How NOT To Make A Recurve Bow, EPIC FAILURE!!!

[@vell0cet517]

I always respect KZbinrs who have the courage to show their failures. It's instructive and reassuring to normal people that even talented people fall short sometimes. It also is a sign that you're pushing your boundaries and going beyond your comfort zone, which is a good and noble thing. Thanks for the video. Wishing you and your family an awesome 2024! You've got a lot to look forward to I think.

[@jameshogue2007]

I think it's awesome that you showed a failure as I believe most of us fail on the first attempt of something. That only means the second attempt will be much better, most likely a complete success!

[@TimothySOgreat]

As someone who's made several bows and has also had epic failures. You should definitely learn to tiller by hand and make you a tillering tree. For someone like you who is extremely gifted in hand tools I know you could easily do it. You should also try making just a long bow instead of a recurve bow. If you haven't yet you should check out Clay Hayes he bakes awesome self bows.

[@HBblazas]

I agree. I spent a few years making bows. Start with a smallish tree that you turn into a stave and do it by hand. It’s much more satisfying and will teach you the basics. Tillering is the most important step for any bow. A tillering tree is crucially helpful. Also, make two strings yourself, one for tillering and one for the bow.

[@crash24210]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Came here to say the same thing about Clay Hayes

[@joeadams4723]

Dude, I got to tell you, I love your videos. Your honest, real takes are soul candy for a woodworking aspirant with an all consuming desk job. You and Scott Wadsworth keep me inspired. Keep up the good work.

[@MillCreekWoodworking]

Failures are simply experience and knowledge gained for future builds. Great effort.

[@topshelf552]

Never a failure just learning a experience ...... Happy New Year to all!!!!

[@jasonwilson7998]

THE Samurai is back! Missed you posting episodes. Would love an update on building goals for the cabin build for this year. Love your channel!

[@noeldunn126]

Agree totally!

[@Stewart_Bell]

I am compelled to object strongly to the title of the video as tuere are no failures, only learnings. This is a completely credible furst attempt at a specialist project. All you followers are appreciators of your incredible skills and I'm sure I speak for all by saying we know you can do it. Good luck and happy New Year.

[@HAZO_crob]

I loved that you showed that you are human and made a mistake. No issue! This is great for the younger generation which have everything when they want it. Also, I was gonna comment on the epoxy either being as you said, too old, too cold and or not following the ratios. Been there done that on my cedar stripped kayak. We learn through our experiences, good or bad. Keep it up!

[@youdizz480]

Grateful for the how NOT to make video. This is far more helpful to be comfortable with trying and making mistakes. Thank you for your transparency.

[@bret_Lambky]

In my 1980.. 9th grade wood shop class I made a recurve bow! I had to bandsaw the body and finish it. I had to hand sand the fiberglass! It is still fun to go target shooting with it. It’s rated at 50# pull.

[@themadc3lt]

Excellent first try. Looking forward to seeing you tweak the bow kit to give it some Samurai flair.

[@ericdeguilo1181]

Still enjoyed watching, can’t wait for the follow up. Happy New Year man!!

[@dholzric1]

Bamboo flooring will work well. My dad was a bowmaker and he used up my extra flooring ;) your tapers dont look thick enough by the riser, but it looks great for a first bow. I still have my dads old forms for several of his bows and a ton of fiberglass and wood

[@paulbuono5088]

Bro gettin mad lit on the beats this episode

[@jbratt]

Future you after becoming an incredible bow maker you will have fun going back to this video laughing and saying “remember when?”

[@therealblakegermaine]

I’m sooo glad your came back

[@froth7133]

Your skills are massive… but wow the tech and measurements must be over the top. Love the video.

[@JoshCarpenter-s5m]

You could try solid fiberglass strips made for bows also using heat treated epoxy designed for bowyers also might help

[@anaphylastiks]

Not sure about bows, but have been studying guitar necks. Helpful video thanks.

[@quarlow1215]

C'mon Jesse. Thats not a failure. Its a learning experience. Just say "Challenge excepted" and tweak your process. It was a great looking bow, now shows your metal. Try again. Maybe look into putting a thin strip of carbon fiber down the back. You got this. Happy New Year buddy. See you next year.

[@miquerto]

I enjoyed watching you make that even though it didn't turn out. Please do share the next round.

[@MCsCreations]

Dude, it was a really nice looking bow! You did a great job for a first try! 😊 I hope you had a fantastic Christmas! Happy new year! And stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@silasmarner7586]

That was purty good! I bet Odie's oil won't help here. Ba dum dum! Happy New Years Jesse and family!

