Wood Bow Care and Maintenance

[@magicdaveable]

My Dad crafted a Lemonwood Traditional English Long Bow. I don't really know when he made the bow but it was always standing on the corner of his bedroom closet from my very early childhood. It is "D" shaped with a flat back and round belly. It has Ebony nocks. Truly a really gorgeously simple design. Draws about 70 lbs. @ 28." Yes it is still an excellent shooter that is probably 65 years old. I learned to shoot "off my knuckle" so shooting my Dad's bow is a piece of cake but I digress..... The bow stood on the lower nock leaning in the corner of his closet for all of those years until he died in 1995. Whenever I went home to vist the bow got a workout so it didn't become brittle.

[@bowhunter7922]

Wish i had seen this (great) video last week. I took my new 40# rawhide-backed 68-inch red oak board bow hog hunting near Okeechobee in 100% humidity and 90+ degrees. only 2 coats of tung oil on it. heat treated 2 inches of back set. Had it strung for about 3 hours while hunting; 7 inch brace height. when i unstrung it, it gained about 1-inch of string follow and dozens of chrysals had developed. Draw weight had dropped to 32#. bummer. Lessons learned from watching your video: make an Osage orange bow; 7-8 coats of Tru-oil before taking it hunting; 6 1/2 inch brace ht; keep making bows and hunting! safe travels.

[@monkeyman8265]

I'm just starting out with a couple bows I built out of red oak and I first started with a draw and hold shooting style. Then I tried a snap shooting style and I was blown away by how much faster and harder the arrows hit the box. It's definitely harder to aim consistently with a snap shooting instinct style but I'm having fun so thats what it's all about right.

[@christopherrowley7506]

yeah if you aren't hunting then just do whatever you have fun doing

[@Karlgh]

That bow is insanely impressive.

[@sagarnegi9464]

I am creating a new bow and then this video pops up. I feel blessed, thankyou😊😊😊

[@TheDayne]

I have a 44# locust selfbow I made 3 years ago. Slick little shooter, shoots 350gr wood arrows at 165fps! I built it with a little bit of stringfollow on purpose, to make it more comfortable to shoot. It's a simple flatbow design, no rawhide on it or anything, just one piece of carved out wood, but it performs exceptionally well. Its still my best shooting selfbow, not even my osage recurve thats similar to the one you show in the video outperforms it. Sometimes you just have this magical piece of wood, that grew only to become the perfect bow ;)

[@clayhayeshunter]

Sounds wonderful!

[@timvandusen4192]

This is a really good, informative video. Also, as you do, I pull and hold (sometimes just for a split second at times), releasing the arrow only when I'm confident I'm ready for the shot. I also consider brace height very important, and always keep mine right at 6". You make a nice looking bow.

[@tonygray3787]

I’ve been waiting for a video like this thank you!

[@samivey8416]

In the Traditional Bowyers Bible they said that if the floor area had a moisture level kinda high it would soak up in the lower limb. If you flipped it during the storage process it would balance it. They did testing and what not so something to consider

[@VSci_]

Are there any negative effects to sealing the sinew in with titebond 3? Assuming the sinew was put on with hide glue off course.

[@Tiggerboy1]

Hey there good video I was just wondering what happens if they where left out in the rain

[@outdoorsman9384]

Excellent advice Clay, so if you strictly use that bow alone and shoot it every day and hunt with it in all weather conditions, what would you guess on longevity of it, I know there is no guarantee but what does your confidence say too you? Thanks Clay

[@clayhayeshunter]

I make a lot of bows so I don’t tend to shoot them for years. But my last bow I hunted with for almost 5 years and shot it a lot. It showed no sign of getting weak or anything. I’ve seen other guys shooting selfbows over 20 years old. I’d guess a well made Osage bow to last a lifetime if taken care of.

[@marcosdelarosa6519]

Great video. Answered a lot of questions I've had in the back of my mind. Happy hunting!

