Making the Self Yew Longbow Part 4 - Tillering & Final Thoughts.

[@petrvcelak2634]

I can't express how much have I enjoyed watching this series. As a beginner longbowman myself I appreciate such a deep insight into the manufacturing process and your feedback on the finished bow. Thank you

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you for getting in touch and for your very kind comment. It is always nice to know that my videos are appreciated and that you found this series useful. Enjoy the process of making and shooting these lovely bows. Best wishes, Nick.

[@herbertkuttner9228]

Once more Nick I want to thank you for what you have contributed to the making of the English war bow To Us who love the History and pageantry that is England’s great history I keep returning to your videos and each time it becomes more interesting and I learn something new that I missed before Your a good teacher Nick ,I thank you. Herb in the USA

[@bigbowbrum]

Hello Herb. Thank you for your very kind words. I'm really pleased to hear you enjoy my videos so much and keep coming back for more. It makes all the effort I put into them worthwhile. I only wish I had the time to make some new ones, but I seem to be so busy with work these days and I don't currently have access to a field. Best wishes to you.

[@cyberpunky]

Thank you for this series, Nick. It’s very helpful to a novice bowyer as you go into detail with things overlooked as trivial by professionals. You also have a very calm nature and speak slowly and clearly. Well done.

[@bigbowbrum]

I'm very pleased the series was of use to you Casper, and thank you for your lovely comment. It really does make all the hard work of editing these videos worthwhile.

[@cyberpunky]

@@bigbowbrum yes I forgot to mention the editing and use of graphics. Very very helpful to see the dimensions on paper as well. And lastly I’m impressed with the fact that you’re shooting a 110lbs bow. Good physique!

[@Ostarrichi996]

This is incredible! Caught you in 2013 and now that the series came to an end seems so surreal :D Thank you

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you for your patience, ha ha. I'm really pleased you have managed to catch the end and see the bow complete. I wanted to add some footage of me shooting it, but I no longer have access to a field.

[@dgriswold93]

I actually feel quite sentimental about this series drawing to a close. Been watching since you began the build videos, and even way before! It was you and Martin who really got me into longbow shooting well over 10 years ago now. Hope you are all doing well. Thanks, Drew

[@bigbowbrum]

That's a lovely comment Drew. Yeah, I feel a little bit the same way and really want to do another video now, just to keep things going. Martin and I are well, though age is catching up with Martin and he doesn't shoot the big bows much any more. I need to get him out of his chair and back in the field to build his strength!

[@tonymaurice4157]

@@bigbowbrum I'm guessing your stave was exceptionally clean? There was no plugs being used for belly knots?

[@bigbowbrum]

@@tonymaurice4157 Yes, that's right Tony. The stave was sourced from Italy by a bowyer friend of mine who imports many at a time, so he selected one of the best he had.

[@tonymaurice4157]

@@bigbowbrum does elm grow much straighter than yew in europe? Don't see much elm bows anymore, I guess from Dutch elm disease.

[@bigbowbrum]

@@tonymaurice4157 I don't know Tony as I have never used Elm, but certainly Dutch Elm disease has reduced the numbers of those trees in the UK.

[@Artexmadera]

Good to see you back, thanks for the video!

[@HereticsRus]

Really great to see a new video from you. Aloha 🤙

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you. It has been far too long.

[@garychynne1377]

thank yew. good shooting

[@bigbowbrum]

Cheers Gary. Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed it mate.

[@angusmacleod7377]

Good job mate 👌🙌. Greet's Angus

[@bigbowbrum]

Cheers Angus. I'm pleased you like it mate.

[@gushlergushler]

Loved it, this was a great series! Thank you so much for putting it out there.

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you. I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@Yamaheart_]

This is so cool Nick. (It’s Josh from Amazon)

[@geekymack]

Really enjoyed seeing the process! Well done and I’m looking forward to a time when I can have a go 👍

[@bigbowbrum]

Thanks mate. Appreciate the comment. There is something primal about making your own bow, with arrows, and seeing them work together. I'm happy I had a go.

[@boywonder6659]

Thank you for a great series of informative videos.

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you. I'm pleased you enjoyed them. Best wishes, Nick.

[@misterx8585]

It's great to see the bow finished! Well done:)

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you Mr X. It's a relief to have finished the videos too.

[@thornwarbler]

Great series of films....... Thanks for your time

[@bigbowbrum]

Thanks mate. I'm pleased you enjoyed them.

[@SpaceChickenn]

That's amazing! I remember when I first watched one of your videos in 2014 and subscribed. At that time I didn't even have a bow - I was a poor student 🙂 Watching your videos helped me to keep myself being motivated in archery. A lot of things changed in my life since then and now I have 3 nice bows. It's good that you've managed to finish series of making the longbow. I hope you are doing well and I hope to see more of your videos. Thank you!

