Flattened PVC, Flattened Taper VS Completely Flat

[@nizam11222]

I just wanted to say, I've recently been really into bows and obviously came across your channel and a bunch of related others, By far your channel has the most detailed step by step instructions of making bows, and I love how you always address the concerns of the viewers by doing these kind of Q & A videos. You seem like a very sweet guy, keep up the good work buddy.

[@lynx777]

I haven't taken the time to make my bows quite up to the quality of yours but we got the curve right and my kids and I have had a blast at the archery range.

[@MrSpencerSS]

You are awesome. This is ingenuity my friend. I've been working in an archery shop for 10years, been a hobby bowyer for nearly 15years; I have never seen the creativity you haave shown in your videos. I will be ordering your books and look forward to reading them.

[@jamesrobertson6959]

You are a great teacher thanks so much ! I’m really excited to start making pvc bows , !

[@ColonelSandersLite]

The best way I know to demonstrate this concept: Take a common drinking straw, hold it in the middle and bend the tips just like a little miniature bow. The straw will fold in the middle. It doesn't matter if we're talking about something round or flat or plastic tube or wood or steel or a 6" straw or a 20' I beam, this concept is universal. In order to make a bow distribute the work along the whole length of the bow, the bow must be tapered.

[@scot7167]

That is to verify what you have already shown us. Didn't mean it to sound like you hadn't shown us this fact already. Meant no negative comment at all. Your videos are super informative and clear in all respects

[@stevenfahey8391]

Ha , I have made 30 bows by watching you, This is a great hobby, Love to watch your channel, Made a nice D-bow , now I have friends who want me to make them bows , Thanks for all that you do.

[@erniiaylien]

I saw quite some vids from u now, and it doesnt matter where I comment that, but duuude u are such a nerd.. I LOVE IT! Never heard of PVC bows, but man i am gonna build one for myself!

[@scot7167]

Dude you've become my new hero. Your videos are awesome. Hi have built a straight bow. And it has responded exactly like you said it would. Now I'm going taper one and check the differences for myself. Just to verify what you already should have shown us. Then I will recurve a few. Thank you for your awesome videos. I am purchasing your book from Amazon. Looking forward to it. Thank you

[@Carlb328]

Could you flatten a big pvc pipe and then bend it over on itself to make a super strong crossbow?

[@koibito25]

can you put something inside the pvc pope after it's been properly shaped, because there's this guy who squirts foam spray in to the bow. Can you really lessen the pressure and also strengthen the bow at the same time?

[@BackyardBowyer]

It's awesome to hear you're interested in bows. Your PVC bows all look great, especially your 1" recurve. PVC bows are as good as most comparable solid fiberglass bows and exceed most self-bows. That 1" bow you made will probably stack up to most solid fiberglass recurves. Most 40 pound modern recurves like the Samick will get around 160-180 fps. Your 1" bow probably gets around 140-160. Some changes and you could match that speed. Thanks for watching. Keep up the good work! -Nick

[@9amac]

Gday mate :) I was wondering how think the walls of your schedule 40 pvc pipe is? iam trying to make a pvc bow and iam not sure of what pipe to use over here in Australia. we have different names here. thanks mate :)

[@YourCreatorGod]

I learn every time i see you now. Thank you

[@Michaelblecich]

Thanks for all the vids, they are awesome. I just tried to make my first today, but the pvc split while I was flattening the limbs. What did I do wrong?

[@TonyyStarrkk1994]

Michael Blecich If you heat the sides of the flat portion too fast, they will split. You have to heat it slowly, and evenly, and then flatten it in a controlled smooth movement. Make sure it is soft enough all around also, because if one area is still cold, it may split.

[@AshishBhedarkar]

Where are you Nick... No more videos..? Miss you Brother..

[@brucenovotny5924]

Yeah, I believe the mastery comes from : practice, repetition, making mistakes ( and correcting them, of course ) and patience...

[@TheGeohart]

Nick, how did you come up with using PVC, as a material for a bow, its so simple, but yet its brilliant! Have you use larger size PVC, say, 1 1/2 pipe, or in your opinion is 1 /14" pipe the largest pipe size one should use.

[@rayjames1493]

Hi, Nick. Started making a pvc bow today. Bought a heat gun (1500w) and pipe. I'm finding it difficult getting the 28inch or so length heated enough to flatten. Is this the norm for heating pvc?

[@TroyComedy]

I am starting to get interested in bows. do you think its possible for me to build a PVC bow that can live up to the expectations of good wooden and proffesional recurves? my fried has a samick 40 pound bow and I'm kinda going for a 40 pound. is it possible for me to make a PVC bow as good as that bow? he thinks PVC bows are junk. I think the are sweet! I love your videos!