[@OdeeOz]

Great tips as usual. Keep them coming, please! *Wishing I lived closer to 3 Rivers. East Coast humidity is killing me.*

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yep, it’s pretty bad in Florida as well.

[@OdeeOz]

@@clayhayeshunter With a breeze, like near Jupiter, FL, it is pretty tolerable.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Oh yeah, if you’re on the coast it’s not too bad. Interior Florida will cook a fella in summer!

[@Col_Pan1c]

Ever tried spar urethane? It's great. It's an outdoor grade polyurethane sealer. Comes in a spray can. Helmsman makes it. 1 can will do a bow. 3 or 4 thin coats. It's tough as nails and will keep moisture out

[@PatientFarmer]

How do I prevent an osage self bow from cracking down the grain lines? I don't know what my teacher sealed the bow with but I store it in my basement with my laminate recurve which appears fine. The osage feels ... less slick then it did 5 years ago when I finished it. Is there a way to fix this bow? If so then how do I go about keeping this from happening again?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Longitudinal cracks aren’t usually a problem

[@PatientFarmer]

@@clayhayeshunter oh good. So I can just oil or wax it and keep using it?

[@cameronpain1422]

Great topic , I really want to make a sinew backed bow at some point in time but I feel like it would be utterly useless in the rain forests of the Pacific Northwest. I’ll probably stick to self bows for now.

[@cookiesinghose7767]

I've used my sinew & snakeskin-backed longbow for hunting Western Washington for over 20 years & frequently hunt in the rain. Go for it!

[@princephillips8896]

I’ve been waiting on a video like this cuz I also make self bows so thank you clay hays

[@matthewyu3531]

Hi Clay, thank you very much for your fantastic video. But I found that your bow is reflex. Some other hunters said that reflex bow is faster but less forgiveness & less accuracy. Your are a very professional hunter, would you kindly tell me, is that true? I try to build my own traditional bow, please tell me what they said is correct or not, so I can make the right decision. Thank you.

[@hartmutherrmann4060]

Hey Clay you are so cool and in the right Side of nö building and hunting. I Love you Videos.

[@AnonYmous-ii4tc]

Safe travels Clay. Thanks for the videos and all the good tips.

[@shadowalker175]

Do you put any twists in string?

[@dananker879]

Very informative. Thank you!

[@calebaustin8912]

So a question I have.. is it ok to put a penetrating wood stain on a self bow? I am making a bow out of oak for my wife and she is wanting it to be stained dark. Its my first self bow and I really don't want to kill it with something as simple as stain. Also thank you so much for all you do in the trad community! I am a 26 year old punk and you have been a major help in my groth the last few years as an archer!

[@clayhayeshunter]

I don’t see why it would hurt.

[@Duh5001]

I've put stain on my board bows. Most stains are oil based so if you stain then try and glue on a backing you'll never get it to stick. ... ask me how I know. I use linen backing and glue it on first then paint the back and stain the belly. Wouldnt suggest staining the handle and arrow rest till after you glue on rest and or wrap. Hope this helped.

[@calebaustin8912]

I keep that in mind for sure! Thank you guys!

[@billmckechnie7491]

Clay do you tiller your bows differently for three under or split finger shooting? Hope you and the family have a safe trip home.

[@clayhayeshunter]

I might make them a little more positive tiller for split finger but typically not. I usually shoot for about 1/8 positive.

[@larryreese6146]

Good information, as usual. How is the house coming along? I think I see lots of raw material behind you in the shed.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Just got the barn done to cover the logs. We’re planning to start the cabin next winter.

[@larryreese6146]

@@clayhayeshunter had you thought about that dogtrot style house I mentioned? Anyway, good luck on the house and the hunting. I think I might be doing a little building myself before long with some natural materials. I've always wanted a little getaway cabin out of squared logs. Bought a little land. Think I'll do it.

[@clayhayeshunter]

Go for it!

[@liamchalmers9705]

Great info Clay thank alot really appreciate your videos. There helping me alot as I have recently gotten into traditional archery. The roe buck season is coming up soon here in Scotland and so I was wondering if you could give me any tips on shooting off your hand as opposed to a shelf as my bow doesn't have any kind of built in arrow rest. Any fb would be much appreciated.

