Completing the other end of the stringWhenthefirstendofthestringiscompleteturnthestringjigroundanddoexactlythesametheotherend.Bearinmindthatthetoploopofthestringmustbelargeenoughtoslipoverthetoplimbwhenstringingthebow.Byservingbothendsinthesamewaytheservingswillbecorrectwhenthestringistwistedforfittingtothebow.

Twisting the string in the correct directionWhenbothendloopsofthestringarecompletedthestringshouldbefittedtothebowsothatthecentreservingcanbeadded.Todothisfitthetoploopoverthetoplimbandslideitdownabout10centimetres.Takeholdoftheloopforthelowerlimbandtwistitfor10to20turns,seeillustration3.17(makesurethattheturnsareinthecorrectdirectionotherwisetheendservingsmaycomeloose).Thedirectionoftwistshownis

Illustration 3.11

Illustration 3.12

Illustration 3.13

Illustration 3.14



Illustration 3.15

Illustration 3.16

Illustration 3.17

Illustration 3.18

thecorrectdirectionforthedirectionofservingshowninthisdocument.Ifthestringistwistedintheoppositedirectiontotheserving,theservingwillpossiblycomelooseandmaymoveduringuse.Allthreeservingsmustbewoundonthestringinthesamedirection,seeillustration3.18.

Somepeopleservetheirstringsinadifferentdirection,orway,thanshowninthisleaflet.Thesethreediagramsmayhelpindeterminingthedirectionthestringshouldbetwistedtostopanyoftheservingscominglooseduringuse.

Getting the correct bracing heightIfthenewstringisnottothecorrectlengthforagivenbracingheightthenthelengthmaybeadjustedbyaddingorreducingthenumberoftwistsinthestring.Theminimumrecommendedisapproximately1fullturnevery7.5centimetres,thereisnomaximumbutrememberthemoretwistsinthestringitwilltakelongertosettletoitsworkinglength.Itwillalsobefatterwhichmaygiveareducedperformance.Thebracingheightmaybemeasuredfromthethroatofthebowgriptothestring,asshowninillustration3.19,orfromthestringtothecentreofthepressurebuttonplunger.

Beforebeddinginthewaxhavethebraceheight3millimetreshigherthantherequiredfinalheightasbeddinginthewaxwillincreasethestringlengththusloweringthebraceheight.Takeapieceofleather;folditroundthestringandrubupanddownthefulllengthofthestring,seeillustration3.20.Moststringmaterialsdonotneedextrawaxappliedtothestringbeforeundertakingthistask,butifthestringmaterialisun-waxedthenafewrubsofaBeeswaxblockonthestringwillbenecessarybeforethestringisrubbedwiththepieceofleather.

The centre servingWiththebracingheightsettothedesiredheightthecentreservingcanbeapplied.Chooseaservingmaterialwithadi-ametertogivethecorrectfitforthesizeofnockstobeused.Thiswillsavehavingtobuildupthenockingareatogetagoodfittingnock,orviceversa,havingtoreplacetheservingbecausethenockistootight.Starttheservingataheightabovethede-sirednockingpointpositiontogiveadequatestringandfingerprotection,asuggestedheightofapproximately6.5centimetreswouldbesufficient,seeillustration3.21.Theservingshouldbeservedinthesamedirectionthattheendloopswereservedi.e.fromrighttolefttakingtheservingspooloverthetopofthestringandawayfromyou.

Serving the required lengthWhentheservingis1centimetreshorterthantherequiredlength,i.e.about16centimetres,seeillustration3.22,(thislengthdependsontheindividualspreference)continuetofinishofftheservingexactlythesameasthetopandbottomservingswerefinished.Remembertheservinggivesprotectiontothestringshoulditcontactthearmguardduringthecompletionofthe


servingdirection

servingdirection

servingdirection

CORRECT NOTCORRECT

CORRECTtwistdirection

twistdirection

twistdirection

servingdirection

servingdirection

servingdirection

servingdirection

servingdirection

servingdirection


shot.Italsohasabearingonthetuningofthebow,thelightertheservingthefasterthestringwilltravelandheaviertheservingtheslowerthestringwilltravel.Differentlengthsandweightofthecentreservingcanbeusedforfinetuningthebow.

Itisusuallyeasiertostarttheservingontherightandtoworktowardtheleft,withtheservingspoolcomingtowardyoufromunderneaththestring.Ifyouservethisway,whichisthewaytheendservingsweredone,allthreeservings(theendloopsandcentreserving)willbeallthesameway.Whentheservingis8to10millimetresshortoftherequiredlength,pullabout30centimetresofservingoffthespool-makealoopandservebacktowardtheservingthroughtheloopjustmade.Thisservingdoesnotneedtobetightbutthespoolmustbeturnedaroundthestringinthesamedirectionastheservingwasapplied.Makesurethattheloopisalwayskepttightotherwisetheservingontherightoftheloopwillcomeloose,whichwillcauseaproblemwhenthestringisinuse.Whenthisreverseservingisabout8to10millimetreslongbringtheservingontheservingspooloutandtrapitundertherighthandsideoftheloop.Continuetheservingbyturningtherightsideofthelooptowardyoufromunderneaththestring,(thesamedirectionasthespoolwasusedearlier)seeillustrations3.23&3.24.Asthisisdonetheservingontheleft-handsideoftheloopwillgetshorter.Reducetheten-sionoftheserverbeforeunrollingtheendstrand.Thisallowsittodetacheasily.

Afterthecentreservingiscompleteholdthebowhorizontallyandplacethearrowonthestringsothatitishangingstraightdown.Ifthecentreservingisagoodfitthearrowshouldholdontothestringandonlyfalloffwhenthestringisgivealighttapwithafinger,seeillustration3.25.Thiscanalsobedonewhenjustafewcentimetreshavebeenserved,ifthearrownockistootightandathinnermaterialisneededitwillsaveundoingthewholecentreserving.Whenthecentreservingisconfirmedasagoodfititshouldbefinishedoffthesamewaytheendservingwerefinished.

Itisveryimportanttohaveagoodfitbetweenthearrownockandthecentreserving.Sometimesnockingpointenlargementisnecessarytoensureapropernockfitwhensmallstringsareusedonlightweightbows.Thismaybeachievedbyaddingasecondlayerofverythinserving,ordentalfloss,overtheareaofthenockingpoint,approximately2cmlong.Alittlefletchinggluecanbewipedoverthisareaastheservingprogresses,buttakecarenottousetoomuchasitmakesthestringstiffatthatpoint.ThebestwayistoaddsomestrandsofDacronundertheservingwhenmakingthestring.Theseadditionalstrandsmustbekeptstretchedasyouservearoundthem,seeillustrations3.26&3.27.

Illustration 3.19

Illustration 3.20

Illustration 3.21

Illustration 3.22

Illustration 3.23

Illustration 3.24 Illustration 3.25 Illustration 3.26


Nock too loose

Nockingpointareabuiltupwithdentalflossorsimilar.

Usethinnerserving.


The nocking pointThecorrectheightofthenockingpointdependsonmanythings.Asuggestedstartingpointistohavethetopofthebottomnockingpointabout5mmhigherthanwherethebottomoftheshaftmakesa90degreeanglewiththestring,seeillustration3.28.

Nocklocatorsmaybeaddedintwoways.Amanu-facturednock-setisavailablethatisclampedonthestringwithspecialpliers.Anothermethodistouseastandardheavythread,seeillustration3.29,thenfix-ingthiswithfletchingcementtoformasmallneatringaroundtheserving.Thisknotmustbefirmanduni-form.Applyanotherthincoatofglueovertheentirenocklocator,andthenleaveittodry.Thenockloca-torsmaybeaboveandbelowthenock.

Aftershootingabout30arrows,re-measurethebraceheight.Ithasmostlikelydecreasedandwillneedre-setting.Ifthisisthecasecheckthenockingpointandadjustifnecessary.

Illustration 3.27

Illustration 3.28

Besttips&tricksinYoutube› ...

More ideas for making the string


90°

1 cm


HOW TO TIE A NOCKING POINTArecurvebow’snockingpointkeepsanarrowinplaceonthebowstring,mak-ingsureitispropelledfromaconsist-entpositionandwithconsistentforce.Nockingpointscanbemakeofplasticormetal,butmanyarcherssimplytieknotsofthreadontotheirstringstomaketheirown.Someoftheadvantag-esofthisapproachincludethenockingpointsbeingsimpletoinstall,change,sturdyandeasytomaintain.Here’showtotieyourveryownnockingpoint… Illustration 1

Illustration 3

Illustration 2

Illustration 4

Illustration 6

Illustration 5

Illustration 7 Illustration 8 Illustration 9

1. Runthethreadyou’lluseforthenockingpointthroughthestickofhot-meltglue.Thisstepisentirelyoptional,butitwillhelptobindthethreadtothestringlateroninthisprocess(illustration1).

2. Clipyourbracingheightgauge,alsoknownasaT-square,ontoyourstring,restingitgentlyonyourarrowrest(illustration2).

3. Chooseamarkabovethebottomlineofthegaugeforthetopnockingpoint.Thiswilldefinewhereyourarrowsitsonthestringanditwilltaketime–andtuning–tofindtheperfectplace.Agoodplacetostartis3/16thsofaninch,orabout5mm,up.

