Building a Yew Crossbow from Scratch
This week I'm mixing it up with a recurve crossbow build. We'll be using an old board and a junk piece of Pacific Yew left over from building a longbow. With just scrap materials and hand tools we're building a yew crossbow from scratch. Although I've build hundreds of selfbows, longbows and recurves, this is the first crossbow I've ever attempted. It was a fun project and definitely not the last one I'll build. Anyone with basic woodworking skills and a few simple tools could build a simple crossbow like this in a day. I'm pretty impressed with the performance of the wooden crossbow. The cast and penetration on a foam target isn't nearly as good as one of my longbows but for hunting at close range on small to medium game, it should work just fine. Heck, I may even build one and take it hog hunting this winter. If you're into gaming, you might see something similar in the games Elden Ring or Albion online (I have no idea what that is but it's a pretty popular search term haha...). Towards the end of the video I shoot it a bunch with some slow motion thrown in for good measure.
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A másterpiece of crossbow, with minimun electrical tools, specialy the trigger, guy you are gold hands' Man Congratulations
Congratulations my brother you are an artist with full hands. Jesus Christ bless you and your family. hugs from Brazil
Thanks Jader
Even though this is truly impressive and admirably work, Jesus never was a friend of making or owning weapons.
King David hunted with a sling... no problems when weapons are used for feeding oneself or family. Read your Bible dumbard
A weapon becomes a weapon only when it is used against another person. Until then, it is only a tool. @grieveromega6060
@@grieveromega6060 You are very wrong if you think that Jesus is just Peace and Love! study a little more! Jesus judges your intention, your heart!
Idk why I laughed so hard @28:27. Guess with no commentary I was really invested in this build, and I felt stupid for it being such a dramatic moment. Those were some pretty impressive camera angels and transitions. You're a legit editor. Spokshave closeup on the desk while you were working the draw knife was impressive. I've toyed with the idea of starting a channel for years so I'm always paying attention to content creators camera work and editing. I would have never considered the shot, and it was amazing.
Go for it Thomas
go for it Thomas, You'll do amazing work!
Yep he is an artist in many ways :)
Super impressive. I also dig how you made the video itself- very calming to watch. Felt like I was “in the zone” right there with you.
Thanks Joseph
@@clayhayeshunter I wonder what type of wood is that bow part?
I get the same vibe, its like ASMR watching a master at work.
@@ronnyrudeboy7461 Yew.
@@ronnyrudeboy7461looked like an old chunk of Douglas fit for the stock, I think yew for the bow.
Found a very nice Orange Osage grove just 100m from my house! Gonna collect some logs, put em to dry for the next fall and make myself some bow's and crossbows. Thank you so much for the inspiration, been watching your bowmaking videos for a while now!
Don’t forget to seal the ends of the logs.
@@clayhayeshunter Thanks for the advice, i'll look into your tutorials on how to properly store my staves!
Good luck!
This is pretty awesome. My bet is when you were all done you thought to yourself..."I made a frikin crossbow hehe" beaming with pride. Really good stuff. Be proud my friend be proud.
❤ un
A
I thought about trying to build a crossbow years ago (I have built about 20 self bows), but that is the difference between you and I, Mr. "Alone", you did it, and that thing works! I love the final touch: that little metal spring thingy that holds the nock end of the arrow down. Big Kudos, amazing 👏. Wish you and your family continued health and success
Another great video Clay. I really like the fact you don't use a bunch of fancy ir technical tools to get the job done. Major kudos for that and excellent craftsmanship as week. I'll bet you and the boys get lots of use out of it. Thanks again!
Thanks much
Clay you are the bomb, this video is the bomb. As a cub scout I had a leader who built beautiful bows from what we called hedge apple wood. I later found the "real" name was osage orange. Your children are so lucky to have a real man such as you to show them how and teach them how.
Many thanks
@30:00 the smile on your face says it all! I felt that bc I like to build stuff especially for my kids. Them so excited to see what you made and try it, it's priceless! How it was so primitive in the material yet it turned out beautiful and deadly.
Many thanks
Nice work. I'd suggest on the next design either making the front stock and inch taller, or make a wider bottom platform. Both designs will help prevent you from getting your thumb or fingers away from the bowstring trajectory. Thumbs and fingers tend to slow the arrow. Looking forward to the next video.
