Textured Leather Bow Handles, a Relaxed Guide

[@Gauchooriental]

This video is fantastic!!! The quality of editing shows growing maturity in this channel!!! Watch out National Geographic!!!

[@BowtellBows]

Really nice handle wrap! I honestly thought, “Why is he using a knife to cut the leather? Scissors are easier.” Then your comment made me laugh. It does make a nice sound! Keep up the great work!

[@DanSantanaBows]

It does make a cleaner cut with a sharp knife, but only when you get it on the first pass. Many leatherworkers do use knives. But yeah, I definitely prefer the scissors.

[@juanantonioespinosa8816]

Beautiful bow and beautiful video. Congratulations and thanks for shearing.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks very much Juan, much appreciated

[@gorillabum4182]

This is so satisfying and relaxing to watch

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks again man! Any luck finding local bow wood?

[@gorillabum4182]

@@DanSantanaBows No luck yet with guava wood, but I have been keeping this wood that I found in the woods, idk what it is but it seems to be very hard, I've been keeping this wood for almost a year now, when the moisture content is right I'm going to start making a bow out of it

[@DanSantanaBows]

@@gorillabum4182 awesome, hope it works out. It can help your odds if you post some pictures later of the progress. I’m often on r/bowyer if you’re on reddit

[@gorillabum4182]

@@DanSantanaBows sounds good I'm gonna do that, but reddit is blocked in my country, maybe can access it with VPN

[@DanSantanaBows]

@@gorillabum4182 man that sucks. That would work but primitive archer is another good option. There are also many facebook bow making forums like selfbow nation and primitive bowmaking

[@DreamcraftBows]

Really love this handle, it has unique look! Keep it up man! And thanks for the bowyers list, have to check them out

[@DanSantanaBows]

When one channel does well it helps all of us. Keep making sweet bows and videos man!

[@kyzar1207]

Wow that bow is absolutely stunning,😍

[@ArcoProvisions]

I always forget how much better needle are than super glueing the ends of the thread to make make-shift needles.

[@DanSantanaBows]

ha that sounds pretty awful. Curved ones are even better for this kind of thing but I don’t have thick curved ones and I do like to pull on them hard enough to bend thin needles. Next time i’ll use a stitching pony or a vise so I can get the whole thing in one clean shot.

[@shadowbolt5179]

The video itself is a piece of artwork not to speak of your craftsmanship. Thank you for this

[@DanSantanaBows]

Sure thing Dario, thanks for the kind words

[@Zawakawaka]

I did the same thing making my own stamps but for use on plate armor. My first one was made on accident as i had some screws in my dishing stump I didn't notice which applied a pattern then when formed on my soft mild steel very slight dish it had imparted a cool pattern. That is when I realized i could make stamps too but for metal lol.

[@johnsharkey9143]

One of the most under rated channels on you tube.

[@GarrettWatts]

This is incredible.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks again Garett, really appreciate it

[@eddieberry8450]

Great job again. I appreciate your respect for the wood and materials.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@sacredearthguardians]

Another amazing video. You are a story teller as well through poetic visual, language & sound. Thanks for letting us be a part of your journey. 🌲🌲🏹🌲🌲

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thank you for all the kind words Sacred Guardian. I’d like to make more videos where I shut up and let the wood speak for itself.

[@Zwolers]

This is an art. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us

[@toddwilliams4839]

This is one of my favorite bows of all time I love the sunburst style stain and I love the grip it’s beautiful!!

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks Todd! Here are some more pictures of this one www.reddit.com/r/woodworking/comments/khklqt/longbow_i_made_from_an_ironwood_tree/?

[@aaronhollenbeck2880]

Beautiful work as always...I have watched some of your videos multiple times.

[@knolltop314]

Regularly see/hear something not seen/heard when previously watching. Like using butter knife to mark stitch lines. Revisting vids pays off!

[@DanSantanaBows]

honestly you can use just about anything. That’s the nice thing about tooling leather, you don’t have to buy the tools if you get creative

[@cretudavid8622]

Now i want to make bows again :)

[@DanSantanaBows]

Glad to hear it David!

[@knolltop314]

Love your productions, sir! Always things to learn. Always admire the videography skills. Thank you!