4. Loopthethreadaroundthestringandtieaknot,securingitintheplaceyouhavechosen(illustration3).

5. Tieasecondknotbelowthefirst,withthebulkoftheknotontheoppositesideofthestring,thenathird,abovetheoriginalknotand

facinginthesamedirection(illustration4&5).6. Cutthelooseendsofthethreadtoaround5mminlength(illust-

ration6).7. Withalighter,carefullyheattheendsofthethread(illustration

7).Besupercarefulnottoburnyourstring!Thematerialwillcatchalightandmeltdownslowly.Oncetheexcessthreadhasburnedaway,pressthemoltenendsdownontothenockingpointtosealit.Ifyoucompletedstepone,thehot-melt–heatedbythelighter–willhavehelpedtobondthenockingpointtoget-herfirmly.

8. Nockanarrowtothestringandrepeatthewholeprocessagainforthebottomnockingpoint.Becarefultoleaveenoughspaceforthearrowtomovealittlebit,otherwisewhenyoudrawbackthetwopointsmaypinchthearrowonthestring.Withtwonoc-kingpointstied,you’llbereadytoshootstraightaway!

› bracingheightgauge› thread› lighter› scissors› hot-meltglue(optional)

Totieanockingpoint,youwillneed:


HOW TO WAx A BOWSTRINGAnessentialpartofkeepingabowmaintained–nomatterwhatstyleyoushoot:recurve,com-pound,traditional…–iswaxingthestring(andcables),yetmanyarchersneglectit.

Thebowstringiskeytotheoverallperformanceofthebow.Afterall,itisthepieceofequipmentthatsendsthearrowtowardsthetarget.Waxingastringpreventsitfromfraying,addsawaterproofelement–stoppingwaterfromgettingbetweenthestrands–andretainstwists.

(Ifwatergetsinthestring,thestringgetsheavier–andthearrowleavesthebowtravellingslower,

impactingonsightmarksandgrouping.)

Aproperly-waxedbowstringhasasmooth,slightlytackyfeel.Ifthestringfeelsdry,orstartstoexhibitdiscolorationorfuzzout,it’stimetowaxitagain.Mosttoparcherswaxtheirstringseverytwotothreeweeks,plusbeforecompetitionifthefore-castisforrain.

Ifyounoticeloosestrandsorfrays,thatstringistoofargone!Throwitaway.

› bowstring› stringwax:syntheticwaxes

areideal,buttraditionalarchersmayfavourall-naturalbeeswax(anditdoessmell great)

› fabriccord,leather orflexiblecard

Towaxyourbowstring, youwillneed:

Illustration 1 Illustration 2

Illustration 3

Illustration 4


Checkyourstringisingoodcondition.Makesuretheservingsareintactandthestringhastherightamountoftwistsforyourset-up.(Sincethewaxhardensthestring,changingthetwiststoomuchafterwardsisdifficult.)Stringyourbow.

1. Applywaxdirectlyalongthelengthofthestring(andcables)byrubbingitupanddownwaxisvisiblealongthelengthofthestrands.Donotwaxtheserving.It’llunravelquicker–andalsomakeitslippery!

2. Useyourfingerstomassagethewaxfurtherintothestring.Asthestringismadeupofmultiplestrands,thewaxmustbepushedallaroundthemforbestresults,meltingintoallthegaps.

3. Takethefabriccordandwrapitinalooparoundthestring.(Tra-ditionalarchersoftenpreferleather–and,inapinch,evenasmallloopofcardorpaperwilldo.)

Pushtheloopinthecordupanddownthelengthofthestringtoevenoutthespreadofwax.Asmuchaspossiblewillbepushedintothestrands–andtheexcesswillbepushedaway.

Removeanyleft-overlumpswithyourfingers–andyourstringisreadytogo!


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN BOW STRINGER

Useasolid2meterslongropeandmakeitintoaloop.Putthebottomlimbonsomesortofcushion,smallrub-bermat,orapieceofcarpet…anythingtoavoidscrap-pingthebottomlimbtiponaroughfloor.

Foldtheropeintwoequalpartsandputitastrideonthebowgrip.Placeyourfeetintheloopsasshowninillustra-tions4.1&4.2.

Pullonthetoplimbtowardsyouandplacethetopstringlooponthetopbowtip.Bewarenottopullthelimbdirectlytowardyourface,ifthelowerlimborropeslippedaninjurymayoccurasaresult.

Alwayscheckthegoodpositioningofthestring,particu-larlyonthebottomlimbtip,beforereleasingyourpulleffort.

ThereismoreinformationavailableintheWACoachingManualLevel1.

› meters of rope› smallpieceofrubberormatting

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 4.1

Illustration 4.2


More ideas for making the bow stringer


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN SIGHT

Takethestickofbambooorwoodwithsimilarcharacteristicsandcutoutabladewithalengthof18cm,awidthof1cmandathick-nessof2mm.Thisbamboostickservesasscalebarofthesight,seeillustration5.1.

Taketheblockofhardrubberfoamwithalengthof3cmandawidthof2cmtoserveasslider.Cutaholeforthebladeofbambooinsuchamannerthatyouhave1/3ofspacebetweentheriserandthescalebarand2/3ofspaceontheothersideofthescalebar.This

› stick of bamboo or wood similartothecharacteristicsof bamboo

› screwof3.5cminlength› adhesivetape› apieceofhardrubberfoam› tackof2cminlength

› screwdriver› hammer› knife› saw blade› boringbit(3)› aplastictubewithaninner

diameterof4.5mm

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 5.1

Illustration 5.2

Illustration 5.5

Illustration 5.3

Illustration 5.6

Illustration 5.4

Illustration 5.7

makesiteasyfortherubberfoamtoslidealongthewoodwithoutfoulingtheriser,seeillustration5.2.

Drillahole7·5mmfromeachendofthescalebarandthenputadhesivetapearoundthebamboobladewhereyouhavedrilledthetwoholes.Putthescrewsthroughtheadhesivetapeandintotheholes,seeillustration5.3.

Putapieceofbamboowithaninnerdiameterofatleast4.5mmandalengthof1cmaroundeachofthescrews.Thenfixthesighttothebackoftheriser,usingthetwoscrews,atthelevelofthesightwin-dow,seeillustrations5.4and5.5.

Insertathinpieceofbamboothroughthefoamslideronthesighttrackleavingapproximately2cmfromtheinnersideofthesightwindow.Thisvisibleendofthebambooservesasyoursightpin,seeillustrations5.6and5.7.


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ARROW REST

1. Sticksomedoublesidedstickytapetotheriserwherethearrowrestistobefitted,seeillustra-tion6.2.

2. Openthepaperclipsothatitisata90degreeangle,seeillustration6.3.

3. Cutthebottom(horizontal)partofthepaperclip,seeillustration6.4.

4. Cutpaperclip,seeillustration6.5.

5. Bendthecutarmforwardtoapproximately45°,seeillustration6.6.

6. Putthecutpapercliponthedoublesidedstickytape,seeillustration6.7.

7. Bindsomeadhesivetapeoverthepaperclip,seeillustration6.8.

8. Ifneededalightweightfeltspacerpadcanbefit-tedtogetthearrowalignedusingthecenterlineofthebow,seeillustration6.9

› apieceofstiffwire7.5cmlong› apieceofthintin/aluminium

3cmlong,1cmwide› apairofpincersorpliers› threesmalltacks1cmlong› asmallrubberband

Materialsneeded:

METHOd 1

Illustration 6.2

Illustration 6.1

Illustration 6.3

Illustration 6.5


Illustration 6.4


Illustration 6.5


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ARROW REST

1. Bendthepieceofwire,inthemiddle,makinga90degreeangle.Bendoneendintoaloopasshowninillustration6.10.

2. Shapethepieceoftin/aluminiumsothatthereisasmalltun-neljustbigenoughtotakethesizeofthewire,alsomaketwoholesforthetackstogothroughwhichwillfixthearrowresttothebow,seeillustration6.11.

3. Usingthetwotacksfitthebentpieceoftin/alumi-niumtotheriseralongwiththebentpieceofwire.Itshouldbefittedinthesightwindowjustabovetheshelf.Thebentpieceofwireshouldbeplacedasshowninillustration6.12.

4. Bendthepieceofwirestickingoutofthetopofthefix-ingplatesothatitisparalleltothesightwindowshelf,asshowninillustration6.13.

5. Fitthethirdtacktotheoutsideoftheriseratthesamelevelofthearrowrest.Oneloopoftherubberbandcanthenbefittedtothistack,andtheendofthebandcanbefittedtothelooponthebackofthebentpieceofwire,seeillustra-tion6.14.

6. Thearrowrestisnowfittedandreadyforuse,seeillustra-tion6.15.Ifneededalightweightfeltspacerpadcanbefit-tedtogetthearrowalignedusingthecenterlineofthebow.

› a paper clip› doublesidedstickytape› adhesivetape› apairofpincersorpliers› a pair of scissors› a small felt pad Seeillustration6.1

Materialsneeded:

METHOd 2

Illustration 6.11

Illustration 6.12

Illustration 6.10Bent piece of wire

Bent piece oftin / aluminium


Illustration 6.15


More ideas for making the arrow rest


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ARROW REST1. Takethepieceofleatherandcutoutapiece3cmlongby

2cmwide.Cutaslitinit1cmlongand1cminfromoneend.Cutapieceofplastictotheshapesimilartothatshowninillustration6.16.

2. Bendthepieceofplasticasshowninillustration6.17.

3. Passthepieceofplasticthroughtheslitasshowninillustra-tion6.18.

4. Cutasmallpieceofdoublesidedstickytapeandstickthebackoftheplasticarrowresttothebackofthepieceofleather,asshowninillustration6.19.