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you for your lovely comment Dmitry, and for remaining a subscriber for so long. I'm very pleased to hear my videos have helped maintain your love of archery. My life changed greatly too since those early days, which is the reason why I have not made any videos for so long, but I hope to make some more soon. Wishing you good health and happy shooting.

[@cheshirebowman4465]

Bloody excellent video. I am a amateur bow maker myself, I must admit there are times when your backside starts to eat your underpants when tillering. Nice work bro.

[@bashkillszombies]

I literally signed in to suggest getting a sprayer to keep a mist of water on the horn if you're using power tools on it. Then you went and mentioned my motivation why. I was watching those cuts and I could literally smell that stink. Not to mention the fines of horn are pretty carcinogenic. But hey, what's a little tumour between friends.

[@bigbowbrum]

Yes, if I were a professional bowyer it would be something to consider. These days it seems everything gives you cancer though, ha ha.

[@kenoozo3417]

wow great video and very good explanations. And that after all this time. Very good and i hope to see more from you.

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you, that's very kind. I hope to find time to do some more soon.

[@hammerandsteelreviews8924]

Awesome! Thank you so much

[@fortniz2]

It's been a wonderful journey from starting with a bow stave to becoming a proper warbow! Thank you so much for documenting and giving us your insight on making your own bow. Has it really been 7 years?? Haha It feels like only a couple years back when I watched the first part of the series. I also loved that you used CAD for visual aids! Thank you, great Job and Stay healthy!

[@bigbowbrum]

Thanks mate. That's a lovely comment. I'm pleased you stuck with my series and yes, I look back at the first one and realise how much my life has changed since those simple days. There are many videos out there on bow making, but I tried to make mine different, as if the viewer was beside me in the workshop. I wanted it also to be a 'warts and all', so others could learn from my inexperience. The CAD drawings took some time, but were fun. Best wishes and happy shooting.

[@tonygray3787]

Lol it took me 4 years. I got to the tillering and got scared and put it down , but I made myself finish during lockdown

[@bigbowbrum]

I'm pleased to hear you finished your bow eventually Tony. Sorry my video wasn't ready to help you along.

[@tonygray3787]

@@bigbowbrum it was still fun to watch now I cut more wood!

[@celestinopoletti7560]

Ottimo lavoro 👍

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you Celestino. I used one of your staves. :)

[@celestinopoletti7560]

@@bigbowbrum 😎👍thankyou

[@celestinopoletti7560]

@@bigbowbrum I'm happy to know it! Who from you buy it?

[@bigbowbrum]

@@celestinopoletti7560 Ben Perkins at Barebow Archery.

[@celestinopoletti7560]

@@bigbowbrum ok 👍😉

[@raydijk7709]

I liked your video, thanks alot. Im working on my own now but its a disaster so far.... hahaha keep on keeping on, friend!

[@bigbowbrum]

Thanks Ray. Glad you enjoyed it. Keep persevering with your bow as you will learn a great deal from the process, even if it doesn't turn out as you hoped. The second one will be better mate.

[@herbertkuttner9228]

Nick Well done, great video in your EWB series And thank you for your last text to me The history was great that you mentioned , I know you are busy with your business, but might you combine all your videos some day on to a CD that we could buy from you, it would be a great quick reference to your teaching for use with less experience bowers in making a EWB instead of constantly going on line to U-Tube to review your instructions Thanks once again Herb USA

[@bigbowbrum]

Thanks Herb. Our conversations gave me the motivation to sit down and finally complete this video. I'm honoured you think my work is worthy of being put on a CD mate. That's very kind. Great idea.

[@almubarizunarchery4607]

Excellent video, very informative. One question however that nobody seems to mention, what is the diameter is the socket of the horn nocks? would half an inch be safe? amd what about the depth of the socket?

[@bigbowbrum]

Hello Al. Yes, the drill bit is half inch so that would be fine. For depth just make it the full depth of the bit, as per the outline you will draw on the limb at 1:55 on the video.

[@ScottNotley-r2r]

Love all your archery vids. Is the self yew still going?

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you Scott. It is, however it has twisted over time so I no longer shoot it as the string is now off centre and it hits my forearm painfully, even with protection.

[@herbertkuttner9228]

Nick Herb here again Would you be so kind as to inform me to the size abrasive cord you used when making your horn nock grooves I can get it in the States but I do not know what size to order there are many to pick from Great video I learn a lot from you Thank you so much I envy your strength that you can pull such poundage when you and your mates were flight shooting in your video The best to you Herb

[@bigbowbrum]

Hello Herb. I can't remember exactly mate, as it was many years ago and I have none left. Probably 1.5mm thick as a guess. As for strength, much of it is technique, learning how to push the bow away from you and start it bending before you draw the string back. That is how the medieval archers did it, and it was remarked upon as being different; the Europeans "drew" a bow but the English "bent" a bow.