[@SgtScrapy1]

hello Nick, i first wanted to day this was very inspiring and i went ahead and created the jig bot afew 1" and 3/4" PVC. However, i was woundering if i could get some help on how to flatten the 1" b/c its cooling down to fast while im trying to heat up just one side to put it into the jig to make that nice taperd look to it. any helpful hints plz

[@exexangler]

Love your videos and I'm planning on making a bow soon. However, I had a side thought. Do you tthink it's possible to taper a pvc pipe while retaining the tubular shape. So it's tapered, but not flattened? All without stretching the pipe and reducing it's integrity? I want to figure out a way to build a pvc fly rod.

[@Ranger5070]

Been looking at your videos Nick. Nice job Man with the pvc bows! Actually very cool! How do you get the limb taper into the last 6 or 8 inches of the tips? Thanks! Ranger5070

[@Allenw154]

@BackyardBowyer How do you taper the tips on that gray tipped bow? I imagine you use a saw, but how do you get them so round then?

[@KaiRedfern]

What is the bow that you said you're working on? I like it!

[@deathtrapproductions2520]

Love ur videos and ur info bro Always good advice every time

[@keylimepie83]

Hey Nick, what's that gray stuff around the tips of the bow in this video? If it's some kind of putty or adhesive how does it not crack when the bow bends?

[@manknight2000]

Hi there, I live in México, I love bows and man.....I love your work!!!!!!! I´m wondering if it is possible to make a three-part bow with PBC pipe, I really like this kind of bows, I mean like the olimpic recurve bows, I will start on one based on youre work but, as everyone knows, you have much experience on this issue, if you have any ideas please let me know. Thanks, best regards.

[@notfeedynotlazy]

Nice Scythian-style bow, BTW.

[@joaovitorcampos6629]

Hi man, i'm having a problem here, all my bows break at the loop point where the strings are in contact, i dont know what i am doing wrong, actually i've been trying to not remove much material from that area to avoid this break situation, but unsucessfully ;( maybe you can help me. Thx!

[@patricklambert2435]

So do u have a video on how u made this particular bow ?

[@cadetprivate95]

Can you make a recurve style bow( non- flatten style) by using 1/4 inch inside a 1/2 inch PVC piping?

[@dolphintony1]

Hey I will call you after the WW 3 to prepare an Army !! You are doing terrific with the construction of bows! It must be in your blood!!

[@markhopkins4272]

I have just made my first PVC bow. 61 inches long by 1 inch. I tapered both ends correctly and put reflex into the ends. The bow is straight and the handle is just like you made. When I put the string on the bow, the string flips around to the other side.I have been making wood bows for about 2 years now. So I know how to string a bow. Why is this happening. I made the ends for the string just like your youth bow. BTW really like your instructions they are easy to follow.

[@proof1]

+Mark Hopkins nick actually made a video talking about how that could happen. He remedied that by making a small divot on the outside of the recurved part (Running down with the bow), right below the nock, so that the string has a center channel to lay in. i hope that cleared it up a little bit. I think the video he talks about it in is the Youth Recurve pvc instructional. hope this helps!

[@AlaricWolfe]

alright, let me pose this question to you. since i'm not a bowyer (i actually have more experience with swordcraft than bowcraft, but wish to extend my repertoire), i was wondering, what's the advantages of flattening the pipe for a bow, before shaping it, over just nothing, and stringing a round pipe? i can understand flattening the handle a wee bit to avoid throwing the arrow too far out, but why flatten the limbs (or as you say, the siyahs)?

[@AlaricWolfe]

and a second question, what do you use to get the curve in your recurves?

[@chantakzee]

AlaricWolfe In case you didn't know yet , flattening the limbs weakens the limbs , allow them to bend easier , thus reducing stress on the middle area and effectively reduce chance of shattering when you pull it. For second question , I think he uses the same way , heat to soften , then bend the it to get the curve.

[@AlaricWolfe]

so it's really all about spreading the stress properly? makes sense, i suppose. the pvc long bow i made i ended up having to make a fiberglass core from driveway markers. haven't had a chance to test it yet, but it certainly seems to bend evenly, when i go to string it. another issue i've come across, what kind of knot would you recommend for using a length of 550 paracord as my bow string.

[@lazerblade703]

I have been making flattened bows but they feel very light and I use flattening jig and heat with stove please reply what im doing wrong

[@thomasferris3750]

The advantage with a taper is it becomes more weak towards the top wich lowered the chance of it snaping

[@maricelsantos4193]

can you make a pvc pse snake bow? with complete details plsssss

[@DeltaHorizon22]

wow, that's really awesome of you. if I ever decide to build one of these things, this wealth of information should help me come up with something half decent. thanks a lot, it's really cool=)

[@Itube6642]

how are you getting you points on the ends of the bows

[@erinsarka2909]

could in use a hair dryer to heat the pvc and aldo how long r ur gigs

[@joejoelesh1197]

WOW! The most polite to say "F your excuses" that I have ever heard.