5. Putapieceofstickytapeonthebackofthenowfinishedarrowrestandfixittothebowjustabovethearrowshelfasshowninillustration6.20.Ifapressurebuttonisbeingusedaholeoftheappropriatesizecanbecutinthearrowrestforthepressurebuttontiptopassthrough.Ifapres-surebuttonisnotbeingusedasmallpieceofleathercanbefixedintheappropriateplaceonthearrowrestsothatthestaticarrowline-upcanbeachieved,seeillustration6.21.

› aknife› apieceofthickleather› aplasticcarton› doublesidestickytape› glue(fletchingtype)

Materialsneeded:

METHOd 3

Illustration 6.16

Illustration 6.17




HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN PRESSURE BUTTON

1. Drillaholeintheriserjustabovethearrowrestusingthe8mmboringbit,asshowninillustration7.1.

2. Cutoffapieceofthearrowshaftwithalengthof4cmandseeifitfitsintothehole.Takethebamboobladeanddrillthreeholeswiththe3mmboringbit.Thereshouldbeoneholeinthecentreofthebladeandone7·5mminfromeachendoftheblade.Covertheholeswiththeadhesivetapeandputthetwoscrewsthroughthetapeandintotheholes.Cutthreepiecesofhardrubberfoamwithalengthof2cm,awidthof1cmandaheightof7·5mmeach.Putapieceofthisfoamontoeachofthescrewsfittedthroughthebambooblade.Drillaholeintothethirdpieceofhardrubberfoamatoneendofthebamboobladeandputthe4cmshaftintoit,whichisthenfixedbythethirdscrew,seeillustration7.2.

3. Fixthisconstructiontotheexterioroftheriserbyinsertingthe4cmwoodenshaftthroughthehole,seeillustration7.3.

› athinbladeofbamboo20cmlong 1cmwideand2mmthick

› threesmallscrews2cmlong› threepiecesofhardrubberfoam› adhesivetape› an8mmboringbit› a3mmboringbit› ahammer› ascrewdriver› aknife› asmallpieceofanarrowshaft

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 7.1

Illustration 7.2

Illustration 7.3


More ideas for making the pressure button


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN dRAW LENGTH CHECKER (CLICKER)

1. Takethesmallstripofbamboo,samekindasfortheplungerandcutitreallythin,seeillustration8.1.

2. Rollsomeadhesivetapearoundthebamboostripatoneendanddrillasmallhole15mmfromtheendofthebamboosuitabletotakethesizeofscrewbeingused,seeillustration8.2.

3. Thenfixitinthebowwindowwiththesmallscrewataheightwherethelowerpartofthebladewillbeonthearrowwhenthearrowispacedonthearrowrest.Thenadjustatwilltosuitthearchersdrawlength,seeillus-tration8.3.

› athinbladeofbamboo20cmlong 1cmwideand2mmthick

› asmallscrew1cmlong

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 8.1

Illustration 8.2

Illustration 8.3


More ideas for making the clicker


HOW TO BUILd A YOUTH PVC BOW by William SEPHTON / RSA

INTROdUCTIONToensurethesustainabilityofarcherythesportmustbedevelopandmadeaccessibletothemasses.

ThisinitiativeistomanufacturingPVCbowswhichisataimtosupporttheWorldArcheryDevelop-mentStrategyandtomakethesportaccessibletothepreviouslydisadvantagedcommunities.

APVCbowisbasiclowcosttooltointroducearcherythatwillbefunandshootfairlyaccuratelyandcouldbemadeandplacedinachild’shandforafewdollars(lessthanthepriceofaham-burger).

ThisdocumentisintendedasinformationalguideandisadetaileddescriptionoftheprocesstomakesimplebowfromPVCpipe.

CognizancemustbetakenthatthesePVCbowsisinherentlydangerousweaponsandcaremustbetakenduringthemanufacturingandtheintheoperationthereof.

Nobowisindestructibleandcancausegraviesbodilyharm(hurt,maimandkill).

REQUIREd EQUIPMENT Heat Sources

Thefollowingheatsourcecanbeutilizedintheprocessthatisgenerating148°C(300°F):

› Heatgunsisthemostcontrollable(ratedupto600·C)andisrecommendedforthisprocess.

› Gasandelectricalcocking-topsisregardedsec-ondbestalternative.

› Openfire,gastorchesandgrillscanalsobeusedasextracaremustbetakentoavoidthesettingthePVCpipealight.

Cutting

PVCisamaterialthatcanbeeasilyengineeredandformedthereforeanywoodworkapplicationtoolscanbesafelyutilizedintheprocess.

Grinding and Shaping.

FortheformingandshapingofthePVCmetalfilesandsandpapercanbeutilized

Recurve forming

Tobendtherecurveofthebowissimpleprocessandcanbedonewiththefollowingeasytofindproductswiththecorrectdiameterthatcanbe utilizedastherecurvingjig:› anycylinder› cookingpots› cans› trashcans› barrelsFortherequiredrecurveaformwithadiameterequaltothelengthofthetipbeingrecurvedwillbeideal.

Illustration 1

Illustration 2

Illustration 3

Illustration 4



ESTIMATEd COST IMPLICATIONS fOR EQUIPMENT & MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS:Tobeabletobuildeight(8)PVC18-22lbs1500mmyouthPVCbows theestimatedcostimplicationcanbecalculatedasfollows:

Estimated Cost Implication to fabricate Eight (8 complete) PVC 18-22 lbs 1500 mm Bowsno itemdescription unit costperunit quantities totalincl.vat1 woodworkbench each $60.00 1 $60.002 metalhacksaw each $9.50 1 $9.503 roundmetalfile(fine)8×150mm each $5.50 1 $5.504 halfroundmetalfile(fine)25×150

mmeach $5.50 1 $5.50

5 2000Welectricalheatgunwithtempcontrol

each $65.00 1 $65.00

6 300 mm wood work clamps each $5.50 2 $11.007 3metermeasuringtape each $5.50 1 $5.508 curvetemplatemouldø200mm each $12.00 1 $12.009 servingbobbinholder each $25.00 1 $25.0010 150×50×3000mmpinewooden

mouldmeters $30.00 1 $30.00

11 scissors each $5.00 1 $5.0012 heatresistantgloves(thinpigskin) pairs $4.50 2 $9.0013 stanleyboxknife each $6.50 1 $6.5014 dorehingewithsix(6)wooden

screwseach $2.20 1 $2.20

15 ø25mmxclass16pvcpipe 6 meter lengths

$0.50 2 $1.00

16 nylonropeforstrings meters $0.25 15 $3.7517 ø50mmheatshrinkabletube meters $1.40 1 $1.4018 cableties5×150mm each $0.12 8 $0.9619 servingstring100metersx0.052

diamondbackunit $27.50 1 $27.50

Subtotal $286.31

Thereforethecostcanbedefinedandanalysedasfollows.

Initial cost ImplicationCost of Material $34.61 Cost per bow for Material $4.33CostofEquipment $251.70 CostperbowforEquipment(onceoffcost) $31.46Theaveragecostimplicatingperbowforthefirsteight(8)bowsforEquipment&Materials $35.79

Table 1

Table 2



THE BASIC CONSTRUCTION Of A BOWThebasicconstructionofaPVCbowconformstothefollowing:

TYPES Of BOW dESIGNS:Thetypeofbowsdesignsandformsthatareknowncanbeindicatedasfollows:

ThewonderfulpartPVCmaterialandtheprocessisthatifapersonapplieshismindanyoftheabovebowscouldbemanufacturewiththisbasicprocessandrelativeease.

RECURVE BOW

UPPER LIMB

LOWER LIMB

BELLY

ARROWREST

BOWSTRING

BACK

SIGHT WINDOW

GRIP

NOCK

NOCKING POINT

SERV

ING

HAN

DLE

/ RI

SER

Illustration 5

Illustration 6



MATERIALPVCpipeismadeofPolyvinylChloride,athermo-plasticofVinylChloride.Itisstablepolymerthatiswhiteincolourandbrittleinitspureform.

Thediameterthatisreveredtointhispresenta-tionisreveringtotheoutsidediameterofthepipe(NotemustbetakenthatthespecificationofPVCpipingcouldvaryfromcountrytocountry).

TherecommendedPVCpipetobeutilizediswithawallthicknessofthree(3)mmorthicker.ManyplacesinternationallyonlymanufacturingPVCpipewithwallthicknessoftwo(2)mm.BowscanbeconstructedfromthismaterialsthisthinnerPVCMaterialsasitwillbeweakandpronetobreakageandwillberequiredthatthedimen-sionsandthedesignofthebowmustbealteredaccordingly.

KindlytakenoteofthefollowinghealthrisksapplyworkingwithPVC:

› WhenPVCisheatedorsetonfireitcanalsoreleasehydrogenchloride,whichcanbefatalifinhaledinlargevolumes.HeatingofPVCpipewillnotreleasemuchofthegasses,whileset-tingonfireitwill.AvoidburningPVCatallcosts(alwaysworkinawell-ventilatedarea):

› WhenPVCheatedtothepointwhereitisflex-ibleitisalsohotenoughtocausesevereburns(useheatresistantglovesandclothing).

› WhenPVCsandedthedustcanbeharmfulwheninhaled(AlwaysuseadustmaskwhensandingPVC)

SAfETY ANd ASPECTS Of A PVC BOWPVCbowsareweaponsandshouldbetreatedwithrespect.Anybowcanfail,andwhilePVCbowsaremoreresilientthanmost,neverabuseyourbow.Anyabuseortheneglectingthisbowcouldcauseittofail,whichmayinjurethearcherandanybystander.

Alwaysmakesurebystandersareasafedistanceawayandbehindyouwhenshootinganybow.

