Finishing a 40 Pound PVC Bow with Tape - Easy, Fast, Durable Finish for DIY Bows

[@Dante2099demon]

Nick I have to say a big thank u sir. You inspired me to star making bows almost 3 years ago Haven been a hell of a ride but now I'm making 40 , 50 and even 80 pounds PVC bow I can't talk u enough for Charing ur knowledge about it :)

[@hickspanicKS]

I wanted to say thank you for your channel. I've recently gotten into archery, and found your channel extremely educational and entertaining.

[@cowboysam1957]

Love your stuff. You are the guy that inspired me to start bow hunting three years ago. Now I bow hunt all the time. I learned a lot from you…thank you!

[@oleksiypobyeda5737]

Always something to learn from you. Not making my own bows from PVC or Wood, but your tips just great. I used velcro as you recommended on my traditional recurve and it works just great.

[@davidcox256]

I never thought I would get the power out of pvc,,, but its there im impressed

[@keithquien8865]

BackyardBowyer is a Rock star!

[@Vydonis]

There's a video about silencing bows by adding puffy things up high, padding where the strings slap the bow at both ends and cotton in other areas if its a multi-part bow.

[@SouthernCoin]

Is it possible on a pvc bow to cut an arrow rest like on a wooden bow?

[@EthanPDobbins]

I'm a blacksmith away from my tools going crazy from nothing to do so, I got a heat gun and a piece of pipe. I was wondering what you feel is the most efficient/fastest/ easiest to make bow design is. I'm really leaning towards this bow design or something similar because it has the lighter tips. I'm looking to make a little close range deer/target shooting bow. Maybe multiple ones for friends, kids, and family.

[@steventanner1428]

I wonder if after you flatten the limbs. If you heat it again and form the belly over a dowel three eighths or a half inch. Having that slight crease might give the bow more poundage. Not a lot but some like from 40#s to 45#s. What are your thoughts.

[@KomalSharma-mo9hs]

Can someone suggest me what material strings must be used? There are lot of videos about moulding PVC but very less details available about strings.

[@hollybooth989]

Can it be made longer and still have the same pull poundage or maybe a little less?

[@Daylon91]

Thank you for getting me up and doing things man you're quite awesome I gotta admit

[@goldendreamer2122]

Awesome Nick, love it...Frankie Rapp here buddy...

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Frankie Rapp Thank you for watching!

[@smartkidschannel176]

What do you use as a string for the bow?

[@MiggyBenz]

Smart Kids Channel para cord

[@Scorpiuszeroone]

That looks amazing and seems like it shoots great.

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Scorpiuszeroone Thank you! It does, especially now that the paint has cured and the lower limb doesn't make that funny noise anymore.

[@SAH_Productions]

What do you use for string for your bow

[@tannerh48]

Could you put a long thin piece of sheat metal inside the pvc to up the poundage of the bow?

[@stevebuckskinner5482]

Great stuff Nick! I would like to see you Forge a stag handle Bowie knife out of whatever steel you find fitting.

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Steve buckskinner 54 Thank you for the awesome suggestion!

[@Alperen_Erdogan]

Looking good Nick!

[@alper_5779]

Alperen Türk görmek güzel bu kanalda

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Alperen Thank you!

[@dfwisem]

Somethings I'd like to see: a cheap easy made target that's good even if you don't live with a whole lot of land to practice (urban area) and tips for first time shooters and ways to improve your shooting.

[@zumbazumba1]

Get a bunch of palets ,make a frame and glue in those square legs palets have in the frame.Or simply put few boards together-you dont need tutorial for that do you?

[@dfwisem]

zumbazumba1 No need to be condescending, I was thinking of easy set up and take down life-hackesque sort targets.

[@BatesAutomotive]

Strawbale with spray painted bull's-eye,

[@dfwisem]

Bull Ballz That's essentially what I have already, but just wanted input from Nick on other ideas that isn't a bale of hay just sitting around.

[@kchan5390]

What I've done in the past is stuff a cardboard box with a lot of scrap cloth/old towels. (You can try to asks a clothing manufacturing place if you don't have an old pile of clothes that you don't wanna donate) It should be to the point where you need a lot of pressure to close it. Wrap the whole thing in duct tape and tape a printed target on it with clear packing tape. When the front of the box gets too full of holes just put another layer of cardboard on it and duct tape over it again! It should be good enough for around 40 lbs.

