Building the Two Piece Takedown Selfbow

In this weeks bow building video we're taking a look at using the steel and brass takedown bow sleeve from 3Rivers Archery for building the two piece takedown selfbow. There are several different ways to build a takedown bow, each with their pluses and minuses. The bow sleeve is a great option for joining billets but there are some finer details that'll make the process much easier and the end result much better.
This video covers step by step how to build a two piece takedown bow using the bow sleeve. It also covers those little details that are easy to overlook. Below are links to the products I used if you want to give it a try.
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[@a_mustache_of_great_repute]

This kit is a game changer for me. I have a bunch of four foot trunks of yew that can now be up to six feet. Just wish it wasn't 50 bucks.

[@kenmargison9095]

hey man. i build bows also and love your channel. 40 year auto body repair guy. if you use mar-glass, body fill with short strand fiberglass in it, its stronger and will not take on moisture like regular body fill.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks much

[@downunder5594]

Body repair filler is also polyester so it's compatible with regular fiber glass resin and glass, a couple of layers of glass and resin around it would make for a strong handle .

[@bondvagabond42]

Love your vids, especially the 24hr bow. I'm a wood boat builder for my day job, but have made a couple self bows. One thing I do when I'm doing thick epoxy filler that might be good for your bondo handles, is you can kinda make a form out of clear packing tape on the sides and bottom, leaving the top open for filling. Keeps the filler from drooping out the bottom, and you can use thinner filler that flows into books and crannies better that way. Keep the vids coming, thanks.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Good tip!

[@stevedriscoll2539]

Wow! Wood boat building. I got fascinated by wood boats years ago. I used to love one particular magazine, can't remember the name of it. My uncle was super talented and into everything, planes, race cars, boats. He did stellar work, but a lot of projects he wouldn't finish. I think he would get bored or something. We were building a strip planked canoe and we didn't finish that and then we were building a "tack and tape" nutshell pram and we didn't finish that 😄...oh, he was going to build a "Rutan Long EZ" but he never got started...

[@stevedriscoll2539]

...I am working on my twentieth or so self bow (my fourth Osage Orange) and the 1/8 or 1/4 split log had been in a guys' archery shop for years and it had longitudinal drying cracks. He said "You can just have that log if you want, because it would be a miracle if you can make a bow out of it". Well, here I am just recently trying to finish this bow that I started at least 10 years ago. I had to use a "Traditional Bowyer's Bible" (maybe Tim Baker) trick of filling some of the cracks with super glue. So, some of that super glue is cracking, and I heard a couple little pops last week when I got the bow to about 22" of draw. I have two spots on one limb that the cracks are running off the edge and my plan is to either wrap them with sinew and hide glue or just use a two part epoxy. Do you think I could just fill the thin cracks with 2 ton epoxy? I don't have the money to spend on the expensive "smooth on" or what you might use "Gudgeon Brothers"

[@skydany]

Beautiful work. Thank you for sharing🙏

[@ANXIETOR]

You need a shop makeover. Start with even a super cheap Harbor Freight belt sander, and bandsaw. Yes, I’m impressed with your use of a rasp. And thanks for speeding up the video. Always thumbs up.

[@travismcleod]

I just used the body filler tip to build up the grip on a bow I have been having difficulties with because of the low grip being uncomfortable for me. I am so pleased with the outcome. Thank you for all the great content you are putting out. Cheers

[@Budsscraplife]

Just bought a sleeve from 3 rivers. Perfect timing for the video! Thanks for the video!!!

[@jessebradshaw6195]

Great video Clay,I've been wanting to build a bow for years and this gave me some great ideas and it's got me fired up to get started. Awesome craftsmanship and love the videos

[@rickymathis7971]

You have a talent you make some cool bows I build one selfbow out of hickory in 2007 this past December the top limb broke I feel good that it lasted that long I took a few deer with it.You make cool bows.Take care bro

[@incorporeal3793]

Damn, you make that look so easy. 😎

[@franotoole2702]

Great idea for a takedown self bow. Especialy for the handle area, will add a more personal feel to it.

[@stevedriscoll2539]

That was such a neat video, thanks Clay!

[@rustamgani6826]

Great!!! Very nice lesson! Explanation detal. Thanks! And good luck!

[@sheepsfoot2]

2 passions of mine are trad archery and Black powder guns , as i reload my own BP cartridges > try spraying the brass sleeve with Case sizing lube > i have already tried it and it works mate !

[@kevinauld4367]

Thanks for the suggestion for the tow pease I have to billet's of pacific U thay where cute by a bowsmen 100 year's ago and handed down thay are very nice and I really want to do a good job on them I have a great deal of respect for the person who gave them to me and he held on to them for many years taking good care of them as you might ges .

[@2greeksandacamera]

Terrific presentation Clay

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@2greeksandacamera]

Gotta say Clay, when you turn on your jets for high speed filing, how you still maintain precision is amazing. Great video, and yes it’s definitely part of the craftsman’s challenge to make the steel sleeve with a proper fit onto the brass sleeve. They make it too tight on purpose and that’s a good thing.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Lots of coffee

[@2greeksandacamera]

@@clayhayeshunter THAT explains it lol. You ought to try Greek coffee - a finer grind but the same thing as cowboy coffee - boiled is healthier.