ThefollowingbasicsafetyaspectsofPVCself-bowmustbehighlighted:› Neverfireabowwithoutanarrowonthestring.› Neverpointabowatanotherperson,animalorobjectofvalue.

› Alwaysunstringyourbow.› Keepthebowinacool,darkplacewhennotinuse.

› Ifyoutreatyourbowwithrespectandbuildit,shootitandmaintainitwithcare,itwillrewardyouwithmanyyearsofservice.

› Treatasafinebowworthyofrespectanditwillreturnthefavour.

› Treatitlikeacheaptoytobebeatenandabused;thenitwillfailyoutoomiserably.

› Thesamecanbesaidforanyothertypeofbowaswell.

Asall-woodself-bows;PVClosesflexibilitywhenitgetscold.Asthetemperaturedrops,theplasticwillbecomelessforgiving.Itcantakeagreatdealofpracticebeforeastableshootingcoldweatherbowcanbemadeasittakesafeelofthematerialtogetittoperform.Ifshootingintemperaturesbelowfreezing.Trytokeepthebowaswarmaspossible.Andbeforeshooting,takeacouplehalf-drawstohelpgetthebowusedtobendingagain.

Asanadditionalnote,PVCgainsspeedandpowerasthetemperaturegoesdown.

PVCcanbebrokendown,likeallpolymers,byUVlight.Overtime,exposuretoUVlightcancausetheplastictobecomebrittleanditcanbreakifstrungordrawn.OnewayofknowingifapipeisUVdamagedisitwillappearyellowcomparetonewPVCpipe.RegardlessofthefinishyouchooseorifyouwanttoshowofftherawPVCpipe,UVblockingisimportant.

ThereareafewqualityplasticspraypaintsandclearthathaveUVblockers.Ialwaysapplythisunderawrappedorgluedonfinishandoveranypaintedordyedfinish.

MATERIAL SPECIfICATION ThefollowingtableisonlyanindicationandapointreferencetogiveanindicationwhatcanbeexpectedfromPVCandwhatthelimitationistothematerial.

Notemustbetakenthattheundermentionedin-formationisderivedfromPVCwithwallthicknessof3mmandmore.IfanyPVCisusewithanyotherdimensionsthanindicatedbelowthenchanges;thereforealterationtothedesignandtheagro-nomicsofthebowmustbemade.

TheareasonthetablesthatareindicatedinredareareaswherethePVCwillreachhighstresslevelsatthatparticulardesignapplication.ItisthereforerecommendedthatthesedimensionsapplicationmustbeavoidedasthePVCbowsmaterialwillbeatlevelsofintroducedstressthatitwillbepronetobreakageandcollapse.



PVC-pipe with 20 mm external diameter and wall thickness of 3 mmLengthofBow Drawlenght

24” 25” 26” 27” 28”50”(1277,00mm) 5-10 10 10-15 15 15-2049”(1251,46mm) 10 10-15 15 15-20 2048”(1225,92mm) 10-15 15 15-20 20 20-2547”(1200,38mm) 15 15-20 20 20-25 46”(1174,84mm) 15-20 20 20-25 45”(1149,30mm) 20 20-25 44”(1123,76mm) 20-25


24” 25” 26” 27” 28”50”(1277,00mm) 25-30 30 30-35 35 35-4049”(1251,46mm) 30 30-35 35 35-40 4048”(1225,92mm) 35 35-40 40 40-45

47”(1200,38mm) 35 35-40 40 40-45

46”(1174,84mm) 35-40 40 40-45

45”(1149,30mm) 40 40-45

44”(1123,76mm) 40-45


26” 27” 28” 29” 30”

60”(1532,40mm) 35-40 40 40-45 45 45-5059”(1506,86mm) 40 40-45 45 45-50 5058”(1481,32mm) 40-45 45 45-50 50 50-5557”(1455,78mm) 45 45-50 50 50-55 56”(1430,24mm) 45-50 50 50-55 55”(1397,55mm) 50 50-55

54”(1372,14mm) 55

Notemustbetakenthatthemostaccuratebowsarenotalwaysthebowswiththehighestpoundageorthatshootsthefastest.Abowmustbecomfortableandfunforthearchertoshootthenaccuracywillbeeasiertoachieve.

Table 3


STRING LENGTH INfORMATIONThetablegivesanindicationoftherequiredstringlength(frombowstringloopendtoloopend)foraparticularbowlengthapplication:

Recommended string lengths

BowlengthMinimumstringlength

Maximum stringlength

60”(1524,60mm) 56” 57”59”(1499,19mm) 55” 56”58”(1473,78mm) 54” 55”57”(1448,37mm) 53” 54”56”(1422,96mm) 52” 53”55”(1397,55mm) 51” 52”54”(1372,14mm) 50” 51”53”(1346,73mm) 49” 50”52”(1321,32mm) 48” 49”51”(1295,91mm) 47” 48”50”(1270,50mm) 46” 47”49”(1245,09mm) 45” 46”48”(1219,68mm) 44” 45”47”(1194,27mm) 43” 44”46”(1168,86mm) 42” 43”45”(1143,45mm) 41” 42”44”(1118,04mm) 40” 41”

NotemustbetakenthattheshorterthePVCbowismadeinlengththehigherthepoundagewillbeperinchofdrawlength

RECOMMENdEd PVC BOW dRAW LENGTHSThefollowingsafedrawlengthsarerecommend-edforPVCBowsastothelengthofthePVCfrompinnocktopinnock.

Recommended bow length for draw lengthBowlength Maximumdrawlength

68”(1727,88mm) 29,57”67”(1702,47mm) 29,13”66”(1677,06mm) 28,70”65”(1651,65mm) 28,26”64”(1626,24mm) 27,83”63”(1600,83mm) 27,39”62”(1575,42mm) 26,96”61”(1550,01mm) 26,52”60”(1524,60mm) 26,09”59”(1499,19mm) 25,65”58”(1473,78mm) 25,22”57”(1448,37mm) 24,78”56”(1422,96mm) 24,35”55”(1397,55mm) 23,91”54”(1372,14mm) 23,48”53”(1346,73mm) 23,04”52”(1321,32mm) 22,61”51”(1295,91mm) 22,17”50”(1270,50mm) 21,74”49”(1245,09mm) 21,30”48”(1219,68mm) 20,87”47”(1194,27mm) 20,43”46”(1168,86mm) 20,00”45”(1143,45mm) 19,57”44”(1118,04mm) 19,13”

dRAW WEIGHT INdICATIONTheundermentiontablegivearuffindicationofwhatthebowdrawweightwillbecomfortableforwhatsizesofarchers.

Archer’s weight Proposed draw weight25-35kg 5-10lbs35-50kg 10-15lbs50-65kg 15-25lbs65-75kg 20-35lbs75-90kg 30-50lbs90+ kg 40-65lbs

Table 4

Illustration 7




BUILdING A fLATTENING JIG:Theflatteningjigisusedtotaperthelimbsofthebowandthereforeitisanintegralpartofthecon-structionofthePVCbow.

Makeuseof50×100×2438mmlengthwoodenboard.Cutoff915,5mmlength,leavingtheotherlengthat1524mmlong.Thelongerlengthwillbethebasesandtheshorterboardwillusedastheflatteningboard.

Fromtheedgeofthelongboardmeasure609mmand762mmwhichwillbeusedtolinethePVCpipeuptothejigwhenflattening.

Placethelongandshortboardontopofeachotherandinstallthehingesonthetopendoftheflatteningjigwithwoodenscrews.

Installthehigh20mmspaceratthe609mmlineasperillustration.

Thecompletedflatteningjig.

STEP BY STEP INfORMATION GUIdE TO BUILd A 22 lbs 25” dRAW LENGTH PVC BOW 1. Measuring out the dimensions of the bow.

Startwith25mmouterdiameterPVCpipewithawallthicknessof3mmwhichis1500mminlength,seeillustration13and14.Markthecentreofthepipeat750mm.

Illustration 8

Illustration 11

Illustration 12

Illustration 9




Mark75mmonbothsidesofthecentrelinewhichwillbethehandleofthebowandsettheboundarieswheretaperingofthelimbswilltakeplacefrom(illustration15).

Mark150mmfromeachendofthepipewhichsethowfartherecurveswillstartfrom.

25 mm PVC pipe Handle or riser of the bow

Recurve part of the bow


150 mm 150 mm

150 mm

1500 mm

75 mm

750 mm

25 mm PVC pipeHandle or riser of the bow



150 mm 150 mm

150 mm

1500 mm

75 mm

750 mm

Illustration 14

Illustration 17

Illustration 18

Illustration 16Illustration 15

2. Heating the PVC pipe. Heatsourcesasindi-catedinparagraph“Requiredequipment“ ›Stove › Fire ›GasBurner ›HeatGun

Forthebowmakingprocess,beginheatingtheonehalfofthepipefromthecentremarktothetipofthepipetopreparefortheflatteningpro-cess.

HEATING

Foranystationaryheatsourcelikeastovetoporanopenflameistopassthepipeslowlyovertheheatsource(illustration17).Alwayskeepthepipemovingsotoavoidtheburningofthepipe(al-waysavoidexposuretothefumes);asevenslightburnscouldweakenthebowandcausethebowtobreak.


HOW TO BUILd A YOUTH PVC BOW by William SEPHTON / RSAThemethodthatworksextremelywellisama-noeuvrablehandheldheatsourcelikeaheatgun.Theheatgunispassedoverthepipeandthepipeisturned¼turnaftereachpass.