[@mathewanderson8985]

You should try to make a bowfishing bow and arrow. That would be awesome!

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Mathew Anderson Thanks for the awesome suggestion!

[@mathewanderson8985]

BackyardBowyer Thanks! I've been subscribed for a while and I have always wanted to see some bowfishing on the channel. I know if anyone can do it it's you. Good Luck!

[@brassassmonkey]

Mathew Anderson he already did

[@christianlyness2268]

BackyardBowyer hey I was wondering if there was a way to make a 55lb pvc bow 28" draw... Bigger thicker pipe? Shcedule 80 maybe?

[@christianlyness2268]

BackyardBowyer PVC arrows? Lol... Challenge!

[@EddieOakes]

Man Nick, you're brilliant! :) Your videos are always fun and inspiring. How I wish I had someone with your knowledge and skill set close by! Keep up the awesome work and best regards!

[@Traderjoe]

Hey Nick, have you ever considered shrink wrap tubing that’s usually applied to wires instead of tape? Would it add anything to the draw weight?

[@BackyardBowyer]

+traderjoes Shrink tubing works well and looks really good. It's just really expensive and hard to find in the right size. I've been trying to get my hands on the woodgrain shrink tubing that's used for metal and plastic curtain rods and metal broom handles. There are some manufacturers in China, but nothing domestically made or available in small quantities.

[@ajazahmad816]

Which pvc you have used Company and quality

[@thenikko8292]

does the tape add reasistance to ur pulls? like since its statik and try to keep in same place is it giving the bow extra lbs on pulls?

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Hero Legion No, the tape doesn't add to the draw weight of the bow. Tape, paint, and any coating adds mass and physical weight to the bow, which can slow it down. Thanks for watching!

[@thelonerider5644]

That's slick... nice look to the bow.

[@arisspilios7091]

Nice work!!!very simple bow!!

[@BrahmaDBA]

Is the draw weight of the bow comes with the hardness of the PVC? Or did he put a draw weight some way inside the bow?

[@BackyardBowyer]

The bow is hollow and empty inside, the draw weight comes from the thickness of the pipe, the distance between the walls of the pipe, and the pipe's length.

[@BrahmaDBA]

@@BackyardBowyer thank you for your response. I know this is late but I didn't get the notification for your answer. I am buying some materials and I want to make my own PVC bow. Thank you so much for your work and very instructive video. Bless you and I hope you all the best.

[@patrickwilliams3108]

I've just discovered your channel, so please forgive this late question: what are the functional limits of draw weight with pvc bows?

[@shawncordeiro5870]

Wow no response in 2 years

[@rabiyakiyani2250]

Can I tell me how many length of pvc pipe is used

[@shmuckling]

The paint around the string nocks on my bows always gets scraped off by the string. That's 2 coats of paint and 2 coats of clear coat. I thought I wasn't letting it dry well enough, but even after a couple days, it still happens. Solution? Thank you in advance. I'm at the point where I just use grey pipe, so I don't have to use paint - sure, I'm stuck with one color, but it saves me the aggravation.

[@HerosMuse]

do you ever finish your bows of by wrapping string or paracord around them? a friend of my finished a bow he'd made that way and it came out looking really good and I'd imagine that has a bit more longevity than electrical tape.

[@TheBigern22]

I dont know if u still do this but have you ever thought of plastidiping the bows? It comes in a myramid of colors and its quite flexible.

[@ThePirhi]

great idea with arrow pass..I was looking for something simple for a while...when i wear of paracord wrap, I'll try this one :)

[@vaneater2734]

Or, Nick, you could make a like pvc arrow quiver for on your belt or make one to put on the side of the bow like for a “survival dealio”.

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Vaneater That would be cool as well! A PVC quiver for crossbows might not be a bad idea either!

[@cavemanjoe7972]

Are you using just enough tension that you feel the tape stretch slightly?

[@BackyardBowyer]

+CavemanJoe Yes, I'm just pulling enough so that there aren't any air bubbles. If I were using cheaper tape, I wouldn't pull as tight because those tend to shift and warp with age. This stuff hasn't given me problems like that yet, keeping my fingers crossed that it never does!

[@mohdzamhriabuhassan8640]

Thank you nick,nice and powerful bow...

[@hamirinzunza6519]

Y cuales son las medidas del pvc que usaste para el arco ???