[@caseysmith544]

I would use a 4 inch brace height since that is what this one bow uses I have, the crappier Actionbow by Actionrod the longbow made from 1961--1979 not the recurve from 1963/1964--1979 and the brace height was one of the lowest at the time before super recurve bows came out in the 1980's to keep up with the Compound tech where not only could those bows shoot longer but could shoot faster. So that is what I would do with Cedar or not in eastern South Dakota with Juniper we have is use a single front of dog bone rawhide one of the big type from online as a smaller one is not going. However what I would use is the oil or some clear matt finish Flex seal like product in clear on all parts that flex except the handle that gets the extra rawhide for grip and protecting. This would be a very cheap bow to make since all I need to do is get said wood the native Sioux tribes used and the same type of backing with rawhide though not Buffalo or an extinct type of Elk that was the size of the largest Mule Deer, however using modern glues for this process. I would also copy the minor inset handle except the front making that more straight line. It would be a flatbow longbow for sure as I would want to make it more like what the people of Sioux used as a 58--60 inch bow before they had horses/some donkeys you can find wild in Custer and parts of the South Dakota Badlands, there was a type of New Mexico Donkey that was a riding bread that somehow the Sioux.

[@RedmanOutdoors366]

Thanks Clay 😊

[@wisgliebau]

Clay, thanks for all of your videos - I've been going through a lot of yours as well as those by Kramer Ammons! I'm a craftsman and have always wanted to get into bow making, played around with it a bit when I was younger and was a more active archer. Just now deciding to take the plunge. One thing I haven't seen answered directly in any videos is how well finishing products such as Tru Oil actually penetrate rawhide. I have some nice rawhide left over from past projects that should be suitable for backing my first bow, which will be from a red oak board (what else) but based on my experience it seems strange to think that a finishing product that is supposed to permeate wood will also preserve rawhide and particularly glued rawhide at that. Any additional explanation of how well you see the Tru Oil working directly on rawhide or any cautionary advice before an attempt would be appreciated. Thank you again! - Gregory

[@clayhayeshunter]

In my experience, thr sealer doesn’t really penetrate the rawhide much at all. So long as the grain is left on thr hide. It mostly creates a protective coating.

[@wisgliebau]

@@clayhayeshunter Thanks sir, and happy holidays! I haven't used Tru Oil yet so wasn't aware that it would seal over the top of an object and not just penetrate it. I'll give it a go!

[@dariuswhite3002]

​I notice with sefbow if u draw it back on a scale let's say when it say 40 and let go like snap shooting it would say 40 but if u hold it It awill reach forty but the weight drops. Maybe causes there still moisture in the woods

[@glytchmeister9856]

Just thinking outside the box mainly for fun here - Say you filled a chamber with sealant (trueoil or whatever it is, or maybe molten beeswax or something?), and submerged the bow, sealed the chamber, and pulled a vacuum in the chamber to suck the air out of the wood of the bow. This would drive the sealant deep into the bow and pretty much completely saturate it. Do you think this would negatively affect the bow’s performance, or provide a positive humidity resistance effect above and beyond normal sealing technique?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Got no idea but it’s an instinctive idea.

[@glytchmeister9856]

Clay Hayes Well, sounds like its time to do some science... I don’t have the resources to test this myself but I wonder if I can get TKOR interested in testing this...

[@djla2276]

I've had a bow delaminate on me, I suspect because I left it strung in my hot car for about an hour while I made a stop on the way to the range. Never again. It was a purchased bow, and I suspect it may not have been heat cured. Regardless, don't string your bow until you get to the range, kids.