Theeffectivenessoftheprocesscouldbein-creasedifdoneoverapoorconductorofheatlaswoodservice.

WhenthePVCpipeissoftasillustratedinthephotoitisreadyforthetaperingprocess.

CognizancemustbetakenthatatthispointthePVCpipeisextremelyhotandcancausesevereburnsandmustbehandledwithcareandheatresistantgloves.

3. Tapering the limbs. Whenthesectionofthepipeissoftandcanbeflattenedwithsoftpressureofthefinger,itisreadytobeplacedinthejig.

Linetheouterhandlemarkthatis75mmfromthecentrelineofthebowwiththerelevantlineonthejig.MakesurethePVCpipeisstraightandisproperlycentredinthemiddleofthejig.

Theflatteningboardwillstartfromthemiddleofthehandleinordertoobtainaneventaper.

Placetheflatteningboardontothepipe.IfthePVCpipeissoftenoughitwilltakeapproximately7.5kgtoflattenthepipetotherequiredtaper.Itwillbeadvisabletoclampthejigasillustratedinthephototoensureauniformtaperisachieved.


Illustration 23

Illustration 24

Illustration 20

Illustration 21


AfterthePVCpipehasbeenallowedtocooldowntheflatteningboardmayberemoved.Thereshouldbeaneventaperfromthetipofthebowtothemiddle.

Thesameprocessmustbefollowedfortheotherhalfsectionofthebow.

4. Bending the re-curves.Tobaletobendtherecurvesontheendsofthebowlimbthefol-lowingtools: ›aheatsource ›a200mmto250mdiameterroundobjectas(cookingbot,roundtinorwheelbarrowwheel) ›heatresistantgloves

HeatthetipoftheflattenedPVCpipeupanduntilthe150mmmark.

Applyheattothetipuntilitstartstodroopandpuff-upslightly.Stopheatingthetipandlettheheatpenetratethematerialinanattempttopre-ventthetiplosingitsflattenedcrosssection.

Bendthetipofthebowaroundtheformbyhold-ingthetipagainsttheformandpullingthebowaroundform;untilthe150mmmarkreachtheformscurvature.

AtthisstagethePVCwillbeveryhotthereforeitwillberequiredthatheatresistantglovesmustbeusedinthisprocess.Ifthetipisnotbendingsmoothlyitcanbegentlyheatedwhilethetipisontheform.

Noticehowtheoutsidecurveofthetipisslightlyconcaveandslopeinwards.Thisconcaveareawillhelptokeepthestringfromslippingoffthebowwhenthebowisstrungandshot.

Repeatthesameprocessforotherlimb.

Bothofthecurvesshouldbeinlinewitheachother,ifnotgentlyheatthebaseoftherecurveandbenditfromsidetosideuntilthetipslineupacrossthebow.


Illustration 25

Illustration 28

Illustration 29Illustration 26

Illustration 27


Photosillustratesthecompletedcurvebow.

5. Forming the handle/riser of the bow.

Placethebowontheflatteningjig,heattheentirehandlesectionplus25mmovereachsideevenlyuntilthepipereturnstoitsoriginalform.(Oncethepipereachesthecorrecttemperatureitwillreverttoitsoriginalform).AlwayskeepstheheatsourcemovingoverthisareasotopreventanyburningofthePVCwhichwillcauseaweakpointwherethebowmightbreak.

Whenthehandleissoftandflexible;byusingheatresistantglovesthehandleareacanbeformedtogiveitamorecomfortablegripwhilealsostrengtheningthehandleandreducingtheabilitytoflex.

Whenthepipecoolsdownandstartstosetchecktomakesureitshapesupproperly.The150mmhandlesectionsshouldbefairlyuniformwithagentletaperofabout25mmonbothsidesofthehandleandshouldbe±12mmwide.


Illustration 30

Illustration 31

Illustration 34

Illustration 35

Illustration 32



HOW TO BUILd A YOUTH PVC BOW by William SEPHTON / RSAMakesurethattherearenocreasesinthehandleareaandthatthereisasmoothtransitionfromthehandletothelimbs.Anycreasesinthehandlewillresultinweakpointsthatwillcausethebowtobreak.

Oncethehandlestartstosetandtheplasticisstillslightlysoft.Sightdownthelengthofthebowtoensurethecorrectlimbalignment.Intheinstancewherethehandlewasnotstraightorifthelimbsweretwistedbeforeyoucancorrectitnowbyflexingthehandlegentlyuntilthelimbscorrectlylineup.

ThephotoillustratedthecompletedPVCbow.

6. Lay out of bow nocks

Pinstylenocksareasimplemethodtoallowacommercialstringlooptofitsafelyoverthewidetipofthisbow.

Thedimensionofthisnockpinsis20mmlongand12mmwide.

Thepinnockmustbeinthecentreofthelimborotherwisetherecurvewillnotlineupproperlywhenthebowisstrungandthelimbsofthebowmaytwist.

Cutthenocksoutwithahacksawandfinishoffwithametalfile.Sandorfilethepinknockstringcontactedgestohelpkeepthebowstringfromwearingoffovertime.

Onthebellysideofthebowfiletwostringgroovesinthelimbofthebowasillustratedsotoensurethatthebowstringproperlytracksovertherecurveofthebowlimbs.

Toincreasetheformofthebowcutandgrindtheedgesdowntoapointasillustratedinthephoto.

Cognisancemustbetakenthatthetipwillloseitsstrengthiftheedgesofthelimbarecutthroughtoofar.

Followthesameprocedureandfinishthepinknockontheotherlimbwhereafterthebowwillbereadytobestrungforthefirsttime.

Illustration 37

Illustration 39

Illustration 40

Illustration 38


HOW TO BUILd A YOUTH PVC BOW by William SEPHTON / RSA7. Manufacturing of bow string.

Takea2,5×1600mmnylonstringandburnbothofthetipsofthestringwithacigarettelightertopreventitfromunravelling.

Maketwoknotsasillustratedonbothsidesofthestringatapproximatelydistanceof1400mm(55inches)apart.

Cognizancemustbetakenthatthebowstringlengthcanbealteredwhenstrungbytwistingthestringupordown.

8. How to safely string the bow

Therearevariouswaystostringabow.Becauseofhowshortandaggressiverecurvedthesebowsare,thestepthroughmethodisoneofthesafestandrecommendedmethods.Theseinstructionsareforright-handers,soifyouarelefthanded,reversetheinstructions.

Tocommenceloopthelowerstringloopontothebottomnock.Bracethebacksideofthelowerbowrecurveagainstyourleftleg,holdingthein-sidecurveoftheotherrecurveinyourrighthandandthestringloopinyourleft.

Stepoverthebowwithyourrightlegandbracethebackofyourkneeagainstthehandleofthebow.

Keepyourkneeagainstthebow’shandlewhilepushingthebowlimbforwardwithyourrighthand.Bringthestringloopuptothenock,prepar-ingtoslipitontothebow.

Toincreaseleveragerotateyourupperbodyslightly,flexingthebowinwardanddownward.Slipthestringontothenockandmakesurethestringistracking,alongbothrecurvesevenlybe-forereleasingpressure.

Illustration 41

Illustration 45

Illustration 42

Illustration 43

Illustration 44

Illustration 46



Whenthebowisstrungupitwillbeatwhatistermedatbrace.Whichisthedistancebetweenthestringandbowhandle,thebraceheightwillbesomewherebetween150mm/6”and200mm/8“(asyoucontinueshootingyourbow,youwillfindthecorrectbraceheightthatwillsuitsyouthebest).

Sightdownthebowatbracetoensurethatthestringtracksstraightdownbothrecurvesandthroughthecentreofthebow.Itisimperativethatbothrecurvesshouldproperlylineupattherequiredbraceheight.

Atbrace,oneofthelimbswillusuallybebend-ingmorethantheother.Thislimbwillbethetoplimb,asthelowerlimbneedstobeslightlystiff.

9. The arrow shelf

Startwitha75mmlengthofPVCpipethesamedi-ameterandmaterialasyourbow.Markalinefrom½waydownoneendtoabout3mmontheoppo-siteside.Youshouldendupwithawedgeshape.

Cutthewedgefreeandfilethetopedgedownsothatitisatarightanglewiththeinsideoftherestandthenroundthebottomofffrom3mmtoinsureasmoothtransition.

Placetherestontothebow.Ifthehandleisnotgoingtobewrappedacleanertransitionis needed,wrapapieceofsandpaperaroundthehandle,withtheabrasivesidefacingoutwards.Placetherestontothehandleandrubitacrossthehandleuntiltheinsideoftherestmatchesconformstothecontoursofthehandle.

Illustration 47

Illustration 50

Illustration 51

Illustration 52

Illustration 48

Illustration 49


HOW TO BUILd A YOUTH PVC BOW by William SEPHTON / RSAGluetherestinplacewithflexibleandwaterproofglue.Makesuretherestisontheleftsideofthebowforrighthandedarchersandontherightforlefthandedarchers.Thetopoftherestwherethearrowwillmakecontactwiththerestshouldbe25mmto32mmabovethecentremarkofthehandle.

CoverthehandleandtheshelvewithPVCtapeandheatshrinkabletubeasillustrated.

10. Bow string and arrow nocking point.

Servethebowstringfrom75mmunderandoverthecentrelineofthehandlewith0,5mmservingstring.

Makenockingpointat3mmhighoncentreshotofthestring.

Illustration 53

Illustration 54

Illustration 56

Illustration 57

Illustration 58

Illustration 55


HOW TO BUILd A YOUTH PVC BOW by William SEPHTON / RSA11. Easy point of reference sight

Attachedcabletieasillustratedonphotothatcanbeusedandfinetuneasasimplereferencesight.