[@kittenclaws5775]

I was wondering that too.

[@clayrochford8514]

can these bows be used for archery leagues? As in a 10 ring from 60 yards?

[@BackyardBowyer]

Clay Rochford If you match your arrows and get good with them, sure. It'll be tough as there will nothing forgiving about the setup. You've got a shoot-around handle and short nock to nock length. It's a fun challenge and all about getting to know your bow well. The bow will deliver the arrows, you just have to learn how to direct them.

[@SKR_Racing]

dude me and my dad tryed one of ur bows hommade and becuase of u we bought a real bow 4 me im 12 and so far iv gotten a lot of bulleyes

[@davidwilberger113]

Hola soy argentino y quería saber las medidas que cortaste los caños de PVC

[@jmoney9347]

David Wilberger halo ingles?

[@leonruvalcaba1549]

Hola david n.n

[@elperfecto18]

4-5 pies

[@mohamadtaha5744]

do you sell any hunting bows ??

[@celiozanzarini9463]

ola tdo bm? gostaria de saber onde comprar estes arcos de pvc e o valor dos arcos

[@MrCaravayo]

Very cool video

[@erniefroese5069]

I've tried heating the pipe up with a heat gun but I can't get it hot enough for it to be flattened

[@tewdogs4475]

you can buy the cheap gun (2speed)from harbor frieght and it will work...its the one i use and it is hot enough.

[@Andi-nr1dw]

I believe sch40 pvc is about 4mm. it's just under a half a centimeter

[@harryrissik3310]

3.3mm :)

[@EdwinDueck]

Yes, you can use a stove. I made one using a stove top, the only problem is that it's to short. I could use it as a double or helper bow. I just don't have the arm strength to draw it back to full draw. But it came out pretty good. You have to be patient making it.

[@dracoaldevaran4052]

good information nice video

[@ericgador823]

i made a 55 pound bow for about 10 bucks. And ya it kicks ass and will out last any wood laminate bow.

[@Nothanks11111]

It does not seem that way at all. It is understandable but I am also dyslexic but that does not stop me from spelling properly. I use Microsoft Word or Google to check my spelling.

[@benbuffyrose1119]

i love that bow it looks like the elve's bow in lotr

[@tman0709]

how do u flattin it?

[@VargZargaroth]

they look great :D

[@DeterminAtor77]

can i buy one of your bows m8 i like the way you doing them i can make one or two it is not a problem but is not gonna be perfect shaped as yours cause of the expirience you got of making them and cause of your mistakes and improvements .......sorry if i cant spell good but my native lang is not english and chears for you tallent......

[@jitashsamgma418]

nice

[@Thyggfug]

I just wanna say its totally possible with a stove maybe a but harder but possible

[@duraibhaskar1]

nice can you sale this to me

[@wesleyjamison1531]

he is talking about gas stoves not electric.

[@tomnerko]

I am frightened to hear people using your Jig are confused as to why the limbs aren't totally flat. If they can't comprehend why they are not flat, this probably isn't the craft for them. Eek!

[@rafiki1squashbannana]

dont meen to hate on anyone, but anyone who stupid enugh to not realise that i should start off thick at the handle and tapper off, probably shouldnt be using a bow attal

[@derrick021079]

stuff, not a bow

[@rafiki1squashbannana]

dont meen to make it sound like im makeing excuses for ma self but im dyslexic so i wont ever be able to spell properly.

[@rafiki1squashbannana]

dyslexia afects different ppl in diffrent ways

[@Nothanks11111]

I do not want to make your argument invalid but it is ironic that you are calling people stupid yet cannot spell or use proper word choice.

[@fakiirification]

I call BS. I'm dyslexic and i don't have a problem spelling properly. Your just being lazy, and you ARE making excuses. Do not let a school counselor tell you what you are capable of. I wasn't supposed to make it in college but here I sit with 2 degrees. Thinking about buying my old guidance counselor a tiny violin so he can play his sad songs for other chumps.

[@marcokubuo8632]

STOP TALKING!

[@briansimcock8656]

Marc Okubuo STOP WATCHING JACKASS!

[@TriggerHappy007]

I love this guy's videos but I can build almost anything but I have wasted literally 3 days and about 6 hours a day trying to shape one of these bows that supposedly only take 15 minutes and I have to say it's absolutely impossible unless you have some kind of mold

[@TriggerHappy007]

If it isn't perfect and I mean absolutely symmetrical in perfect to the T it is not going to work and it won't function. Go buy a bow and save yourself some irritation! Trust me these are strong and do fire arrows but you won't hit shit with it