[@clayhayeshunter]

☹️

[@diwas2]

Clay, thanks for this video. I have a question: I think that you haven’t mentioned bows which are sealed with varnish (which is my preferred choice). How well do these ones stay well in harsh weather?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve never used varnish

[@andrewgingerich874]

Hey Clay! I'm in the process of making two bamboo-backed hickory bows. What are your recommendations for sealing and caring for that kind of bow so that the bamboo backing doesn't get ruined in any way? Thanks Clay!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Same way. Multiple coats of tru oil

[@andrewgingerich874]

Thanks a lot Clay, you'll be seeing posts on Instagram when they're done, maybe you can give me some feedback and let me know what I could do different on others!! You're help and advice is much appreciated!!

[@ndubstar]

I have been oiling down bows with castor oil, the cheap laxative stuff you get at the drug store. It works good, is long lasting and drys out pretty well, plus it;s good for your skin, or your hair if you rub it through your hair after you're done. lol. it;s generally a pretty thick oil.

[@Roberto-qh8yw]

Hey clay, I am new to the channel and archery in general. I have two bows, a red river recurve bow an english long bow. My father bought these two bows in the late 90’s. I am planning to use them for hunting, so i’d like to ask a (possibly stupid) question... are these types of bows humidity ‘resistant’ Thank you in advance!

[@clayhayeshunter]

Depends on the materials they’re made from and how they’re sealed.

[@BobMarley-vl5gl]

What I learnt from the vid is that you need to learn how to instinctively shoot its way more fun and is a pathway to quickfire shooting styles.

[@elvispresley7529]

checkout armin hirmer on youtube for that, he has lots of good tips

[@jonpatterson5668]

This is just what I have noticed, for me I've shot compound bows for 40 years .. I'm finding that I'm a much better instinctive shooter with a self bow then I have ever been with a compound and sights

[@jonpatterson5668]

Can you snake skin back an osage bow without the sinue

[@drewwilliams4642]

Any difference in caring for a softwood bow (yew or cedar) vs hardwoods?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Not really. You just have to be more careful with things like cedar to avoid denting and scratching them.

[@rcchronicles25]

Great video. Really informative 👍🇬🇧

[@merrillbartle4174]

Where can your bows be bought?

[@germanictradlifewarriorarc6414]

If the bow is fiberglass laminated then can we keep it whole night or few day ?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Glass bows can be left strung

[@germanictradlifewarriorarc6414]

Clay i ask you something ashwood is a good performance wood for asiatic bow limb and selfbow? I had never seen this type of wood to made asiatic bow limb or selfbow before i think its a options wood everything are made of bamboo in asiatic bow or even selfbow they are made of osage, yew ,hickory , red oak, maple etc... so why some people dont want to be made of ashwood laminated core in asiatic bow i myself too or ashwood gives low performance and low speed then other wood bow even bamboo ( bambusa tulda roxb) is the best and thickest bamboo that are found in our land asia there are more then 56 species bamboos are found and one thing is that 61# ashwood laminated bow vs 40# bamboo laminated bow when it speed comparison in chrono bamboo beat it @440 gn. WHY?? this happens??

[@dougcovington3753]

Do you make and sell recuve bows ?

[@farmtrout66]

That is a beautiful bow! 🏹😎👍👍

[@clayhayeshunter]

Thanks

[@r1sabotage]

@@clayhayeshunter Hi Clay, i have the PSE Ghost and was wondering, when you say natural material bows, do you mean those that are made with no laminate or anything made from natural material. The PSE limbs are Maple and fiberglass laminated limbs. Would that mean I have to unstring it also or due to the fiberglass i can leave it strung? I shoot every single day and just leave it strung because i shoot daily, should I be unstringing it after every use?

[@milosdabovic4045]

Hey there, a great channel! Have you ever tried using polyurethane instead of tru-oil? Do you know anything about that way of finishing a bow? Best regards

[@OdeeOz]

*Say Clay, do you have any experience with, or recommendations for Resin cast Broad-tip arrow heads?*

[@clayhayeshunter]

Never ever heard of it.

[@OdeeOz]

@@clayhayeshunter bummer. Somebody made them to look like primitive broad-heads, that were near razor sharp, and worked like the real deal. Only a lot cheaper than napped ones.

[@spencerpierce9344]

What about using teak oil as a sealer for Osage?

