The Bow Page Welcome to Mavoc's Bows

If you really like what I wrote here check out the book The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume 1,2,& 3. You can pick it up at Barnes & Nobles. Wooden bows wow ya it took me a while to figure these out. For starters what wood to use? Well I found that ash wood (perferably green ash, but white and others work) that has been dead for 1-3 years is flexable/springy enough. Although some exotic woods work even better (So I've heard). Iron wood should not be used for bows unless it has been soaked in liquid fat (supposedly bear fat is best) and then dried repeat 10+ times the more the better, but don't go overboard. I still have yet to try the soaking with fat, because I also found that if you make a tube bow out of ash you don't need to soak it as long as you intend to leave strung for a week or so to strech, but fat soaking is what the indians did to their bows so it should work. If you ever find worm tunnels in the 3rd to the bark wood ring don't use that wood!!!! Wood bows not being used should be unstrung unless I say differently (Important). What type of string to use? I'm glad you asked, the string should be nylon (or other rope that does not shrink when wet) and it should be about 50-100 Lb. test one of the best I've found is camping cloths line. Okay I got that now What? Good so now you cut the ash tree down the part you use should be shorter than you in hight by 6-12 In. It should also be about 1-3 In. diameter. Next take the ash wood and shave off half or all the bark. If you want a tube bow (easier for beginers with 1-2 In. diameter bows) soak bow in liquid fat then dry repeat 5-10 times(unless bow is iron wood that is already soaked or ash bow that you intend to leave strung for a week or so to strech) skip down to the bend of the bow part. If you cut your bow into a bow shape you will nead to soak it in liquid fat and dry 10+ times (unless bow is iron wood that is already soaked). The First picture below shows how to determine the bend of the wood bow this picture was taken from the book "Outdoor Survival Skills sixth edition" By: Larry Dean Olsen, copywrited 1997, and His web site is www.anasazi.org (Man that's a mouthful). The side that points away from you is the front side when determining the bend of the bow (remember this sentence it's important!!!!!).

Next comes the notching for the bow string they should be cut 1/8 In. deep so that the string grips sufficiently the next two pics show you where and how (the notches are the same on both ends of the bow).

Now to string the bow Step 1. Tie a simple slip knot on the end of the bow string.
Step 2. tighten it around notch 2 on the bottom end of the bow with the long end of the string facing the front.
Step 3. Then pull the strings long end over notch 1.
Step 4. Toward the top end of the bow (keep that string taunt)
Step 5. Tie another slip knot around the other notch 2
Step 6. flex the bow, while pushing the string into notch 1(On the top end of the bow).
Now look at the picture instructions if you get blown out of the water.