Building a Bamboo Backed Ipe Longbow - Start to Finish
Learning how to build a longbow from a board is a great way to get into archery and bow making. Board bow building is relatively inexpensive and you can often find the materials at a specialty hardwood store or even the local hardware store. Anyone that is into woodworking should have all the tools necessary. This week I'm building a bamboo backed ipe longbow. The Ipe came from Dustin over at the Mainly Primitive channel. The bamboo came from 3RiversArchery.com. The other pieces like the handle laminate and tip overlays I already had laying around the shop. This video shows the process start to finish from laying out the bow, cutting the pieces to shape, tapering a power lam, and glueing everything up with EA-40. Once the epoxy is cured out we move on to tillering the bow and finally to sealing it and shooting it for the first time.
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I've lost count of how many times I've watched this video! I'm building my bow Bamboo Backed Ipe and every stage I finish, I come back here to watch some more! Thanks Clay!!!
Glad I could help!
It’s people like you that show true artistry. Hand crafting works of art is dying and I just want to say thank you for keeping it alive. That’s a piece that can be cherished for generations
there are many artisans in the United States that TV network follows them. but these media are losing you brother. congratulations brother you are the best. Jesus bless you always in your life.
many thanks
Thanks Clay. You are an excellent teacher for both young and old I watch your videos over and learn a little bit more each Time. Thanks again
Sei un artista bravo....
@@clayhayeshunter what can I use on the back of thebow staves when I m putting it up to dry , clean it and get it ready to hang besides wood glue I’m trying to find an alternative besides were glue
I have built many board bows, but I ALWAYS learn from watching others. I really liked the saw you used to cut the string groove. I had never before seen the tip of burning in the groove. Nice touch. I have a strip of bamboo in my shop, that I have had for years, waiting for a bamboo backed bow.
I love these bow building videos! I’d really like to hear you talk more about the bow at the end, how it feels to shoot etc.
I'll give some thoughts on the next one.
I enjoy both, talking through, and just showing the work/craft.
No, the one "very nice" in the english accent was perfect!
I’ve been thinking of this design in my head for two years… what a lovely lovely build!
I believe you have mastered this craft. I myself am a huge fan making one of a kind pieces. knives bows tools etc. I have followed you for awhile and I know one can never truely "master" anything. Regardless you are hands down one of the best artisans and bowmen to touch a set of tools. Top shelf - knob creek to Jim bean - a Marlboro red to usa gold - homemade tomato wine to maddog. I tip my hat and pay my respects as you are one hell of a craftsman. Whoever spend there time guiding you is damn proud bet your ass.
What a beautiful bow! Makes me glad I chose ipe for my next bow!
That boo/ipe is a great combo. Was my hunting bow until a limb blew up on me last season. Picked up some tricks from this video I will definitely use on my next build. Also, I need a belt sander!
Glad to see your still making bow build videos. That’s how I first found your Chanel, made it extra cool when I saw ya on Alone. I gotta get my lazy butt back in the shop and start breaking bows again. I got a tri-lam bow with bamboo, oak core and Osage belly I’ve had laying around for years that I need to finish. Keep it up bud.
Out of all the bows you have made I like this one the best. They all are great bows, but I am partial to longbows and this composite bow really shines.
This is my favorite bow materials to build with! Ipe and bamboo are a match made in heaven!
You are the man Clay!! Beautiful work!!
DUUUDE, that bike tire inner tube trick is GENIUS, I will 100% be using that in my arsenal of gluing clamps.
Now that’s a thing of beauty! Nice work Clay! 👍
I've never seen anyone burn their string notch before, or use an abrasive hacksaw blade to cut the string groove. Excellent! I also like how you draw the bow with your eyes closed to concentrate on the feel of the draw weight. I built a laminated recurve in high school shop class back before weapons at school was an issue. I will build a long bow one of these days. As a carpenter, the older you get, the more you enjoy the process and a quality outcome over fast paced production. It's soothing somehow.
Clay really has inspired and taught me more than any other KZhead channel! I think a basic traditional wooden bow has the most appeal to me, but seeing Clay branch out with new ideas has been fascinating. I would love to see Clay build some kind of Osage bow similar to Dave Meads style of multi-part siyah horse bows.
Thanks, I'll check out Dave's stuff.