[@clayhayeshunter]

I’ve never tried that.

[@dgundeadforge17]

can you do a diy string making jig

[@user-mb4se6km5p]

Do not put grease and heat on sinew.put on the pitch/grease with a tiny bit of heat and ran into the ends of the sinews lifting. I fixed it but it was a eye opener. Now I only use tru oil on sinew or rawhide.

[@macknewman835]

I wonder how mink oil would work.

[@anthony99900]

What happens if you leave your wood bow in its case without maintenance for many years ?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Nothing

[@anthony99900]

@@clayhayeshunter If I had it on display how Often would I need To oil it. It’s just a laminated English Longbow

[@frankbarbagallo9399]

Spar eurothane is my favorite

[@thehuntschool196]

Awesome stuff!

[@teambennett3060]

How many pounds do your bows generally run?

[@clayhayeshunter]

My hunting bows are between 55-60lbs at 28”

[@michami135]

Have you ever tried "unsetting" a bow by stringing it backwards with a longer than normal string? (Very low brace height)

[@clayhayeshunter]

I wouldn’t recommend bending a bow backwards.

[@Duh5001]

Tillering a bow backwards then applying sinew is a advanced tillering technique. The traditional bowyers bible has section on how to do this. NEVER string a bow backwards that's already a completed bow. The compression vs tension stresses are not equivocal. And I would almost guarantee you'll break it. As most woods are stronger in tension than compression so by force alone the back would probably be ok, but ask the belly which will likely have ring violation possibly tool marks and you will have failure.

[@coondogbob]

Cheers clay !

[@maryjolly678]

Great info thanks! Coming from N/W Wisconsin

[@lancemcilwainoutcastmetald5398]

Great info. Thanks.

[@rockyroney2666]

Can you use boiled lin seed oil

[@clayhayeshunter]

Yes but it takes days to dry. Tru oil is just boiled linseed oil with drying agents.

[@cookiesinghose7767]

Thanks I was hoping I had been taking proper care of the seniew & snakeskin backed yew selfbow I made, had it & hunting with it for 20+ years so guess I'm doing it right. Thank you

[@clayhayeshunter]

Excellent!

[@SuperPauliano]

Parabéns amigo pelo canal e vídeos, tenho acompanhado tudo aqui do Brasil, motivo de alegria muito grande partilhar deste momento com você, Deus esteja abençoando sempre, tudo de bom para você e sua família, tamos juntos 👊👍🙏

[@howdy627]

My Vikeing relatives stored Yew bows with there wine mead and potatoes, in the the cellar

[@decimated550]

i have a double recurve built in the south india style. it broke, the top limb delaminated . why? 2 well meaning people made strings for me, but they made the string w a brace height of like 10 inches, huge! all these guys know is fiberglass recurves. My bamboo bow broke within 40 shots - the resting tension was too high for the natural materials . the brace height should have been 7 inches, no more.

[@chickennuggetinagutter.7864]

What about danish oil it’s all I have.

[@clayhayeshunter]

That’ll probably work fine

[@papiofisher]

Im i hawaii. Was wondering what wood is better for hawaii weather looking at bamboo. Any thoughts?

[@clayhayeshunter]

Guava?

[@dillardwinters4882]

Great jod

[@philipsutton2316]

Who on earth would give this video a thumbs down - there must be some real clowns out there!

[@ZephrusPrime]

Compound shooters.... just kidding not

[@rockytheraplover]

@@ZephrusPrime dont forget the 'olympic' archers

[@ZephrusPrime]

@@rockytheraplover No, I'm an Olympic Archer!

[@howdy627]

You want to store your yew bows the same way french store there wine ,I'm french but I have 56 percent enlish ,

[@RedVanille]

You know youtuber trophybow1 ?

[@RedVanille]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eWKQnqqVhrOeZrM

[@gregoryaultman4401]

Peg and back door are you sure about this

[@maryjolly678]

For some reason my account comes up under my wife, I’m Ken.

[@-fazik-3713]

:D