Building A Birch Self Bow Using Fire

[@calvinmondrago7397]

These bows came out great tiller looks dead on. Happy hunting!

[@Benjamin.stevens]

Thanks! I’m super happy with them.

[@electrominded8372]

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Awesome work!

[@shelbi328]

Thank you very much for your answer. Approximately how long does wood need to lie over the fire for it to dry and harden?

[@ekimovGELANN]

Love this video!!! Nice tiller... nice atmosphere.... thank you!

[@LongBowMan89]

Hi Ben, great bow building video. I see you once lived in Michigan, I'm just north of Lansing. Always wanted to move to Alaska myself!!. Bow came out great!! Haven't tried to fire harden any bows yet myself. If you can get some of the auto fiberglass sheets or dry wall tape or even fish paper/ brown roll paper you can use then all on the back of the bow. As a backing, I use wood glue to glue them down like titebond brand. Hopefully you have more bow building videos coming out ! Also you can build arrows from dowels rods from the hardware store or big box store. I use 3/8 size .and you can use a 357,38 empty shell brass as a blunt point. All the best Cody

[@Benjamin.stevens]

Thanks for the info! I built 2 hickory bows that I’ll upload soon. I have some other questions about bow making and I don’t know who to ask. is there a better way for us to be in touch? My email is [e-mail]

[@cynthiastandley5742]

Great video. And and a nice job on the bow.

[@smartintan]

Great looking bow.

[@6bonjour]

nice job, interesting that you were able to make birch work for you.

[@sturmslingshotsandshenanigans]

Awesome!

[@mikeseeley1042]

Great job! I've fire hardened Ash, Hickory and Hop Hornbeam. Its a game changer for white woods! Id be interested to know how much set, or string follow your bows take on. I typically leave mine clamped to the form overnight off the fire. Bending too early can result in lost cast. Good hunting!

[@RedmanOutdoors366]

Good luck Bro on the bird's 😎👍🔥💯🏹

[@howardmanuel]

Nice work, but making a wooden mallet is easy and will make your steel tools last longer.

[@northernsubsistenceart7242]

Nice job. You should try birch grown in the sun. It puts on way more late wood. It will have growth rings that are an 1/8 inch or larger, whereas shade grown birch will be a 16th . The late wood is much denser. It makes all the difference for birch. Snowshoes, skis, bows, sled runners, big growth rings is the answer. Check brich left in clear cuts or beaver cuts or the south facing edges of things. Never gonna find it in the middle of the woods

[@Theicedevice]

Nice Note. Also known as "Pasture birch" found on edge of fields and at treeline. You can see this referenced for other trees also most famously "pasture Oak" mentioned in Joshua slocums "Sailing alone around the world".

[@ArnaldoPujol]

Muy bueno saludos de Argentina

[@55crusherman55]

Much deserved sub! Keep the hard work up man

[@kickozylive]

What is the length of the bow in cm? I currently have Birch wood that is 2m tall and I will try to make a bow.

[@Benjamin.stevens]

Make it as tall as your nose. Or your draw length x2 plus a handle.

[@kickozylive]

@@Benjamin.stevens ok tysm

[@Harshit-qy5vl]

I love it you did . I know everything you did. And I also wants to do. keep doing

[@shelbi328]

Приветствую, дерево предварительно сушилось? Или вы закалили влажную древесину одновременно высушив ее?

[@Benjamin.stevens]

I hardened wet wood and dried it at the same time.

[@shelbi328]

​@@Benjamin.stevensThank you very much for your answer. Approximately how long does wood need to lie over the fire for it to dry and harden?

[@birchblock9729]

Those look great, Ive failed a couple of birch bows and just started importing osage and cedar to build bows up here. Maybe ill go back to trying birch again, thanks for the inspiration. What part of Alaska are you in? Also how long did you season the wood before tillering?

[@Benjamin.stevens]

I’m near Kenai, yourself? The fire seasoned it for me. They have not changed poundage since I made them. Ive started importing wood as well now that I’m more serious about it.

[@doraalvesalves327]

Chouuu de bola parabéns

[@tonynapoli5549]

Thumbs up

[@danielspain7231]

Mate you need an axe and rasp…nice one though

[@Benjamin.stevens]

Thanks! I’ve since acquired tools.

[@Vamtal]

Hammering the knife makes me sad.

[@Benjamin.stevens]

Yes and then very happy again when I get to go pick out a new one for 75¢.

[@Vamtal]

@@Benjamin.stevens Yea, its cheap tool and its yours. Still froe, axe, wedge and so on are tools much better suited for this task. If you insist on miss usage of the knife, abuse is not necessary. You may consider using a wooden mallet at least.

[@Benjamin.stevens]

I would love access to more tools. Here in my part of alaska those things are very difficult to get. I’m sure I’ll slowly accumulate things over time.