[@kyzar1207]

Wow bro this bow is absolutely stunning 😍

[@oh0stv]

what an butter smooth voice ... and how do i know your from sweden?

[@DanSantanaBows]

Close! Just a small boat ride over to massachusetts

[@neppiesworld9432]

This was such a beautiful video! I subscribed right away! ❤️🔥❤️🔥

[@justabill5780]

Another great video... Great work!

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks Bill!

[@paulgiacomin]

This is art. Thank.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks, my friend

[@beesmongeese2978]

I'm curious about the "crevaces" along the limbs. How did you make them smooth? Also, can glossy finish still be glossy on a rough surface?

[@DanSantanaBows]

The crevices are just the outside of the tree. Naturally they’re pretty smooth, so it’s just a matter of removing all the bark and cambium without being sloppy. I use a combination of the drawknife, gouges, and scrapers. From what I’ve experienced, trees with interlocking ridges still finish well, it’s just an extra challenge and takes more time. Right before I started cutting the handle leather you can see a few shots of the back of the bow without any staining or finishing.

[@tekpatl]

Awesome stuff bud.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks Tek, right back at ya. I’ve added your channel to the list of bowyers.

[@brightheartmeditationcente6058]

Great videos

[@ThirdLawPair]

I want a bow just like that some day.

[@peternorwich6993]

Great job! Thanks for sharing.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks Peter, and sure thing! There’s a lot more coming

[@richardhoule4389]

Another awsome video man! I like the added nature shots! That bow is a beauty! Do you order your leather or do you make your own?

[@DanSantanaBows]

Not many buffalos round these parts :) I usually buy big pieces of hide, typically cowhide. I’ve messed around with making several types of leather too, but tooling leather needs to be kinda thick compared to what you get off a deer

[@richardhoule4389]

@@DanSantanaBows hahaha I didn't realize it was buffalo hide lol. I thinking came out great tho! The handle, bow and video!

[@DanSantanaBows]

@@richardhoule4389 thanks again man always appreciate it and everything you do over at r/bowyer. You help a lot of people!

[@richardhoule4389]

@@DanSantanaBows thanks! I have to say I love that place! Im very happy I made a reddit to find it! And really like how cool everyone is. Little to no negative comments and everyone is very welcoming! I usually see alot of stuff I was just recently looking up and just throw back out whatever I found to whoever. But I hope sumday I'll have the experience to go with it haha.

[@ekimovGELANN]

Wow... I'm going to make a bow.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Good luck! Let me know if you have any questions

[@ekimovGELANN]

@@DanSantanaBows thank you! My oak-stave is ready (dry), but a little bit twisted. I tried to steam it, and straighten with a board and clamps. But it's very difficult without a workbench and locksmith vise... What do you recommend? Just avoid twisted staves?)

[@DanSantanaBows]

@@ekimovGELANN Just ignore it. Twist isn’t a big issue with natural staves and you can get away with a heck of a lot

[@ekimovGELANN]

@@DanSantanaBows thanks! I'll try :)

[@ThomasWilts98]

Love the video keep up the great work. Although the tree was still alive get rid of the stump lol. Cheers

[@DanSantanaBows]

Many bowyers coppice bow wood instead. These shoots tend to make great saplings for bows and arrows in the future. That’s also why I often cut trees too high up.

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

Wow!! Thank you!!

[@DanSantanaBows]

thanks again John, love your bows by the way!

[@boxertechnical]

is the angle of the handle with respect to the centerline of the bow something dictated by the grain of this bow or was it simply a choice made for aesthetic reasons?

[@DanSantanaBows]

Just following the grain. Sometimes I specifically look for staves with s or z shaped swirls and put the handle there

[@Mamabrew]

Wado 🖤

[@ca1492bob]

If you dont mind me asking what the weight of the leather was?

[@DanSantanaBows]

I think 6 or 8 oz

[@ca1492bob]

ty!@@DanSantanaBows

[@guerraartes]

Show

[@DanSantanaBows]

obrigado!

[@wadesaunders583]

There's no way that's you in the video...the voice dont match the body!?

[@DanSantanaBows]

ha, that’s not my normal speaking voice but it’s me

[@wadesaunders583]

@@DanSantanaBows I thought maybe you had an older dude narrate your video. The voice was cool...