You can build any bow of your choosing wether it be a selfbow, static recurve, bamboo backed, take down, bamboo composite, character bow or whatever!! This will be a very unique oportunity because you will see both me and other students in the act of building many different styles of bows...you will not only be told how to, but you will also see recurving, bamboo tempering, wood splitting and rapid drying procedures, the application of bamboo, rawhide, sturgeon and snakeskins, and cherrybark; learn propper glue surface preparation from Turkish, Japanese, and American perspectives. Watch and learn how to make and procure your own materials: animal and plant glues, natural finishes, snakeskin tanning, rawhide, and propper treatment and storage of bow building materials.

I will also lecture on basic and advanced bow designs and development, use environments, material choices and combinations, cutting and seasoning wood, backings, glue, splices, tillering, finishes, handles, tools, take downs, preventing and solving problems, hints and shortcuts, rules of thumb, the growth of trees, selecting bow wood from trees and boards, the effects, benefits, and drawbacks of steam and dry heating, alternative bending methods, building reflex forms for selfbows, tool preparation and care, following growth rings, bringing memory to wood, understanding tiller and it's effect on cast, flat vs. radiused bellies, analine and leather dyes and natural pigments for staining wood, wood finishes and moisture content control, varnish, shellack, parrifin and plastics for finishes, improving accuracy, and fine tuning........every aspect of wood bow building will be covered.......guaranteed! Cost for a 2 day class is $350.00; $500.00 for a 3-day class; $600.00 for 4-day Bowbuilding jamboree. A $50.00 non refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot.

Abo Style Flintknapping Classes