[@luqmaanalhakimshabudien6578]

Wow so cool that you've chosen to do this style of bow. You need to use bamboo flooring or ash or maple for the core of the, sapele doesnt have the right amount of spring to it and you should use unidirectional fibreglass called Bow tuff or Bearpaw powerglass, instead of the fibreglass weave,because the stress produced from the bow will cause the weave to de laminate and unravel . Happy new year 🎉

[@maitajack]

Happy New Year to you and your lovely familly. Take care.🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@mukmuk775]

Happy new year, buddy. I have really enjoyed your videos over these many years. (Has it been a decade?) I’m hoping 2024 is “hopeful” for you.

[@gabe1484]

Great work. Hope to see the next attempt.

[@torridice]

I bet it was a blast building it. No worries my friend. Happy new year

[@edkovac8978]

Hey Jessie. As an archer, I was very excited to see your attempt to make a bow. As you have admitted, several things went south. I reckon more research would help. Someone mentioned tillering, which is evening out the curve of the limbs by scraping off some of the thickness. I am sure your jext attempt will go better. One more advice maybe, I would wait with the purchase of arrows until you know the poundage of the bow. You'll be then able to buy arrows with correct spine and length... good luck with the next ine and Happy New Year!

[@bukitindah6444]

You are a very talented man. Well done

[@katherineteper3038]

Happy New Year! ....this looks beautiful!

[@jrudd1671]

It took me 6 attempts to make a shooter. There is incredible information out there to reference for self bows. The bow Builders Bible for one. One Thing I noticed is that your string was waaaaaay to short. You should have roughly 6 inches from the grip to the string, just something to note.

[@johnnydingo8680]

Point taken, won't make a bow like this. 😊 I hope you will try making another to see how you succeed. Happy new year to you and your family Jessie. This year will be a great year.

[@bukitindah6444]

You have done a lot of amazing things in the past. You will succeed :-) Keep going (and Thank you)

[@lcurtsinger4313]

Good to see you, happy new year to you and your family

[@rickcimino5483]

this is not a failure. You have succeeded in showing how not to build your first recurve bow.

[@freespirit923]

seems like many creative experiences start on the 'short-bus'!!! lol

[@guyvangenechten6484]

Happy new year to you and your family!!!

[@JerryDechant]

Ya learn the best through experience, and that can be the best way to learn, and also the hardest way to learn, but one you learn the lessons, they stay with you forever. :) As I have been an archer, I know a bit about bow size, draw strength, draw length, arrow weight and arrow length which all relate to each other and the archer. My suggestion would be to go to a dedicated archery store, with knowledgeable employees who have experience and knowledge to help you get the perfect bow criteria for yourself. Use them as a springboard for establishing what size, etc. you should make. I have confidence that with the proper knowledge, you can make an excellent bow.

[@mictaylor9531]

Happy new year Jessie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👌🏻🍺

[@jessyr9666]

Awesome to see some new content from The Samurai,keep up the great work. As for the Hinge issue with your recurve. I suggest doing a bit of homework on Tri-lam bows. There are quite a few guys on here who build them. Clay Hayes being a great reference or Mike of Boarrior bows. They build a ton of self bows and tri-lam bows. Smooth ON EA-40 is the glue of choice for bowyers.

[@FLo-o5j]

Good start! Tillering the bow ist the Key! There are some good Instruktions at the Channel from Clay Hayes or Meadowlark Adventure Gear

[@greengonzonz]

Loved this. Awesome video.

[@rickroberts2198]

Happy New year Sam😉!

[@jimcooney9019]

Failures are simply experience. now you'll be more prepared on the second one. Happy New Year

[@ac311205]

I would think this would be challenging and you confirmed that. Still looked nice IMO, would have been good wall art. Happy new year Jesse

[@sandstoker]

An excellent first try!

[@kevinkorthuis6365]

Sorry it failed but really enjoyed the video! You trying new projects and it not going well helps me try new projects with confidence knowing even great carpenters have failures. Great effort though!

[@homelesspete4738]

I'm just waiting for. Snooooooo ooop, drop it like it's hot. Drop it like it's hot.

[@Dave-ue3yo]

Fiberglass resin will not harden when exposed to the air. There is a mold release call PVA. You spray it on after you get the lay up complete. It will setup hard as you expected.

[@johncarter9067]

Great for a first try I know you will keep at it

[@negotiableaffections]

The successful bow is gonna be awesome - Cheers Jesse

[@LionAstrology]

Awesome video thanks for sharing.. bows are like souls everyone has a potential masterpiece 😅. Easier said than done hahahaha.

[@thesplinteredfinger]

As Jimmy would say, you go to school on the first one!

[@J.A.Smith2397]

Out of THREE Osage orange staves i got ONE bow! It's definitely a coin toss but since you know how to read grain ya get a better chance. A lot of us CHASE THE GRAIN on Osage bows n that's a learning curve

[@MrKittenmitts]

Awesome video! How much for the bow?

[@turkeytrac1]

You should've done some research as to what woods first nations peoples who lived on the prairies, the BC interior , well as where you live, used. Most were self bows and used a hide reinforcing on the outside of the bow ( that's the part that faces away from you) to strengthen the bow and add to the draw weight. European bows used members of the Yew family, as well as oak. Good try, but a bit of wood research would of helped. Good luck on the next one.