[@technicalguruji3512]

Sir please tell me which fiber is best ski or pvc pipe

[@jmontman]

Would that bow be for just fun, target shooting or could you hunt small game with it?

[@tobediv]

Carolina Traveling With James Montgomery With enough practice im sure you could hunt small game with it. Just personal hunting experience, im pretty new to archery though.

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Carolina Traveling With James Montgomery I'm going to be using this bow once bowfishing season tools around again. It's a fun bow for shooting targets and general plinking. Since it handles more like an Asiatic style traditional bow, it won't do as well as modern cut to/past center for competitive target archery. That said, it will be comparable to other bows of a similar handle configuration. If you feel confident you can make a clean hit on vitals, the bow will perform. Thanks for watching!

[@selmocohadarevic6812]

Can you put fiberglass rods inside this?

[@manisadebnath2977]

Really creative idea

[@nxel2]

Tape is for protection right?

[@chrismackay8314]

Thanks for sharing! One wicked idea would be to use hide with hair from the legs of deer - slip on and have them shrink a bit when they dry so they are tight on the limbs

[@BackyardBowyer]

That sounds really interesting. Reminds me of bows I've seen from parts of Asia where they skin monkey tails and then slip a tail onto each limb as limb covers. Thank you for watching!

[@hardendayzie4577]

Can you fiberglass backing pvc bow

[@TrikeRoadPoet]

Great finish technique, well thought out. Is there a paint that will stay on a pvc bow? Have you ever considered building a bow of pvc with additional faces glued on (with pvc glue) to increase pull strength to the front or back of the bow? Just a thought.

[@BackyardBowyer]

+TrikeRoadPoet Thanks! As far as I know, there is no paint that adheres to PVC well that doesn't also damage it. Some paints have solvents that allow them to fuse with PVC but those tend to cause crazing, which are small spiderweb-like cracks, after several months to a couple of years after painting. That's also why you should avoid using solvent-based PVC cleaner and glue as they can cause the pipe to crack. The problem is that it can take a long time to become a problem and I've noticed to doesn't happen all the time, but more than half of the time in the tests I've done. The same thing goes for glue. If you want to put PVC or fiberglass facings on a bow, the best thing to do would be to lash it in place with a strong, light cord. You can also put the reinforcing material in the inside. I think I may do some videos on those. Thanks for the suggestions!

[@Na_Picta_Irskr]

I would like to ask the aprx temp you get the pvc to without over/under heating it.

[@RFRD777]

Great work Nick! I love that bow, and it looks great. Do you feel like the tape-wrap effects the performance at all?

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Erik Foss Thanks! Any coating will slow the bow down. Most paint and single-layer light tape won't usually show a change on the chronograph. Double layered tape like this may cause a drop of 1-2 FPS (and make the bow quieter like a limb dampener). I feel it's worth it, especially if the base design is a good performer. Putting too much tape, especially near the tips, can drop the speed quite a bit. Expect a bow fully spiral wrapped in several layers of heavy duct tape to drop by as much as 5-10 FPS. Hope this helps!

[@andygossard4293]

@@BackyardBowyer Build a catapult lol. I actually was tasked to make one in high school for something we called Latin day. I had a physics scholar helping or more less designing.

[@vaneater2734]

Hey man you should make a like pretty small pvc crossbow like maybe a foot long body of the crossbow I bet that would be pretty challenging. Awesome video man.

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Vaneater Thanks for the suggestion! That would be a cool crossbow!

[@vaneater2734]

Yeah man, kinda like an upgraded desk to for messing around. Aahhhahh

[@thomasferris3750]

Dose the tape do anything to protect the bow from uv?

[@norwegiannightmare8843]

Very cool. I may try to make the same thing

[@endurodz]

Nice Work Master

[@especiallyleavish]

Hiya, is there any easy conversion for draw length -> length of pipe?

[@MonkeyMikeOutdoors]

Very nice dude!

[@saksak8772]

What pvc type is good to make bow?... Please tell me 😬

[@god_chung]

pvc water pipe, the poppular

[@robertmiller2629]

I like the way that this was done and am wondering 2 things. First can it also be done using duct tape , and 2 does it change the poundage of the draw of the bow?

[@BackyardBowyer]

It can be done with duct tape. Electrical tape tends to come apart over time. Duct tape ends up getting sticky but once it ages it gets very stuck on. Duct tape makes a protective skin, neither increase the weight. They may drop speed by a few FPS.