12. Beautifying your project.

IfPVCpipeisproperlysandeddownandaproperbasecodeareappliedanycolouranddesignscanbespraypaintedontothebow.

ToensurethedurabilityofthespraypaintandtoprotectPVCagainstultravioletsunlightitisrecom-mendedthatasuitableclearcoatbeapplied.

Illustration 59

Illustration 60

Illustration 62

Illustration 60


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ARROW SHAfTS

Determine the length of shaft requiredThelengthisthedistancebetweenthecornerofthemouthandthespacebetweenthethumbandtheindexfingeroftheoutstretchedbowarmwiththebowhandpressedtoawallandturningtheheadtothehandonthewall,seeillustration9.1.Alwaysadd10cmforbeginners.

1. Firstlyyouneedtoselectbamboostickstosuitthebowweightandthearcher’sdrawlength.Theshaftsselectedwouldnominallybebetweenfrom4to8mmindiameter.Ingeneral,theyhavealengthof1.5mto2mandafterstraighteningitmaybepossibletomake2to3shaftsfromonestick.Itisbesttodrythemfor45daysbeforeusingthem.Straighteningtheshaftscanbeachievedbyusingtheheatofacandlethenstraightenthemoutbyputtingsomepressureinthedirectionneededtogetthemstraight,seeillustration9.2.

2. Whenthesebamboosticksarebeingstraightened,itisbesttouseaconcentratedflamelikethatofacandleorasimilar“heat”.Youmustheatuptheknotsofthebambooandthenyoucanstraightenthestick.Donottrytostraightenorbendthepartbetweentwoknots,youcouldbreakthestick,seeillustration9.3.

3. Whentheyarestraighttheknotscanbesmoothedoutusingtherasporfile.Thencutoneendofthefuturearrow2cmafteraknot,seeillustration9.4.NBNowwewillaffixthenockormakeaslitinsteadofthenock.Advantages:Aknotnearthenockpreventsthesplittingoffragmentationoftheshaftattheslit.

4. Ifyouwanttouseacommerciallyavailablenock,decidewhichnocksyouwillbeusing“insertnocks”or“conefittingnocks”thenyoushouldstartmakingtheendoftheshafttosuitthatparticularfitting,seeillustration9.5.Whentheendofthearrowhasbeenshapedtoaccepttheselectednockyoucanfitthenockontoyourarrow,seeillustration9.6.

5. Ifyoudonothavecommercialnocksathandjustslitthewoodandeitherputsometapearoundtheendofyourar-row,orbindwithsomeservingorstringmaterial,sothesplitdoesn’tgetbigger,seeillustration9.7.

› bamboo sticks› candle› rasporfile

› knife› saw› blade

› matchbox› sandpaper

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 9.1

Illustration 9.2

Illustration 9.3

Illustration 9.4




An alternative method of making a nock for an arrowIfsmallerdiametershaftsareavailable,suchasoldarrowsorcarbonshaftsetceterathenanothermethodofmakingnocksmaybesought,suchas:

1. Youneedanoldballpointtypepen,cutofftheendsoastogetatube,seeillustration9.8.

2. Herewemanagedtoget3tubesoutofonepen(illustra-tion9.9).

3. Drilltheinsidetogettherightsizeholetofitovertheendofthearrow(illustration9.10).

4. Usegluetostickitontothebackendofthearrow(illustra-tion9.11).

5. Fittheplastictubetotheshaftensuringthatitlinedupwiththeshaftandrunstruewhentheshaftisspun(illus-tration9.12).

6. Finallyuseasmallroundfileorsomethingsimilartocutouttheslotforthebowstring(illustration9.13).

Illustration 9.8

Illustration 9.9

Illustration 9.10

Illustration 9.11

Illustration 9.12

Illustration 9.13


More ideas for making arrow nocks



Making and fitting the pointYouhavetwochoices,buildyourownpointorjustinsertapointthatiscommerciallyavailable,seeillustration9.14.

1. Tobuildyourownpointyouneedanail.Cuttheendoftheshaftsothatitispointshaped,thiscouldbedoneusingapencilsharpener,seeillustration9.15.

2. Takea3”(7·5cm)nailandcupofftheflathead,seeillust-ration9.16.

3. Usingasuitableglueinsertthebluntendofthenail2½inches(6cm)intotheshaft,seeillustration9.17.

4. Iftheholeoftheshaftistoosmallusadrillbittoenlargeittosuitthenail.Iftheholeintheendofthebambooshaftistoobig,rollsomefinethreadovernail,anduseasuitablegluetoholdthenailintheendoftheshaft.Or,sawdustmixedwithgluecanbepushedintotheendoftheshaftandthenailinsertedusingalittleextraglue.Seeillustra-tion9.18,thefinisheditem.

Illustration 9.14

Illustration 9.15


Illustration 9.18


More ideas for making arrow points


Themostcommontypeoffletchingusedbymo-dernarchersaroundtheworldistheplasticvane.Durable,strong,cheapandeasytouse,therearethousandsofdifferentshapes,colours,sizesandbrandsavailable.

Ontheline,plasticvanescanbeseenregardlessofseasonandlevelofcompetition–aswellasbeingusedbythemajorityofbeginners,mosttopcom-poundarchersandmanyrecurvearchersusethem.

Outdoors,small,streamlinedvaneswithminimalsurfacearearetainarrowspeedbutstabilisetheshaft’sflightoverdistance.Theseoftengivewaytolargervanesindoors,wherethelargersurfaceareaisneededtostabilisethearrow’sflightmuchfaster–asthedistanceisreduced.

Onceplasticvaneshavebeenappliedproperlytoanarrow,theycanbedifficulttoremove–sotakecarewhenfletchingyourarrows.

› plasticvanes– ensuretheyareallthesameshapeandsize› arrowshafts› fletchingglue› fletchingjig› paper towels› pencil

Tofletcharrows,youwillneed:

Illustration 1

Illustration 2

Illustration 3

Ensureyourbarearrowshaftsandyourvanesarecleanandgrimefree.Thiswillhelpthegluebindproperlyandyourfletchingwilllastlonger.Ifyouareapplyingarrowwraps,dosobeforefletching.Yourshaftsshouldhavenocksinstalledtoproperlyclipintothejig.

Arrowshavetwo‘hen’vanes,whichcreateaflatpathagainsttheriser,andone‘cock’vane,whichpointsawayfromtheriserwhennockedtothestring.Thiscockvaneisoftenadifferentcolour–especiallyonarrowsusedbybeginners–soit’seasilyidentifiable(seeillustration2).

1. Placeanarrowinthefletchingjig.Decidehowfardowntheshaftyouwanttoaffixthefletch-ing–2cmisagoodstartingpoint–andmakeanoteiftheclamphasaruleror,ifnot,markthelocationdirectlyontheclampwithapencil(illustration3).

2. Clampthevaneandapplyalayerofgluealongitslengthinthegroovethatwillsitagainsttheshaft(illustration4).

3. Pressthevaneintoplace–makingsureyougetittherightwayup!–andapplyverylightpres-suretoensurethevanesitssnuglyagainstthearrow,andthegluebondsproperly.Gentlywipeawayanyexcessgluewithapapertowel(illust-ration5).

4. Leavethegluetodryforafewminutes,thencarefullyremovetheclamp(illustration6).

5. Rotatethearrow120degreesinthejig–mosthavethreereliableclicksorreferences,allow-ingthearrowtoturninsitu–andrepeatthe

HOW TO fLETCH AN ARROW (WITHPLASTICVANES) by Heather Flint


HOW TO fLETCH AN ARROW (WITHPLASTICVANES) by Heather Flintprocesswiththesecondandthirdvanes(illust-ration7).

6. Withallthreevanesattached,checkthealign-mentofthenockwiththe‘cock’fletch–theoddvaneout.Itshouldbealignedwithoneofthetwoarmsofthenock,ratherthanthehole.Mostnockshaveonearmwithabump–thisistheonetoalignto,asit’saddedforthesamereasonasthe‘cock’fletch.(Moreexperiencedarcherstendtousethebump,orrecognisingthecorrectalignmentbyeye,ratherthandifferent-colouredvanes.)

7. It’sadvisabletoleaveafreshly-fletchedarrowforacoupleofhoursbeforeshooting,justtomakesuretheglueisproperlyset.Ifyou’reacompoundarcher,andyoufindyougetsomepass-throughs,now’sthetimetoaddasmalldollopofglueatthefrontedgeofthevane,justtoprotectitthatlittlebitmore.

Once that glue’s dry, you’re ready to head to the range. Enjoy!

Illustration 4

Illustration 5

Illustration 6

Illustration 7

Illustration 8


Arrowwrapsareoneofmanywaystocustomiseyourarcheryequipment.Wrapsareusedforar-rowidentification,labellingshaftswithyournameandanumber,protectingtheshaftfromfletchingadhesive,reliablevanemarkings–and,lastbutnotleast,makingyoursnazzygearstandoutfromthecrowd!Wrapsareverysimpletoapplyandremove,andhere’show.

› arrow wraps› barearrowshafts› flatsurface› linedpaper

Toapplyarrowwraps,youwillneed:

Illustration 1

Illustration 2

Illustration 3

Illustration 4

Illustration 5

Ensureyourbarearrowshaftsarecleanandgrimefree.Thiswillhelpthewrapadhesivebindcleanlyandtighttotheshaft.

Pro tip:Beforestarting,placeyourwrapsinthefridgefor10-15minutes.Thispreventsthemfromcurlingorwarpingonceyoupeelthemoffthebacking.

