Web-sites for building a classic English Longbow?

[liljohn]

The grandson wants to build a pair of classic English style bows for the two of us to hunt with.
Are there any sites on the web that you personally recommend?

There are a few goog search sites, but I want a site that longbow SHOOTERS have used before, not just build to sell builders.

Am I going to have to find a spokeshave, and a draw-knife...or are there ways to do this with a router???
(All new territory for me here.)

Any help would be appreciated!

[Woodbutcher]

 Ok, liljohn, here goes! Hope it helps. www.bowyersjournal.com   and   www.primitivearcher.com
 Speaking from a woodbutchers point of view, hand tools are a pretty good choice for such a project. A belt sander is pretty tempting, when you start out, but go easy. Never considered a router. Band saw is nice but not necessary. Power tools make sawdust real fast, I ain't never figgured out how to put it back!
 Sharp handtools are the best for me. A scraper, and a good wood rasp.
 A book that is a must read for you is The Bent Stick, by Comstock. I saw it the first time thru inter-library loan. If it ain't in there, you don't need it! Get that book first, before you invest in any tools, or any thing else for that matter. The three book set of the Bowyers Bible has a lot of interesting ideas. Also thru ILL.
 Proceed with caution, the whole thing is downright addicting!       Woodbutcher
 
 

[a45gunslinger]

http://www.xsorbit4.com/users/buildabow/index.cgi

This is also a good site. They have a "Build-a-long" thread that might be helpful . Good luck to you. I'll have to agree with woodbutcher it is very addictive. I'm planning on building a r/d longbow after the holidays - Kevin

[liljohn]

Thanks for the sites, and the info!

Started this out as buying a small youth compound, (In that forum.) and went to a HUGE project from the looks of it!

Found about three different sized draw knives from the Amish, and am trying to find some straight grained woods.

We are planning on reading up on this new ART for a few months before touching any tools-to-wood.

Thanks again for all the help!

[Woodbutcher]

 Oh yeah, it's huge alright. A few thousand years of experience to learn about, different kinds of equipment and so forth. Men been using wood bows and arrows to kill man and beast for..how long now?
 There ain't no such thing as the best model or material, or method, cause there's always something different and it might be better. Take what you got, deal with it and enjoy.
 A drawknife, or a froe can be made from an auto leaf spring. Slow grind an edge as needed and put a handle on. But you might find that a good course rasp and a scraper are nice to use. It sure ain't what you buy, it's what you know!
 Try not to take too long reading before you start to make shavings for fear of damaging something. There's more wood growing than we could ever deal with. The best stuff even gets burned for heat, ya know! And when you think that you're ready to start making a bow, the arrows are next! Now thats fun!                                                     Woodbutcher