[@tonymaurice4157]

@@clayhayeshunter Awesome job! this is your best video! Yew billets are way more common than a long piece.

[@alexblair9047]

Way groovy nice clip very detailed good way to build the handle up thanks Clay God bless stay safe.....

[@dabaird12]

True craftsmanship. 👍💪🇺🇸

[@erickamox999]

Great video as usually I enjoy all your videos great content thanks much

[@clayhayeshunter]

Much appreciated

[@Makete100]

That was slick. Thanks so much for showing us this. Stay safe.

[@13BeatKing]

Nice. I've only done the fiberglass 2 piece takedown and wanted to try this method as well. Thanks for the details.

[@chrisdavis4328]

Could u make a video on it?

[@13BeatKing]

@@chrisdavis4328 Look up "2 piece takedown big jim" and you'll see the video I followed to do mine.

[@udohirschmnn1479]

Hi Clay, as it happens to be I Just found a pair of these ferules lying around in my Shop for several years now. I once ordered them from 3rivers and had some diffuse plans. Your video now gave me the final kick. I have got a 69" samick Hunter with 40# @ 28". Its grip section always was a little big for my hands. I never did like it very much but also could not get rid of the bow somehow as it was my first one. The Tip with the filler just made it. There could be two benefits in one throw now. We will see. Keep save.

[@josegodoy9160]

Excelente trabajo intentare hacer uno así para mi

[@levi743]

Clay you are awesome man! Great talent.

[@CamppattonFamilyCompound]

Thank you for the great instructional video.

[@RedmanOutdoors366]

Very cool man 😎👍💯

[@fishmaniachannel]

Ur an artist sir 👍❤️

[@robinoflocksley3467]

Very inspirational...

[@UncleDanBand64]

Beautiful work sir!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thank you kindly!

[@UncleDanBand64]

@@clayhayeshunter you have me all fired up to get out the draw knife.

[@gabrielwickline315]

Great video, watched it a few times myself. On a side note, that white epoxy adds a really cool accent to the riser/shelf. I might consider giving that epoxy a try just for the accent color. I'm doing board bows to practice, and need to laminate a handle no matter what since I am starting with a thinner board(s).

[@Eddie-wn8tu]

Dude! THANKS, so cool.

[@ryanreynolds3630]

Just got into bow building man this is awesome. Something to think about in the future I suppose. Love the videos though dude

[@FabioReis-yq1bq]

Excellent Clay!

[@choppersFL]

Awesome!! Thanks Clay!

[@outdoorsfella5205]

i love your videos. you inspired me to make a youtube channel but i only have 4 subscribers. i do primitive stuff

[@mrdeerhunter2198]

i love his videos too i am also subscribed

[@lukebonagurio4503]

You got 6 now I just subbed

[@clayhayeshunter]

I had 4 as well once. Just keep what you love.

[@kato2531]

That shave horse looks sweet . Can you do a video on how you made that.

[@philipsutton2316]

Clay - absolutely awesome video. May you please show us a video of you shooting that bow please? How many pound is it? Cheers

[@sagarcp2031]

nice work

[@larryreese6146]

Clay, have you ever used J.B. Weld on any of your glue up projects? I found out its properties from making knives. I glued on one knife handle with 2 ton epoxy and forgot it outside in the Oklahoma summer sun. The glue failed and the handles slipped off. As an experiment I glued up the handles of another knife and deliberately left it out. It stayed hard as a rock. I've since used it on everything from cup handles to broken fishing reels and it hasn't let me down yet. It will stand water, heat and cold and can be slopped on, allowed to dry and shaped with a knife or rasp. I even saved a favorite cup with a completely shattered hand by filling in the missing pieces and whittling out the handle. Five years and I'm still using the cup. Dishwasher safe. Good informative video, by the way.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve used it some but never on a bow. I’ll give it a go.

[@ishnifusmeadle]

Id be interested to see ur results. Ive never had luck with jb. Ive even tried various surface prep. Degreasing, minor/significant abrasion, other substances as a adhesion primer, however, now that i think of it most of my applications have been used on the same type of breaks. Not sure what theyd be called (tension breaks?) But think of a tow rope breaking in the middle. Obviously im not jbing rope bacl together but that pulling type break is usually what im repairing. Id be interested to see if/how/when/why the product might fail on a bow handle.

[@darktimber3340]

Good stuff! I think my next bow will be made from billets. My good long stock is getting low.