Love watching your videos. It doesn't matter if you're hunting, building bows or showing off your land you can tell you're doing what you love to do plus you have an awesome family that supports you! I respect you even more when saw the Gator tag hanging on your barn door 😃🐊🐊Go Gators!!
That’s where I got my bachelors degree 😉
Beautiful bow love watching your videos and learning things thanks for all you do
So bittersweet watching this build. My Grandfather gave me his bow, very similar to this build, when I was 10. I’m guessing his was built in the late 60’s early 70’s? Wish I still had it.
Gorgeous bow Clay! Thanks for sharing.
Man that is a functional work of art. Great job.
I pick up something new every time you do a bow build! Thanks for sharing!!
Happy to help
I am blown away by the craftsmanship. I have bow envy, so now i want to start the journey of making my own bows. Excellent video clay!
Go for it!
Clay you can make a bow out of anything! Awesome to watch how far you've come with your passion. I am a new Bowyer but the more I watch your videos the more confident I become moving forward.
I appreciate that!
Amazing job Clay, Your craftsmanship and attention to detail, has inspired many of us, myself for sure, to get back in the shop. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Tommy
Truly, a beautiful job.
I am new to traditional Archery and I recently made a bow from a wild walnut tree after watching your videos and caught a small jungle deer last summer ✌ I never knew that watching Bow making video on KZhead can be more addictive then Web series Keep that great work Going
Awesome! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Curious on this walnut bow? Care to share details? All walnut? Sapwood? Draw Weight? Aging of wood? Backing? Anything you would share. I had one about half done that was sapwood with the actual still attached hardwood as the riser. Read it simply wouldn't work so sloppily finished just to shoot it and broke it being stupid and impatient. Seriously interested tho because if it can be done I'm gonna redo it haha.
@@cavelvlan25Sorry that I got to reply after a year I guess the wild walnut which I used was around 70 to 80 year old wild tropical walnut species. I let it dry for a year after cutting and when the bow was done the draw weight was 40 lbs. From my experience that bow was 'Okey' but not 'great' and there was reduction of poundage with the passage of time For this winter I have made a bow form wild pear backed with bamboo which is way better than walnut bow. Due to tropical climate of Northeast india (were I belong) I do bow hunting only in winter (November to january) and people find it funny when i bring my self made bows for hunting instead of rifles.
@SAS-R2 Better later than never. I appreciate your response. I attempted a Osage bow and broke it in the tillerimg process I hope to find time this winter to attempt a new self bow. Super cool that you claimed a deer with your bow.
@@cavelvlan25 Same thing..I broke two times while tillering. It is the hardest part of bow making. I believe that you wouldn't break it next time. I have never seen or work on an Osage wood i bet it's fun to work on it.
Nice !! this bow is a beauty Clay!
What a beautiful bow
Thanks soo much for another video on bow making clay, really helps me as i am a new bow builder that learn everything about it from you
I do love the videos done without commentary - peaceful to just see the work. If there's any commentary you'd like to add without changing that, you can put it as subtitles to play in sync with whichever part you're working on.
Wow!Beautifully done🙂
Beautiful! Well done! Thanks for sharing
What an awsome bow!!
Ipe and bamboo really work together! My current bow has the same woods, and the colours are just incredible. I'd be really interested in seeing the speed you get out of that design! Those curves are really elegant.
I really enjoyed this montage. She’s a beaut.
Absolutely beautiful bow tho and those two materials ought to last forever . Love your videos bud and thank you
looks like one of your best bows yet!
Very enjoyable to watch, nice work Clay.
One of your best videos... if not the best on bow building...!!👍🇺🇸
I really appreciate your work, skill and attitude! Great channel
Thanks
Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I hope to make one. Funny, your sander sounds exactly like mine! Same squeaks & works great! God bless
its so beautiful and slick looking
That’s a beautiful bow clay!!
Great bow, and another great video.
Unbelievable craftsmanship
Love it! I just made my first self bow from red oak. I want to make a board bow next. Thanks for the inspiration and information 😎
Red Oak will fret.
I ' ve made bows of yew, Osage, and many other woods... But whut the heck is Ipe? I've never heard of it.
Hopefully some day I can build my own bow! Great video 💯
Terrific build!
I really like your osage and snakey bow builds. However, I love this build most of all! Your work inspires people from all around the world. Thank you for sharing this with us. Happy New Year!