1. Peelthewrapfromitsbackingandlieitfacedownonthelinedpaper,alongoneofthelines(illustration2).

2. Lineupthearrowwiththewrapedge.Usingthelinedpapercanhelpyousquareofftheedgesofthewrap.Youwillneedthearrowtorollflat,soremovebulkynocksfirst(illustration3).

3. Rollthearrowoverthewrap,ensuringthatithassealedproperlytotheshaft.Pressthewrapdowngentlyasyougotopushoutanyairbubb-les(illustration4).

4. Runyourfingeralongtheedgetosealthewrap,leaveitforacoupleofminutesandyou’rereadytofletch(illustration5).

REMOVING WRAPS

Afterawhile,whenthewrapsareworn,youmightwanttoremoveandreplacethem.Sub-mergethewrapendofthearrowinhotwatertosoftentheadhesivebeforeyoutryandpeelawrapoff.

Makesureyoudon’toverheatthearrow–andcleantheshaftthoroughlyafterwards.

HOW TO APPLY ARROW WRAPS by Heather Flint


HOW TO MAKE fLETCHINGSMarkthelengthforthefootofeachhalfvaneon2plasticormetalrulers(orsimilardevice).Herewearemakingvanesof6cmlong.Thefootofeachhalfvaneis2mmwide.

1. Fixapieceoftapeoneachofthesemarks,illustration10.2.

2. Foldbothhalfvanesandjointhemtogether,illustration10.3.Ifstiffervanesarerequiredapieceofthinplasticcanbeplacedbetweenthetwohalvesofthevane.

› 2 rulers or similar› scissors› electricalinsulatingtapeor

similar› aballpointpen,› avanetemplateofcard,or

anoldvane

Materialsneeded:


Illustration 10.4

Illustration 10.5



3. The2unifiedpiecesofplastictapemaketheroughbodyofthevane,seeillustration10.4.

4. FoldthevaneatthefootlevelonsideA.Thiswillactasthefootofthevanewhencompleted,illustration10.5.

5. RepeattheaboveforsideB.Thiswillactasthefootofthevanewhencompleted,illustration10.6.

6. Drawtheshapeofthevanethatisrequired.Itwouldbeeasierifatemplatewasusedtodrawround,asshowninillustration10.7.Thiscanbedonebymakingatemplateoutofapieceofcardorplastic.Anoldvanecouldalsobeusedforthisstage.

7. Removethevaneformtherulers,illustration10.8.

8. Cutthevaneroundthelinetoshapethevane,illustration10.9.


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN fLETCHINGS


Illustration 10.10


9. Insertthecutvaneinthefletchingclamp,illustration10.10.

10. Insertthecutvaneinthefletchingclamp,illustration10.10.

11. Thevaneisshowninthefletchingclampwithbothsidesofthefootbentoutwards,seeillustration10.11;thisareawillbestucktothearrowshaft.

12.Putthearrowintothefletch-ingjigandslidetheclampintoposition,illustration10.12.NB:thefletchingcanbestucktothearrowshaftbyhandwithoutusinganyjig,butthismanualprocessrequiresalotofcare.


More ideas for making fletching


HOW TO MAKE ARROWS by Ludys TEjADA / DOMI admire people who work with wood, hammering, carving, etc.

But if you are like me, who only have the ability to put things to-gether, these arrows for you.

› 3/8×36”dowel(0.79×91cm)or5/16×36”(#38)dowel› 5/16nocks› 5’taperedfieldpoint› coloredfeathers

› tapertoolforwoodshaft› all purpose glue› polyurethane glue› electrical tape › cutter

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 1

Illustration 3

Illustration 5

Illustration 2

Illustration 4

Illustration 6

1. Cutthedowelstoadesiredlength(makegroupsof3withthesamelength).

2. Sharpenbothsidesofthedowelwiththetapertool.Toshapethedowelforthenockandthepoint(illustration1).

3. Gluenocksandpointswiththepolyurethaneglue. Removeexcessgluewiththecutterwhengluedries(illus-tration2).

4. Gluefeatherswiththeallpurposeglue.Glueonlythecenterpartofthefeather(il-lustration3).

5. Glue3featherspershaft(il-lustration4).

6. Wrapelectricaltapeattheendsofthefeathers(illustra-tion5&6).


› saw› drill› drilljustlargerthan

thediameterofthearrows› rasporfile› sandpaper› panelpins› waterproof wood glue› rule

› pencil› plywood-sizesshownbelow› 2dowels(orsimilar)2×50cm NB! Thesizesmaybe

changedtosuithowmanyarrowsyouneedtoaccom-modate.Thesizesshownwillaccommodate64arrows.

Materialsneeded:

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ARROW CONTAINER

1. Thebackboardshouldbeapproximately60cmlongand21cmwide,illustration19.1.Thecarr-yingholeshouldbelargeenoughsothatthehandcanbeslippedintoitandiscomfortablewhenunitisbeingcarried.

2. Thebaseandthetwoshelvesshouldbe21×21cm,seeillustration19.2.

3. Markoutontheboardwheretheholesshouldbeononeoftheshelves,seeillustration19.3.

4. Placethisboardontopoftheothershelfanddrilltheholesthroughthetwoboards,seeillustration19.4.

5. Twostrengtheningpiecesofplywoodareneeded;theseshouldbe3cmwideand55cmlong.Also,twodowels2cmdiameterand50cmlongarerequired,seeillustration19.5.

Illustration 19.1

Illustration 19.2


Illustration 19.5


21 cm

60 cm

21 cm

3×3×55 cm

Ø2 × 50 cm

21 cm

6. Whenthesepartsarereadytheassemblycanbegin.Alwaysusewaterproofwoodglueandpinthejointswithpanelpins,seeillustration19.6.

7. Whentheunitiscompleteditshouldlooksomethingsimi-lartothatshowninillustra-tion19.7.


Whetheryouarereplacinglostordamagedpoints,orbuildingarrowsfromthebeginning,knowinghowtomaintainyourownequipmentisavitalskillforanyarcher.Pointscanbelostintar-getsorwhenyourarrowsbreak–soifyouneedtoswaptheminorout,it’simportantthatyou’reableto,andsafely.

Gonearethetraditionalarrowheadsofhistoricalarcheryincompetitiondisciplines,replacedby

sleekpointsmanufacturedtoprecisemeasure-ments–andthatcomeinarangeofshapes,sizesandweights.

It’simportanttonotethattheweightofthepointwillhaveanimpactonhowyourarrowfliesasitaffectstheweightdistributionoftheshaft,andtheeffectivestiffnessofthespine–somakesureyouchooseapointthatfits,andthatworkswithyourequipment.

› blowtorch (orgasstove)

› lighter› points

› hotmeltglue› pliers› arrows

Tofitpoints,youwillneed:

Illustration 1

Illustration 2

Illustration 3

Illustration 4


1. Lighttheblowtorchand,grippingthepointwiththepliers,heattheinsertendofthepointusingthehottestpartoftheflame.Dothisforonlyafewseconds(illustration2).

2. Applyhotmeltglueliberallytothepointintheareathatyouhaveheated,allthewayaround.Theglueshouldmeltoncon-tactwiththepoint.Ifthisdoesn’thappen,heatthepointforalittlelonger(illustration3).

3. Pushthepointgentlyintothearrow,tryingnottotwistthepointtoomuchasthiswillrubtheglueaway.It’sokaytowaitafewmomentsforthepointtocooldownbeforepushingitin,aslongastheglueisstillmelted,beforeinsertingitintothearrow(illustration4&5).Overheatingarrowscanleadtosomewarping.

4. Wipeawaytheexcessgluethenputthearrowtoonesidetoletitcool.Thearrowsarethenreadytoshoot!

TOP TIPS› Forscrewinpoints,useexactlythesamemethod,justgluing

theinsertonly.Oncethearrowhascooledandtheexcessglueisremoved,themainbodyofthepointshouldscrewrightin.(Usealow-strengthadhesiveorscrewthepointinthroughplasticwrapfromthekitchentokeepittight.)

› Toremoveapoint,heatthetipverygentlyuntilthegluearounditmelts–andyoucanpullitoutwithapairofpliers.

HOW TO PUT POINTS IN ARROWS by Heather Flint

Makesurethearrowsarecuttothecorrectlength.It’sbettertouselower-meltingpointhotmeltgluetopreventdamagetoyourarrows,particularlyifyouuseacarbonshaft.Prepareaclean,heat-re-sistantsurfaceonwhichtowork–andbecareful!


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN fINGER PROTECTOR (TAB)1. Firstyouhavetomakeonepatternpersizerequiredonpaperor

cupboard.Ifpossible,usesomecommerciallyavailabletabsasamodel,illustration11.1.

2. Putthepatternontheleatheranddrawrounditmakingalinesothatitcanseenandcutround,illustration11.2.

3. Theleatherisnowreadytobecutout,illustration11.3.4. Cuttheleatheraccordingtoyourdrawing,illustration11.4.

5. Alsocuttheholeaccordingtothesizeofthemiddlefinger,illust-ration11.5.

6. Thisishowitshouldlookifyouareshootingbare-bowI.e.threefingersunderthearrow.

7. Yourtabisnowreadyforuse;itfitsonthehandasshowninil-lustration11.7

8. Ifyouwanttoshootwithasightanduseafingertab(Mediterra-neanstringholding)youshouldmakeacut4mmwideand2cmlongbetweentheindexandmiddlefingers,asshowninillustra-tion11.8.