[@xfactoroutdoors165]

Very nice! Only thing id suggest is instead of bondo try fiberglass resin. It is stronger when laying it on in thick amounts and won't absorb moisture.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Good point

[@stalrev]

i Don't know about that much bondo, even wrapped if you dropped it, the bondo has a good chance of cracking, would it be better to do a thin layer of bond so that fiberglass could be applied for longer durability? great video as always, and you know me Clay i got to ask the questions lol

[@clayhayeshunter]

Probably

[@primitivebowyer8577]

awesome thanks

[@OutdoorMike]

I was wondering about this. If you are making a two piece take down bow. Is there any reason you cant just glue both sides into the metal sleeves and leave it as a one piece or is it better for two piece bows to be taken apart? I just ask because I want to order some osage orange staves and I found some 48 inch ones for fairly cheap that will make one good bow when split. Much cheaper on shipping. Hope my question makes sense. Thanks in advance.

[@clayhayeshunter]

There are easier ways to join billets if you want a one piece bow.

[@twintwo1429]

Thanks , new project for me. Just finished a purchased laminated recurve blank from OMC. I normally build self bows. Can the sleeves be turned around from top to bottom limb. Ambidextrous sleeves?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I suppose you could flip it.

[@twintwo1429]

@@clayhayeshunter thanks , good osage is limited on my property, but I can get billets. Thought maybe I would run into a situation of needing to select top limb after sleeve was installed. Thanks.

[@td2hi]

You can also use LOCTITE STEEL PUTTY for the handle

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@AlkahfiArchery]

Cool... 🤩👍

[@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135]

Hey clay! Hope all is well! A current project I haven't gotten to is two opposite broken chokecherrys re fussing the top and bottom limbs together. I saw it as a way to save the stack of broken bows from going to waste. (If possible) any advice? I was going to fix the two together rather than a takedown. Perhaps at the grip.

[@Saymyname1.2]

On a website that you have provided there are two size kits for a take down bows. Any advice on how to decide which to choose and how? Thank you.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I prefer smaller handles so I got the smaller one.

I have a traditional 67 '' 55 # laminated wood deflex-reflex bow which is a lot for me, what can I do to lower the bow power to 40 - 45 lbs?

[@djacaro]

😋🏹

[@2Dutchy]

Did you cut an arrow shelf?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Not in this video

[@stephaniesteelman9882]

Does snake skin have to be tanned to back a bow with.

[@chrispetzel873]

What type of wood are you using?

[@Eric_Smith2662]

Is a selfbow just a homemade bow or is it more and or different than a homemade bow

[@aboveaveragebayleaf9216]

A self bow means made of a piece of wood. No lamination, fiberglass, sinew, rawhide backing, etc.

[@mattobelix21]

How do you deal with string alignment once you have the sleeves on?

[@clayhayeshunter]

The same way I do with a crooked one piece. I heat and bend them into alignment. I just covered this at www.patreon.com/clayhayes

[@Jezzyftw]

I'm interested in doing and using this video to make a selfbow But Would it be possible to make a shorter selfbow that can be drawn to around 33"? Like a horsebow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Shorter is relative. Most of the short bows are backed with something like sinew.

[@Jezzyftw]

@@clayhayeshunter hmm I see I also realized it wouldn't need to be that short. the longest thing I can carry would be 33" or so, I'm sure we can get a 64ish" selfbow to draw to 33" I'll look up on your videos about backing

[@briananuvattanachai6646]

@@Jezzyftw What type of wood have you thought about using? The problem with really short bows is that well if it's a self bow it might take on more set and be a worst performing bow than a bow that was longer.

[@Jezzyftw]

@@briananuvattanachai6646 oh I havent gone that far yet lol A buddy of mine does this as a hobby and I was going to bring this up to him since I want a self bow but it needs to be takedown

[@udohirschmnn1479]

@@Jezzyftw Hi, there is a draw to bowlenght ratio that should not be neglegted. Due to your personal abilities you should not go beyond. Mine is at about 2.25. Means minimal bowlength is at about 2.25 times my drawlength. Everything less needs a backing.

[@Whyyy-e9z]

Do you sell the 2 peice bow?

[@fordman7479]

What?!? I have to be a patreon to see the other method?

[@rileygarrett7371]

Fordman he’s gotta make money some how

[@stephaniesteelman9882]

Does snake skin have to tanned to back a bow

[@clayhayeshunter]

No. In fact it’s best if it isn’t.

[@BingleFlimp]

If you're making a bow from two pieces of wood using glue and metal wouldn't that technically make it a type of composite-bow, not a self-bow?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Not really. The purist definition of a selfbow is an unbacked wooden bow. doesn’t matter that there’s additional or different materials in the handle area.

[@caveman-g1n]

Clay hello! Tell me please, do you make custom hunting bows? If so, what mail can I contact you by? Thank you !

[@clayhayeshunter]

Not at this time

[@caveman-g1n]

@@clayhayeshunter and when approximately? )

[@singlestringstruggler1988]

Random question but is your dogs name Billy? lol I swear could’ve heard your wife hollering at I would assume a dog and she said Billy haha

[@Jimbojenkins]

Pray tell, what is a "selfbow"? Do you want me to believe the bow made itself? LOL I've heard of "home made", but lately so many claiming things made themselves! hahaha

[@Morrow45105]

It’s just the term for a bow made of one piece of wood. No laminate or backing.

[@stevencoates3382]

10:57: Be QUITE horse!!!