Beautiful crossbow. Especially for the first! :) Of course, the most important part - the bow - you already know all to well how to craft. There is one simple small modification which will make this crosbow to work much more efficient. You made "seat" for the bow horizontal - bow pushes its string hardly to slide of stock. String is "broken" over the stock. This introduces a great deal of friction and a lot of problems in the making. Just slightly cut a seat of bow, so the back of the bow is slightly facing downwars - a string will be lifted, it will be closer to straight taut line. I enyoy your videos for years. Thank you for beautiful content It is full of gathered wisdom and exellently filmed!
I love the Mr. chickadee videography! Nothing more than the sounds of tools. I must say, a fitting conclusion would be Mr. Clay Hayes harvesting some dinner with that there crossbow! Thanks for your channel Clay!
Thanks Bruce
The couch arrived in two boxes four days early, which was great because we'd just moved into a new house and needed places to sit. My son and I put it together pretty quickly kzhead.infoUgkxitRzxya-XugamYgLwa_2G1gxPg4MCJHa . Another reviewer suggested inserting the seat into the side and I'm glad they did as the instructions weren't clear on that matter. It's incredibly light and slides easily across the wood floor, making it easy to move. It's firm, but comfortable. It will even be great to nap on. I got the gray, which definitely has strong blue undertones, but I'm okay with that.
Well now I am going to build a crossbow. My kids watched this video and they as do I want a crossbow to go with the bows we made. I may try a Riser to allow for a shelf that will get closer to center shot. Clay you are a visionary leader.
👊
So the center shot concept with a shelf will require a trigger set up that is more complicated. Clay's design is eligantly simple and easier to do. This is the way.
Wow Clay, I've been following you for many years, and unless my memory fails me, this is the first video where I've seen you make a crossbow. Although I'm not a crossbow fan, it's really very interesting. Have a nice weekend !!
Yep, this is my first
Hello ray
In Puerto Rico my grand father used to make spearguns for fish very similarly to this, he made a metal trigger from nail and and spear shaft from metal bar and tire tubing for the bands this vid really makes me want to try to make my own for fun project
Give it a try!
This is my next big project, gonna makes few more bows and gift them to my friends. And then begin on a cross bow. Will be be saving this video for reference. Thanks for all you do sir!
Anda Tekun, telaten, teliti, pasti hasilnya, Sangat memuaskan, terimakasih, telah memberikan contoh yg baik dengan hasil yang baik. Selamat berkarya.
A man with his passion on display! Awesome video. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for the video! I used to make rudimentary crossbows out of the left over pieces of osage when I started bowbuilding as a teenager. I got back into bowbuilding this year but I have not revisited the crossbow, I'm going to have to add one to my collection this winter!
איזו עבודה באמת כל הכבוד לך.זאת הפעם הריאשונה שיצא לי ליראות עבודה כזאת מושקעת באמת יוצאת דופן
Pure craftsmanship! Thank you for this video, Clay!
Deadly devise you've created there! Arrow holder and trigger were spot on! Turned out beautiful.👍👍
Thank you so much 😀
Hi mate, love your work been following you for maybe 5-6 years now and i just got around to watching your incredible win on Alone, congratulations i never doubted you for one second! I also accomplished a great feat recently, i finally got around to completing my first bow build thanks to your early tutorials. A task seemingly impossible where i live in Australia but being an Arborist i came across some heritage listed Osage Oranges about 150 years old from an old Estate property, after splitting them i guess i've had them drying for about 4-5 years now. I managed to find and make a traditional bow string like my Cherokee ancestors made and have some sinue drying and will follow your tutorials for a traditional sinew string also. Next will be primitive arrows, i have Turkey feathers arriving from the US...
That’s great to hear!
Congratulations Mr. Keep up the good work!
That was a lot of fun to watch! End product was legit! Hell of a skill set you have.
Thanks
Very awesome!!!;,built my first crossbow yrs ago been watching your hickory bow builds happen to have a abundant supply so may give one a try always been into traditional archery !!!
Have fun
Yes!!! I was literally looking for a build like this yesterday and couldn't find anything I enjoyed, or even looked remotely this good. Thank you from western Washington!!
Glad you like it!