[@koonelos]

"Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm" - Winston Churchill

[@simonr6793]

I don't know if this is correct or not but i recall watching a couple of video's on bow making and each time the person who was making the bow actually used ASH for the wooden bow 😊

[@CanaldaCarpintaria]

Feliz ano novo força e fé ...

[@airtightindustries]

Ah, I think Art Williams would be proud! Definitely the islands most famous (drug) bow maker.

[@raoulduke8382]

You should build a traditional Samurai bow, with hand tools only.

[@peterlovett5841]

A failure is not a failure - it is successfully finding a method that doesn't work.

[@sixstringstruggle6508]

Bummer. U should definitely try again

[@TherealBrandonHatcher]

I did a bow building class in Arkansas with Mike Yancey. He has a tutorial video on YT. Very rewarding, it was an osage bow and it performs very well. I think he ships too

[@marshallhaslett8717]

Would be fun to see you keep making em till one shoots good enough to hunt with. Like 45lb or more. I made a couple but were too weak accidentally. Fun to make though.

[@endangeredmarmot4518]

It's a nice art piece, at least. Some other commenters have some great ideas for V. 2

[@poelmeister]

Maybe the bow failed, but you look to be in a great spot to make some skis.

[@gedreillyhomestead6926]

Personally I would buy the limbs and build the rest including arrows (after buying a few to copy). A break-down would make it easier to transport and store. 👍

[@fred-san]

..I was given an African bow, a bit old, & which had been in storage for over a year, then I used it once or twice.... & it broke : hygrometry europe, too dry.

[@josephverbosiii5764]

Was just thinking it had been a while since you posted.

[@johnmay3266]

Happy New Year

[@marshallhaslett8717]

Bingham bows i used before great kits

[@MedievalTrebuchet]

Dude that bow looked nice! I think it might have worked if you had started it on a long string and tillered it on a tillering tree

[@benmirka3648]

I would love to see you make a yew long bow

[@setdown2]

First try...humbling... You might look into using Osage Orange for bow material it's what the Indigenous people of this country used...you can buy seasoned staves on line if need be...Also Mulberry wood was also used a good second choice...🖖

[@mongo7129]

Card scraper and tillering.

[@Lee-qp6gf]

You need bow glass and do your glue up all at one time.

[@CultureWatcher5000]

Nice!

[@mattbrown4895]

Haha! Great content!

[@c.a.g.1977]

14:10 Ah, that's nothing a little CA glue and some ducttape won't fix! Are you going to try again Jesse?

[@ericforsii9933]

I want to renew my invitation to come out to our bow building camp we hold every summer. It’s called MOJAM and it’s held in Marshall, MO. Some of us make a whole week event of it every year. You’d find a ton of knowledge, like-minded folk that you’d really enjoy, and a ton of quality content to add to your channel. It’s a free event, but the value of what you can learn and the enjoyment available is PRICELESS! LMK if you’re at all interested and I’ll send you some more details and information.

[@Finnja76]

Yeah, you whip tillered it. You want to taper the limbs based on how they bend to get a smooth curve.

[@noahward82]

Fun video regardless

[@andrewkaufman4495]

LMAO Nice try my Boy . You'll get it next time

[@boeufkak]

i'm a minute-and-a-bit into the video, maybe this gets answered- isn't sapele a bit splinter-y and goes wild when it's wet?

[@boeufkak]

oh, ok

[@zuesmondo1]

❤

[@michaelcampbell5448]

I think it was a great first try, next one will be better.

[@lukesticklen6955]

Check out some of Clay Hayes bow builds they are pretty tutorial and informative.

[@monabale8263]

Osage Orange- Bois d` Arc

[@troyqueen9503]

All the best for 2024 👍🏝️

[@larry78cj7]

My first 3 were a fail.

[@stevedoran3631]

Have a look at some Kramer Ammons bowmaking videos for hints....... he's the mutts nuts at bowmaking.....

[@jeffpynenbrouck2468]

You need a tillering string!!!!!

[@duragdan2000]

Ah yes. Carpenters are not bowyers. The difference is: As a carpenter you tell the wood what it's going to be. As a bowyer the wood does all the tellin' and it's a looooong process before you know how to listen.

[@cyranodemylakai9145]

You have to "tiller" the bow. Go watch Hunt Primitive & Clay Hays make self bows. They're not recurve bows but the basic principles are the same.

[@JamesBondsLittleFinger]

Kramer Ammons Archery KZbin channel - good bow building content.

[@rishat1254]

osage orange

[@kentsavick2516]

Did you learn something and have fun? Those are the important things. Next time you'll make a better one. Make 100 of them and you might get pretty good at it. There's a reason bowyers and weapon and armor smiths are a rare bread. Not to mention the centuries it took to learn how to make those things. Good first try!