[@hunter4life555]

Can you use any string??

[@abgz999]

I do admired n Loved your workmanship - thanx for sharing !

[@molnik905]

Hey backyardbower big fan of your channel. I have made few bows out of pvc and I've got question what if you make a bow out of the pvc that breaks when you hit it with hammer? Will the bow break?

[@BackyardBowyer]

+MolNik Awesome! Brittle PVC can and does make a good bow and while the chance of it breaking is higher, it's still not that bad. The main problem is that if it does fail, it will shatter or snap instead of folding. It is also less forgiving of drops, bumps, scratches, and overdrawing. So if you did make a bow out of brittle pipe, it will mostly be fine. Just keep in mind that if it does fail, it is not as gentle as a tough pipe. A bow that folds can also be repaired, unlike one that snaps. Hope this answers your question!

[@molnik905]

Yes it does, big thanks!

[@Kiran-ob6mw]

What string u are using ?

[@BackyardBowyer]

This one is Dacron, a polyester fiber. I believe it’s artificial sinew. My latest video shows how to make a similar string. Thank you for watching!

[@UncleDanBand64]

Do you sale these bows? Thanks 👍🇺🇸

[@noorhishambinahmadjafri5989]

Thanks a lot man. You give me hope BIG TIME.

[@Hypnotical86]

Hey Nick what is the need length of arrows for this type of bow? Thanks!

[@akifakbulut1788]

hello I am trying to make a bow, it is not with pprc help, it looks like the pipe is not getting shape

[@gseifeddine]

what are your other 3 books

[@omerthe3rd1]

about this spray paint... Doesn't it chip off after a while and looks really ugly ??

[@zekeconn8802]

Man I'm such a fan, I want a bow made by you one day!! Lol

[@caswallonandflur692]

I am going to do this a little longer with 1inch pipe . A big brother if you will. I'll let you know how it turns out 🙂. Thanks

[@sriharivishnubhatla]

May I know where do you get your arrows? I'd love to make one of your Bows and put it to real practice. it's just that I've never had an experience with bows. Please give any suggestions if you could. and please tell me where can i get some arrows or make some myself here in india. Thanks.

[@diswazzi1683]

At this point what would you say is the best pvc bow you've made, and is there a video link for it

[@TheMongo1357]

Nick, what size PVC bow would you recommend for us LARGER folks? I'm 6-03 and have a 33 1/3" draw length. Wanting something stronger than 50lb draw weight....

[@risusrules]

Huge fan. Glad to see you back doing some bows. How does the tape effect the poundage, if at all? Also, would tape finishing a bow help any with catastrophic bow failures?

[@BackyardBowyer]

+John Risus Thanks for watching! The tape doesn't change the poundage of the bow, but you can expect the bow to slow down a little, just like paint or any other finish. Depending on the tape used and where you apply it, it can be so small a chronograph won't pick it up, or by as much as 5-10 FPS (we're talking layers of duct tape in the wrong places). The closer you get to the tips, the more extra weight will affect the bow, which is why I usually don't like tape on my nocks among other reasons. As for catastrophic failure, a lightweight tape like this won't do much aside from containing small pieces. A heavy fiberglass reinforced tape will, but is often overkill for a couple reasons. If your pipe is impact resistant, (it passes the hammer test) you don't have to worry about pipe shattering. Even light tape like this will help keep the pipe from getting scratched (PVC doesn't compress like wood, so a hard scratch can remove material) and can keep it from getting weak spots and collapsing or breaking. A strong fiberglass reinforced tape can pretty much make the bow indestructible (good for camp or teen beater bows) at the cost of speed. I like light tape because it tends to quiet the bow down more than paint and doesn't just scrape off easily. You can also replace tape easier than paint. Hope this helps!

[@risusrules]

Yes it does help, and thanks for the response!

[@ВладимирКарпов-с6э]

How far shoots?

[@dondean2132]

Nice tutorial young man, how do I get one of your Bows?

[@weapon8964]

can you make a heavy draw weight PVC bow shoot steel ball ?

[@MrChamp520]

hi can u please review geologic intech 2 bow 28 pounds. i want to know its speed and power.

[@nooriejamtamache]

Is there an easy way to make an arrow

[@marosvodzak6650]

Some kind of forged sword should be very nice. Shamshir is very good combination to your recurved bows.

[@jamiethompson6376]

Any suggestions on making a "toy" bow and arrow set for my son's would love to get them building!!