[@arturleperoke3205]

Nick, great that you finished your series! Honestly, I did not think that we would get a final but I am happy about being wrong :D! Your lecture about twist was instructive! I encounter this often and struggle when I try to build a bow. Question: Your old bow´s upper limb was twisting towards the right, yes? I am confused since it looked thicker and stronger on the right? Greetings

[@remlenomis]

Hello Nick, I'm neither a bowyer nor a carpenter, but I have a question about the bow twisting and the string moving off centre over time, and whether that was because of the unequal planing you pointed out. In an earlier video, you had problems with the sapwood curving around the back of the bow to a different level, and you showed how you addressed this. But in one of the images of this, it looked like the stave had been sawn 'vertically' through the trunk or branch, rather than split from the outside to the centre of the growth. It wasn't clear whether you ordered this stave ready-cut, or whether you split it yourself. If it had been split to the centre, resulting in a wedge-shaped section, would the uneven level of the sapwood have been avoided? Or is the initial splitting of the stave from the trunk something there is little control over? Once again, thank you for your excellent videos, and for keeping the tradition of the English longbow alive.

[@bigbowbrum]

The stave was supplied by another bowyer, who bought it, and many others, from his supplier in Italy. Although the tree may have been initially split (I don't know) the stave was cut with a bandsaw. Following the growth rings is only important for the sap on the back, and even there some bowyers plane through the rings with no detrimental effects. I chose to follow them to ensure the bow lasted longer. The twisting is a result of the lopsided planing, which was all my fault. I did some of the work at a bowyer's workshop, under his watchful gaze, and I had to rush to get the bow ready for tillering on the same weekend. Having more wood on one side made that side stronger, and over time it pulled the limb towards the strong side. I have seen bows with sap that snakes from one side to the other, sometimes with hardly any symetrical hardwood, and the bow remains straight, so I'm fairly sure that wasn't the reason. Thanks for your interest. We certainly learn more by our mistakes than having a perfect bow.

[@herbertkuttner9228]

Nick Herb here in USA Nick Might you go into a more detailed video of the dimensions of the classic self warbow from your experience with the bows of the Mary Rose war ship I am very interested in the construction of that type of selfbow It has such an interesting history I have heard about the Welch archers of old being the most experienced of archers in those days But goes even further back in history to the Norse’s Any info would be appreciated Thanks Herbert

[@bigbowbrum]

That's a nice idea Herb. Although I have been behind the scenes to handle many of the Mary Rose bows I haven't taken any measurements. The ones I used here are already in the public domain, either from more experienced bowyers or from the terrific series of books Mary Rose: Weapons of Warre. If I get time I might do something more indepth. With regards to the Welsh I think history gives them too much credit. Archers using similar longbows were widespread before the Welsh use was brought to prominence by Gerald of Wales and Edward I's campaigns. I believe archers were used in English armies more to keep them occupied and away from stiring up trouble in their homelands, than because they were anything special. That's not a new concept when dealing with conquered people. Their praticipation at Agincourt, for example, was far more limited than Shakespeare would have us believe. Best wishes to you mate.

[@piotrkriger9964]

What is phisical weight of Your bow? I also made 110 pounder after little training with other woods. I wondering why Your have that short range. that 3/8 arrow have 55 grams or more?

[@bigbowbrum]

Hi Piotr. The reason why the bow doesn't shoot as far as you might imagine is purely down to my inexperience as a bowyer. Although my 3/8" arrows probably weigh the same as yours, I left the limbs far too thick at the ends, so the bow's cast is not great. I've never put the bow on a scale to measure its physical weight.

[@creightonfreeman8059]

Couldn't you fix the twist by removing some wood on one side to move the string back to center, or would that weaken the bow too much at this point?

[@bigbowbrum]

Yes, it is possible that would work Creighton and I may do that at some point, though I am also wary of weakening the limb.

[@mattthompson4908]

I tried making a bow out of rowan ash, its ok but just trying to tiller it!

[@bigbowbrum]

I've yet to try that wood for bows Matt, but I hear it can make a good bow and I wish you well with it mate.

[@jpavlvs]

Aw the smell of a power tool and horn. LOL.

[@kennethumphlett4052]

Like can you make me one in 70lbs

[@bigbowbrum]

Thank you for your interest Kenneth, but I'm not a good enough bowyer to make bows for sale. I made this bow so I could learn more about the art of the bowyer, but most of my time is spent shooting bows made by others.

[@Soviless99]

cutting or grinding horn smells like eggs mixed with burning hair.