Hey all.
After threatening to do it for over a year and a half, I'm going to be teaching my first class on bowmaking.
The date is yet to be determined, as I want to make sure it doesn't conflict with the myriad of other events going on, but soon, hopefully September or early October. I'm going to be asking for feedback from interested parties as to what days of the week would work best; my preference would be either a monday and tuesday, or a thursday and friday.
The fee will be $60, $45 for the class itself and $15 for materials and the tools, both of which the student will keep at the end of the class. (the tools and materials, not the money.)
This class will be open to 6 students, and prepayment and registration is a must; this will most likely be happening through Eventbright.
As I haven't taught a class in a while, I'm going to be doing a one on one pre-class for half price with Elliot, so that I may fine tune the teaching materials and the flow of the class.
Elliot, if you're reading this, send me a p.m., so we can plan.
If you're an Elliot who has no idea what I"m talking about, disregard. =)
The class is going to cover the following:
a brief history of bows and archery in warfare and other uses
a brief survey of the types of traditional bows
a brief history of the English longbow, it's design, and construction
the American Flatbow, it's origin and design (This is the type of bow that participants will be making)
A description of the types of design variations and additions that can improve the look and performance of an american flatbow, but that will not be taught as part of this introductory class
Types of wood used for wood bows, and their characteristics
The plusses and minuses of red oak, which will be the wood used for this class
Tools used for bowmaking, including hand tools and power tools
How to execute the design and construction of a red oak american flat bow using the described tools, materials and design.
A brief description of what archery "tackle", or gear, is needed to actually use a bow, including bow strings, arrows, forearm protection (vambraces), finger protection (archery tabs or shooting gloves), quivers, and bow cases.
My plan is for the class to take place over the course of 6 hours, split into 2 sessions of 3 hours each.
Each participant will be provided with all the materials and tools needed to make this bow.
The materials will include exactly one red oak board per student, of dimensions 1.75" by .75" by 6', selected by me.
It is my plan for each student to end the second session by leaving with a fully functional bow.
Due to the fact that the students will be making the bow, and that wood under tension sometimes breaks, I can make no guarantee that this will be the case, but I will do my best as time, money, and materials allow.
The class will cover making this bow both with and without the use of power tools. The use of power tools will be optional for each student, with the caveat that while it's very easy to make a bow fast with power tools, it's also very easy to wreck one fast too.
Once the bow itself is completed, you will need at least a bow string and arrows to use it, at the barest minimum.
I might be teaching a class on arrow making, or "fletching", down the road, but that's a different kettle of fish.
Arrows can be bought locally, and I'll be providing information on that.
Strings can also be bought locally, but I will offer finished bowstrings as an option, seperate from the class, at a cost of $10, made by me.
If anyone is interested, please pm me with any questions or suggestions.
Cheers!
Riley