Soy carpintero y aun no entiendo como hay personas que quieren los trabajos baratos incluso te dicen muy caro , mas no san el gran trabajo y detalle y dedicación que uno emplea para hacer lo mejor, e aqui un ejemplo de destreza tiempo dedicación y mucho talento, excelente trabajo amigo mis respeto, no descarto hacer mi propio arco algun dia, excelente video.
Thats a Bad ass bow great Job
Great build Clay. Your simple approach is inspiring. You made me wince a few time on that table saw though! That chisel work on the shelf is pure confidence! Great looking bow, thanks for sharing!
Thanks much
man I must say...it is world higher class bow love your work man
Incredibly beautiful! I love it!
Thank you so much!
Excellent video - thanks!
That came out great! Watching this sure does make me want to make a bow.
beautiful looking bow, awesome workmanship :)
Great work, I build a longbow like that aswell. Love the smell of the Ipe wood:-) Keep it up
Beautiful Bow! Enjoyed! Thanks for Sharing!
Thanks Hugh
Nice one, Clay!
That is one really nice bow. Great job
I built my first bow a couple months ago and used ipe and bamboo. Heavy draw but shoots good and is quiet. Can’t wait to take something with it
Good luck
Never thought about tillering the bamboo before the glue up. Genius!
Works great
Great video, very inspiring!
wow. magnificent work, clay.
Good looking bow!
Seus vídeo são realmente um curso. Vc da um show mestre Clay . Parabéns
Superb looking bow!
Hi, I am a recurve/horse bow/compound bow archer in Western Australia for many years nice work.😎
im a warbow archer and?
@@17yearoldwarbowarcher and???
@@hiells and?
@@hiells and?
Always enjoy watching your videos, I learn a lot from you.
Thanks Bob
Bamboo my fav! speedy stuff!!!
I am a lose for words! Amazing!
Thanks Tony
Kramer Ammons builds awesome bamboo backed Ipe bows. I saw him building those many times and he does it extremely well. But the handle and these tip overlays makes this one you built a 11 on 10 and unique one. Also, the building process you are showing makes it look easy. You are showing extremely helpful techniques in this video. Very good job as always Clay.
Many thanks
Kramer leaves too much wood on his handles, makes it look unfinished.
Hmm, yes maybe. I know the most mass you have on the handle the less hand shock you get when shooting. I'm guessing that's also part of the reason.
All this looks wonderful. As I am in Europe, and Ipé isn‘t that easy to get in good quality: what other wood is best to be used with a bamboo backing?
You are amazing good working the wood 👍🏆🏆
Mate...that is such a handsome looking bow....well done
Very beautiful bow...
Wow, that's beautiful bow... Ipe is an incredible wood
I think so too!
Awesome work.
Beautiful stuff
I really like that bow.
Great job man
This came out amazing! Your builds have really inspired me to give bow building a shot.
Go for it
Master work MR 😎🏆💪👌🏻🏹
Really beautiful bow and well crafter for sure!!
Thanks so much 😊
Well, this is certainly not a table saw safety video... HA!!! Great build. Love all your stuff...
work of art 🔥🔥
Probably nobody better at building self bows than Clay Hayes. I've made several myself and it takes so much time and commitment to get it perfect. It's more of a struggle to get everything perfect. If you don't, you will scrap more than you create to get it right.
Very nice sir! Thanks for sharing!
Amazing skills. Wow.
Try using a round file cutting into your shelf a little shape like your arrow sets into the shelf and your arrow will fit a hair closer to center wonder if you ever tried that your the best self bow builder I've seen inspired me to try my own allot to learn for me but been fun thank you
beautiful work
This is tyep of ART GOOD JOB
Beautiful and elegant
Pretty nice Bow...... You are good at building them as well as shooting and hunting. America used to show and take pride in it's work just as it shows you do. It becomes a way of life, I know this because I lived the same lifestyle my entire life. Thank you for your time and knowledge. Nice videos.🙏✌️⛈️⚡
Thanks Mark
Just discovered your channel, lots of great content, keep it up!
Welcome aboard!
TOP! Wonderful work, man 👌
Thanks a lot!
Free-hand is such an under-rated table saw technique. What a great video keep up the good work man.
Yeah, and as long as one stays just terrified enough to not have a serious accident
It's the same as when you're using a fence. Respect that tablesaws can wreck you, stay focused... in my estimation operating one while terrified will probably result in terrible technique (think timidity) and increase the chances of things ending badly. Respect and focus are the key.