That really tuned out nice! I love making things out of scraps- I've built a few complete musical instruments entirely from leftover stuff. You should try to find an old round cutting molding plane. That cuts a flawlessly straight groove for the bolts. (although if you never plan on building another one... 😊)
I love these videos. This was therapeutic on some levels. Great content. 👍
Thanks
work of master and the peace the tranquility of the execution of the work shows all the perfection I also like this trigger it is very functional very good comrade
Many thanks
The firt test really got me 😂😂😂😂😂😂 you're awesome man. Incredible work!
I know I'll not be the only one looking forward to Clay building a trebuchet out of Yew!
Funny you should mention that 😉
Or a Ballista.
Clay I haven't watch for a while half into second video now I'm feeling like I'm meditating. Really realaxing to watch this format👍👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
What an awesome build! Your crossbow turned out great! Looking forward to the next video.
Thanks Clay! I love your VLOG and hope to see more soon!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I love the moment when you put the bow on the tiller the first time, leaning backwards with almost your full weight. And that little piece of wood does not want to bend...😆
It was a stout one!
When you started it was looking like you was making a mini bow,after that it started looking like a crossbow,i checked 2 times to see if it's the right video 😂.And I love how it looks like, it's like from a zombie movie.
😂
A couple limbs/bows/trunks from a tree and you can build anything. Amazing!! Way Fun! Blessings, j
Clay, you're amazing, thanks for everything you do and for your wonderful videos! Looking forward to seeing you get a hog with a crossbow!
Splendid stuff, I've made 5: the first was a 4/5 scale colletiere a charavin (see Tod's workshop) then a full size one. Nos. 3, 4 and 5 were based on the remains of a Skane type, both of the originals are from the10th century. Maple tillers and ticklers with ash and hazel prods using various types of natural cordage for lashings and bow-string. I look forward to your future builds. 👍
Nice
Amazing and nice work in details! Thank You very much, Clay!
Amazing build. Thanks for sharing.
A few years ago I built a crossbow. I cheated and it has a 150 lb fiberglass Prod. but I made a rolling nut style trigger system for it out of soda cans I melted down and carved the whole system out of the billet I made. Saws all blade for the arrow rest thing. Stock carved from a chunk of Mahogany scrap lumber. Still have it and it still works as good as the day I built it. I wish I knew how to do the prod out of wood back then.
Cool 😎
Well done! Thanks for sharing. Looked like a fun build. Your family had fun with it too!
Absolutely
Now this is could make truly hand crafted banjos.
Awesome build. Works great without dialog. Glad you didn't put a scope on it 🎯
Incredible! You Sir, are a master craftsman.
Many thanks
Really enjoyed this one, Clay. Almost thought that part when the prod flew off was to me personally, due to my comment on an earlier post, but know you couldn't have left it out, regardless --- the look on your face was priceless, bro! You are SO much better than me at carving prods and bow limbs (but that goes with the territory, I s'pose). As it so happens, I've been experimenting with primitive xbows lately, too, with the express purpose for if my own candidacy for Alone is accepted. The reasoning is this: bolt shafts are a lot easier to fabricate in the bush (12" vs 31"); I wouldn't cry too hard if I lost bolts while taking inadvisable shots at small game; an xbow is easier to use when you're weak from hunger than a recurve or longbow; it allows you to be in prone position, so as to not alert game with the movement of drawing a bowstring. I was watching your construction (loved your trigger, BTW), and am weighing it against how you could fashion it with your choice of the 10 items one could take. I've long since decided I'm forgoing the fishing array --- I can make serviceable substitutes --- and am opting for a gimlet (small 1/2" auger), with which I could construct not only the xbow, but myriad other articles, as well, including stronger shelters. Is it permissible to break off 10" or so from your saw blade to fashion a sheath knife of sorts? I've been wondering that for ages. I still like my idea of carving a prod hole in the stock over a prod slot, but I definitely defer to your workmanship in all else. Cheers, Rick Smith PS: Got my first moose up here in Alaska last month. Elk's great, but it would be hard for me to give up moose for it. No beef compares!
Go for it Richard! once you're out there, you can do anything you want with your tools. Good idea on making a knife from a piece of sawblade and congrats on the moose!
That was very enjoyable to watch, I didn't see the time pass. Great job!
Thanks John
Nice Riker Stavemaster Manouvre at 12:10 😁
When I first started using my draw knife my neighbor told me I should make a wooden shield to hang around my neck and over my chest. I never did and I've never injured myself with my draw knife...but its something I still think I should get around to doing...Watching that knot near the end of the stave resist the draw knife totally reminded me. Edit: Lol that giggle when it fell apart.