› apieceofthinpliableleather› scissors› a“tab”templatefordrawing

roundtogettherightshapeandsize

› pencilorballpointpen

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 11.1

Illustration 11.4

Illustration 11.2

Illustration 11.5


Illustration 11.3

Illustration 11.6


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN TAB by Ludys TEjADA / DOM

4. Gluetoppartofthevinyltape(onlybackside).5. Gluetoppartfthefoammodel(bothsides).6. Put4partsoneontopoftheother,foamgoesinthemiddle.7. Sawthetoppartofthetab(donotsawthefingerpart).8. Make2cutsinupperpartofthetab(oneofthecutsshouldbemakewheretheindexand

themiddleisplaced.9. Decideifthetabisforleftorrighthandedarcher.Inserttheelasticbandthroughtheholes,and

thenplacethebead.10. Sawtheendoftheelasticband.

1. Makeonepatternpersize.Thesizedependsonthearcherhandsize(makesmallerpatternsforkidsandwomen).

2. Markandcut2foammodel.3. Markandcut2vinylmodel

backandfrontside.

Illustration 1



Illustration 2

› vinyl› foamsheets› elasticband(archerslike

colors) › bigneedleand

sewingthread#5

› roundbeads› allpurposeadhesive

(to glue plastic)› scissors› penorpencil

Materialsneeded:


12.HOWTOMAKEYOUROWN ARM GUARd (BRACER)

1. Cutasectionofplasticfromthebottleap-proximayely15cmlongand7cmwide.Themeasurementhereisjustasuggestion,thelength,widthandshapewilldependonthesizeofarmitistofit.Punchtwoneatroundholesinthefrontandtwoneatroundholesattheback,asshowninillustration12.2.

2. Thepiecesofelasticarethenthreadedthroughtheholes,asshowninillustration12.3,andtheendscanbeloopedtogethermakingliketwolargerubberbands.Theseloopsshouldbelargeenoughtofitthearmbuttightenoughtostopthebracerfromslip-pingdownthearm.

› a plastic bottle› scissors› elasticstrip(2pieces30cmlong)› apunchtomakeneatroundholes

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 12.1

Illustration 12.2

Illustration 12.3


More ideas for making arm quard


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN ARM GUARd by Ludys TEjADA / DOM

› vinyl› foamsheets› elasticband(archerslike

colors) › bigneedleand

sewingthread#5

› roundbeads› allpurposeadhesive

(to glue plastic)› scissors› penorpencil

Materialsneeded:




Illustration 4

1. Makeonepatternpersize.Thesizeisstandardexceptforkids.

2. Markandcut2vinylmodel.

3. Markandcut2foammodel.

4. Glueonlyonesideofthefoamandthevinylbackside.Stickoneofeach.

5. Gluethe2elasticbandsinthewiderpartofthearmguard.

6. Glueontoptheotherpartofthearmguard(step4).

7. Sawaroundthearmguardandtheelasticbands.

8. Insertthebeadsthroughtheelasticbands.

9. Sawtheendoftheelasticband.


TABS

ARMQUARD

TEMPLATES

Size:S

170×90mm

170×

90m

m

BAREBOW

MEDITERRANIAN


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN fINGER SLING1. Putbothendsoftheropebetweenyourfingersasshowninil-

lustration13.1.1andburnropeends.2. Putthetwoburntendstogetherwhilsttheyarehotandpressso

thattheendssticktogether,illustration13.2.3. Wetyourthumbandindexfingersoyoudon’tburnyourself,and

rollthejointtoreducethesizeofthemeltedmaterialofthetwoends,alsosotheystickverywelltogether,illustration13.3.

4. Youwillnowhavea“big”loopofrope,illustration13.4.

5. Flattenthe“bigloop”keepingthejointinthemiddleawayfromthetwoendsoftheloop;makeasimple“small”loopasshowninillustration13.5.

6. Andthentietherestofthe“big”loopofropethroughthe“small”loop,asshownillustration13.6.

7. Thefirstloopismade;onefinger(forefingerormiddlefinger)willpassthroughthisloop.Haveatestandmakeanyadjustmentsthatarenecessary.Althougheitherfingerwillpassthroughthisloop,itisadvisabletohavetheloopsontheforefingerandthumbwhenshooting.

8. Repeattheprocedureonotherendofslingmakingsurethatthethumbcanpassthroughthisloop,maketherequiredadjustmentifnecessary.

9. Testthesizeofthefinished“bowsling”makingsurethatthereisenoughroomfortheriserofthebowbeingusedtofitinthehandwithalittleslack,asshowninillustration13.1.9.Ifthebowslingistootightthebowwillnothavesufficientfreedomtoreactcorrectlywhenbeingshot.Maketherequiredadjustmentifnecessary,ifthebowslingistooshort,startoveragainusingalongerpieceof“rope”.

Illustration 13.1

Illustration 13.4

Illustration 13.7

Illustration 13.2

Illustration 13.5

Illustration 13.8

Illustration 13.3

Illustration 13.6

Illustration 13.9

› apieceofpolyester,orplas-ticrope25to30cmlongand2to4mmthick

› scissorsorknife› acandleorcigarettelighter

Materialsneeded:

METHOd 1


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN fINGER SLING1. Thelengthofthetapemayneedtobemodifiedasthelength

dependsonthesizeofthehandsandthesizeofthebowgrip.

2. Makealoopbytyingtheendstogetherbyaknotorjointthatwillnotslipwhenpulledwithareasonableforce.

3. Passtheloopoveryourthumbandforefinger,asshowninil-lustration13.12(seethedemonstrator’srighthand).Suggestion:keeptheknotatmid-distanceofyourtwohands,asshowinthisillustration.

4. Turnyourhandupsidedownasshowninillustration13.12(seethedemonstrator’srighthand).Oneloopshouldbearoundyourthumb,andonearoundyourforefinger.

5. Bringsthesetwoloopssidebysideandpassyourforefingerintothis“doubleloop”,illustration13.13

6. Makethesame“doubleloop”foryourthumb.Youhavemadeacheapandveryefficientbowsling.Congratulations!

Illustration 13.10

Illustration 13.12

Illustration 13.14

Illustration 13.11

Illustration 13.13

Illustration 13.15

› Ifyouareanadultwithmediumsizehandandanindustrialentrylevelbow,youneed50cmofaflattape.

Materialsneeded:

METHOd 2


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN fINGER SLING1. Cuttwopartsfromtheleatherstrapasshown

inillustration13.16andexplainedbelow.

2. Thesetwopiecesareapproximately5½inches(14cm)oftotallength.Theopenslotsareap-proximately4inches(10.5cm)fromthesquareend.Theleftpartofthestrapisapproximately½inch(12-13mm)ofwidth,illustration13.17.

3. Overlapthetwoleatherparts.Seethesuggestedtotallengthinillustration13.18.Thesizedependsonthesizeofthehandandthesizeoftherisergrip,andadjustmentmayneedtobemadetosuitthis.Youcantemporarysewthetwopartstogethertoconfirmyouhavethecorrectlength.Youcouldalsomakethetestwiththesetwopartsgluedandtiedtogetherwithastrongtape.

4. Beforethefinalstitching,passthestrapofeachpartintheirrespectivegrooveasshowninillustration13.19.Donotworryifyouhavealreadystitchedittogetherthiscanalsobedonewithasewedsling.

Illustration 13.16


Illustration 13.17

› ameasuringtape› aspoolofsewingthread,needleandthimble› scissors› apieceofflatleather,orasimilarmaterial

1inch(2,5cm)width.

Materialsneeded:

METHOd 3


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN QUIVER

Thepartsusedtomakethisquivercanbeseeninillustration14.1.

1. Slicesofabranchfromatreecanbeusedtoblocktheendsofthepipeasshowninillustration14.2.

2. Tieoneendoftheroperoundoneendofatubethentietheotherendoftheroperoundtheotherendofthesametube.Inthepicturebelowtheendsoftheropehavebeenboundtogetherusingelectricalinsulationtape.Bindbothtubestogetherusingtheelectricalinsulationtape.

3. Taketheropeloopandjustoffcentretiealoopedknotasshown,illustration14.3,thiswillallowthequivertobeatananglewhenbeingused. Thequiveristhenreadytouse,seefollowingillustrations.

› aknife› two pieces of waste water

pipe50cmlong(orlonger tosuitarrowlength)

› two pieces of wood same di-ameterasinsideofwaterpipe

› stickytape (electricalinsulationtape)

› stringorcord1,2meterslong

Materialsneeded:



Illustration 14.5


More ideas for making quiver

Illustration 14.4

4. Ifthearrowaretoolongforthetubeslongertubesshouldbeused.Aquickchecktoseeifthearrowsaretoolongforthetubesistoholdthequiverupbythebeltloopandthequivershouldstayatthecorrectanglewithouttippingforward,seeillustra-tions14.5and14.6.

5. Theangleofthequivercanbeadjustedtosuiteacharcher’srequirementbyadjustingthestringloopsroundthebelt.


HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN QUIVER by Ludys TEjADA / DOM

› vinyl› carabinerorshowercur-

tainhook› bigneedleandpolyester

threadorsawingmachine

› allpurposeadhesive (to glue plastic)› eyeletplierandeyelet› scissors› penorpencil

Materialsneeded:

Illustration 1

Illustration 5



1. Makeonepatternpersize.Thesizeisstandardexceptforkids.2. Markandcutavinylmodel.3. Foldandgluedesmallvinylpart.4. Gluethesmallvinylparttotherestofthelargepartofthequiver.5. Gluearounddequiverexceptforthetoppart.Foldit.6. Sawaroundthequiverexceptfo

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