[@keithcushing8162]

What kind of speed do u get with this bow

[@michaelpena6790]

Paint your bows with plastidip. Its rubberized and can stand the bending and moving parts.

[@RobustEnigma]

The bow looks awesome! :D

[@Lucaslfm1]

Hey nick, could you, please, teach us how to build a nice, durable arrow target, with cheap materials, that won't make a mess with time? I tried using eva, cardboard, even plastic bags. They work nice, but they deteriorate, and make a mess around where they stand, which is really hard to clean, especially as it goes on dirt. Great video, as always. Keep up the great work!

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Lucas Montenegro Thanks for the suggestion! That's definitely on my list of videos to do.

[@Lucaslfm1]

A Fidgety Fugu but won't it wear out, and need to be replaced after a few shoots? And since it's a bag, the plastic inside won't start to fall off, and make a mess? I will take a look into it, but my problem is I'm from Brazil. It's complicated to get stuff from ebay, and even if it can get here, it will be very, very expansive. Thanks for the suggestion anyway, it gave me some ideas to build my own.

[@th3r352]

Hey, I wanna try this, but how do you determine the draw weight? If I wanted to a 15-20lb bow, or a 40lb bow, what would I adjust or focus on?

[@antagonist8629]

ÆTH3R well I’m no expert but I’m guessing size and strength of the bow and tightness of string all have something to do with it

[@tombeast1786]

How many bows do you have?

[@TheNLgameboys1999]

love the vids dude, keep up the good work!

[@BackyardBowyer]

+RobMeisterGaming Thank you, I will!

[@johnsneen1047]

Thank you so much for the info!! What do you mean by hammer test? Do you have a video on hammer test? I'll probably be using the 1" pipe at the suggested 55" that you recommended. Again thank you for everything you do for such a fun hobby. Can't wait 2 get started !!!

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Johnathan Sneen Here's a link to the hammer test: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qICycqp3rJKKf7c Hope this helps!

[@zulutonic]

I'd also love to see some bowfishing content .. but also maybe some self built spearfishing gear! that would be awesome :-)

[@IRFox]

Hello, please write the name of this pvc pipe in a more specialized way, because there are various pipes.

[@faisalaman8914]

How to make 100 yard strong bow can you show us

[@rockycripps5161]

How can I get a 60 in Recurve my draw is 30 inch and I'd like it close to 37lbs

[@BackyardBowyer]

Starting with a 61" pipe should get you a 60 inch from tip to tip long bow. If you wanted 60" nock to nock, I would start with a 62" long pipe. A 3/4 inch pipe this long would yield an approximately 20 pound bow at a 30" draw. A 1 inch pipe this long would probably draw approximately 40 pounds at a 30" draw. Any of the 1 inch PVC bow making videos on KZbin that look appealing to you can be made longer to reach your draw length and weight goal. I hope this helps!

[@Priestbokmei1]

Man, you’re a talented guy! Really creative paint and tape job! Great video! You should sell your bows on eBay. I would buy this one for sure!

[@willybee3056]

Hey,, Nick,,, Here's one,,, Do you think that the tape wrap will trap the energy from a break in the pvc.? Thanks again, and keep up the good work. ..

[@BackyardBowyer]

+Willy Bee No, but it will keep the smaller pieces from flying around. When any bow breaks, any big pieces of limb that hit you will hurt. PVC shards are dangerous if they get in your eyes, but are IMHO much safer than wood or fiberglass splinters. Though keep in mind that good PVC does not break when it fails, it folds. It's a good idea to avoid using brittle PVC when making a bow. Thanks for watching!

[@hibernian11]

Do you sell any of your bows?

[@davesimpson85]

Remember guys, just the tip

[@chrisjones6002]

We all know that's a lie, lol.

[@darthkek1953]

I got the reference, because I watch Archer. Then it struck me... ARCHER !!

[@lukeethanboswell6338]

*spray paints entire bow and arrows*

[@TheMongo1357]

Nick, cool bow man. I'm curious, doesn't the tape strengthen the bow and cause it to have a higher draw weight?

[@jassidhunne6192]

Which sting to use

[@ferntheyoutuber9960]

Make your own man. Or you could use 550 paracord.

[@henrisomer2074]

Will this bow last 1000 shots?!! Wow

[@Vitan-op2eo]

Why you use tape for a bow? Is it just for visual effect??