Making a Five-Curve Bow - Woodworking Secrets

Making a primitve recurve bow with hand tools. This was my second attempt at building 5-curve self bow. Previously the stave I used (ash) hasn't held the shape I was aiming for. But this time I managed to get it done. Find out how, watching this video!
To complete this woodworking project I used red oak stave. This wood is known for the ease of bending with the use of steam. For a traditional bowyer, it's a very useful feature, as almost each stave has to be bent one way or another.
I was surprised by the result of this project. The bow shoots very smooth and quite fast for its draw weight (35# @ 27"). For finishing touches I used water based varnish, for handle stamped leather.
Hope you will enjoy 10 minutes of traditional woodworking included in this video. If you have any ideas or suggestions for my future videos, feel free to share them in the comments. All the best guys!
#bowmaking #woodworking #bowyer #archery #woodworkingideas

[@DreamcraftBows]

Get into bow making with my e-books: dreamcraftbows.com/en_GB/c/E-books/24 Thanks for watching guys!!!

[@kubehan]

Would it be easier to cut corners and saw the rough bit first

[@itatane]

Have you ever tried Ebonizing the bow stave? Soak clean steel wool in strong vinegar for a day or two, strain it, and brush the liquid onto the wood. The Iron Acetate will react with any tannin in the wood (I've even done it to pine.) darkening it. An ebonized Five-Curve bow would look absolutely stunning, in my opinion. Wear gloves though, because it will stain your hands.

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thank you for your comment! That's really interesting idea. Have to make some research on this topic. All the best!

[@iplayvayne9769]

I was just looking into making my first bow living in Aus and I had thought maybe a burnt finish with like a clear coat but this sounds really cool I could maybe even do both darken then char then clear coat, I want a dark sort of almost evil vibe to the bow like something an evil warlock might use maybe with rev veins or blue lightning painted in

[@tedseb7726]

@@iplayvayne9769chemical ebonizing is definitely the way to go with a bow. Heat would make the wood hard and brittle turning your bow into a sick set of nunchucks.

[@seanurbanczyk4049]

WOW that stave was literally perfect and this turned out so well!

[@brycehampton7649]

Oh yeah, that looks perfect. Just like the swan, princess prince Derek has used to shoot Rothbart in the sky when he was a Great animal in the final fight.😊

[@DreamcraftBows]

👊👊👊

[@nwprimate6416]

What a cool design! Tillering it must have been maddening.

[@DreamcraftBows]

I like it too! It wasn't as tought as I expected. Thank you for the comment!

[@mikethomas2123]

Ha! Brother you’re amazing thank you. I’ve got a California Myrtle stave I’ve been working on and am doing with all hand tools thanks for showing me it can be done. Oh ya it’s my first tine thanks for the lesson.

[@DreamcraftBows]

Appreciate your comment ! Good luck with the build 👊

[@iplayvayne9769]

That sound with the scraper is amazing ❤

[@DreamcraftBows]

👊👊

[@nidrinr]

Not only did you make a very nice bow here, you also managed to make the video a pleasure to watch. Balanced the use of fast forward to a perfect mix. I love the way you use more or less the same tools as I do when I make bows, good to see more people using hand tools. You wrote in your comments that you had trouble making ash keep it's form on your first attempt. I have the same experience with ash when I steambend them without securing the bend with try heat. -But, I no longer make ash bows without heat treating the belly. Once you've used dry heat to the belly to "secure" the shape, ash will hold it's form just as good as other woods. This helps for many other types of wood too, like wytch elm, hazelwood, rowan, bird cherry and even makes goat willow a good bow wood.

[@Igorrobinhud]

E ovaj je vrh...svaka cast...

[@DreamcraftBows]

👊👊

[@jackthunder5251]

thank u for making my day bettter

[@DreamcraftBows]

At your service 👊

[@DironMc]

Looks kinda like an Asiatic Bow! Awsome

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thanks, glad you like it! Yes, it's shaped like horsebow a bit

[@DironMc]

​@@DreamcraftBowsdefinitely got inspired. I gonna try making bows (again)😊

[@Quietluxury83]

You are my inspiration, I really like your products

[@DreamcraftBows]

Appreciate it, thank you!

[@nicholasclarke3147]

A magnificent looking bow!!

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thank you, appreciate it!

[@MandieClause]

Beautiful

[@DreamcraftBows]

Glad you like it 💪

[@shephherd]

Thats a beautiful bow❤

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thank you 👊

[@theoldboy70]

Incredible as always, another great bow and video. 👍🏻

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thank you brother, all the best 👊

[@mr.tiddles556]

I would love to see some videos on tool upkeep! The way your drawknife just glides through the wood is incredible, you must keep a really good edge on it. I’d love to see your sharpening process

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thank you for your comment and ideas! To be honest I don't feel very confident in this matter and still learning how to keep my tools in a good shape

[@nicholashall7999]

Nice mate.

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thank you!

[@garettcline1365]

Clean work friend!

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thank you !

[@NOTMYCIRCUSNOTMYMONKEY]

Thanks

[@aristotlev]

Another great video. Glad to see your channel growing

[@DreamcraftBows]

Appreciate it! Do my best 👊

[@draven3838]

I use a saw for most of the work on my bows it save wear and tear on the elbows and wrists.

[@DreamcraftBows]

That's great! Working smart can save a lot of time and efforts indeed

[@reperibilebecchino9087]

Good.

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thanks!

[@patriciaoudart1508]

Love🙏🧡💚👍

[@DreamcraftBows]

🙏🙏🙏

[@jme104]

With that stave you could have made two bows .

[@antoniomarinho7380]

Parece fácil

[@DreamcraftBows]

Made some of these already 👊

[@CcOoRrYyT]

A very good looking bow! What is the draw weight? Chronograph speeds?

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thank you! It’s drawing approx 35lb at 27”. Haven’t tested it yet but feels fast 👊

[@Cloudstrife112233]

What is your favorite length to make a bow? I've always liked 64"-66".

[@DreamcraftBows]

It's something about 66-67" 👊

[@mirrorblitz]

Gorgeous bow. I've been watching your vids for a while, although I don't know if I've seen them all. But do you have anything for making a bow with siyas and different types? Or is the 5 curve your answer to that concept?

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thank you! For sure I'd like to try myself at some new types. I'd love to build a hornbow but it's not that easy to get all the materials needed

[@michelleslutpuppy4355]

I never thought about keeping the tools sharp

[@cayetanocruz9848]

Hola en cuanto los. Vendes lugar

[@DreamcraftBows]

I sell some of my bows on my website dreamcraftbows.com

[@palnagok1720]

What are you looking for when you choose the wood for the bow ?

[@DreamcraftBows]

There are many aspects... First of all - the species. Then the straightness of the stave and the course of the grain, the number of knots if there are any rotten wood spots and more. Check out my other videos where I talk about this topic (I also sell 2 e-books focused on bow making). Good luck!

[@nickdasc6890]

What is the draw weight

[@DreamcraftBows]

35# @ 27"

[@เกียรติภูมิสิทธิขุนทด]

What Wood???

[@DreamcraftBows]

red oak

[@Xizario2]

Good bow, music not so

[@DreamcraftBows]

Thanks 🙏

[@pyramid_scheme_termination3655]

I wonder why english longbowmen didnt recurve their bows if they could get a little bit more power. You proved it could be done.

[@mikegoucher7625]

Training dog caller

[@oklol1188]

❤❤❤