You should do a hunting video with it for sure. Excellent craftsmanship displayed here.
Modern crossbows have incredible performance, but if you go to Tod's Workshop, he has tested a lot of old steel crossbows and can duplicate old ones, save that modern steels are normally better than the old steels. However, steel crossbows were a late development, and the old wood and composit crossbows normally had a longer draw length than steel crossbows. Steel crossbows could be left strung and were not affected as much by weather. Tod's videos are quite an education. I've liked crossbows since I was a kid, and I made wood, aluminum, steel and pvc crossbows. All have their place. The rural people in Southeast Asia were and are proficient with their crossbows, and there are some excellent videos on their builds and contests.
Cool, I’ll check it out.
This may be the coolest thing I've ever seen.
So nice to watch your working and your works too 👍
Big thanks for nice video!!!! Great craftsmanship
I''d like to see one built like a double bow, where the one bow is shorter and curved out, adding poundage.
The master bow maker back at it again!
Beautiful work, impressive performance.
Уважение за работу.)))МолоДец.
Badass one of the coolest videos I've seen online in a while thanks for the tips on few videos I've watched and subscribed I'd like to start making some bows so cool. Thanks again wood surgeon 🤙💯
U7😢😢
@@buddysept3462 ?
It’s really nice to see a fellow clay… branching out. Very nice work man that’s an awesome build
Thanks Clay
@@clayhayeshunter no problem clay
@Clay Hayes what weight did you get? How is it holding up?
Cok etkileyici kardesim
Grand job!. Very fine craftmanship. 🏴
Amazing Work Beautiful and dangerous absolutely lovely!
Félicitations t'as fais un bon travail, vraiment c'est une vraie arbalète .👍🇩🇿🇵🇸
Great video clay.👍 I made a bow string from your video it turned out great thanks so much.
Thanks Rob
Felicitaciones ,sos realmente un artesano,Omar ,de Arhentina.
Brilliant. Looks so easy. Lol at minute 28. Very cool work.
A man of many talents.😁. Enjoyed it.
Thanks Eddie
I enjoy all of your bow builds, but this one was exceptional! Cheers Clay!
Very interesting and creative. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
Awesome thanks!! Salam(peace) from Malaysia
You’re an artist 👏🏻
Finally i can watch you play with crossbow. Nice 👍.
Love the workshop n can only guess how it feels n smells working there..Great Video liked n subscribed.
Thanks Russell
Please please please take this pig hunting! I gotta see you hunt with this thing. It looks awesome great job as always clay 😊
Really cool crossbow build. I like the simplicity of your trigger. ;)
That is the right shape for the medieval conscripts or militias for ranged defenders and skirmishers that I wanted to make a tier 1 affordable cost-effective army.
Once again, excellent craftmanship and attention to detail Clay! Both vidoegraphy and presentation were top notch~
Excelente tu trabajo con poco materiales hicistes una muy buena ballesta ideal para la caza
Nice job Clay! 😁👍
工具的重要性，2000年之前遥远的东方所用木石工匠的工具就有上百种
These videos are just way to cool, I'm hooked
Ah, beautiful, just like the Pope used to ban. Looks like it'll be fun for target shooting and some small game hunting. I'd give it a trigger guard before giving it to a kid though. You should try shooting marbles or ball bearings with it too.
🤔 interesting idea
Good showing how to make a bow!
Looks like that would also make a great 70# short bow.
גם כל הציוד שברשותך עתיק ומאוד משובח.כל הכבוד!
Thank you
Felicitări! Adevărat profesor!
On the underside arbalest screw one grip like the AR-15 rifle has (front grip) so that children would not hurt their fingers from the force of the rope!!! Made of wood!!!
Soo relaxing to watch this humus up 👍
28:30 i loved that reaction =D
Great work ! Thanks
Just watched this with my 11 year old son, great video as always! Love the content 👊🔥🔥
I appreciate that!
@@clayhayeshunter pacific yew limbs? Very sweet build
That was awesome!
impressive craftsmanship!!
very cool. You mentioned the lack of cast - maybe back the bow with sinew? Then you need a tougher string as well. I think the yew can take it
Maybe on the next one.
Video without comment, i like this! Good job. THX ;-)
Man at 70-80lbs draw weight with the right broadhead will take out even a coyote, I’ve seen others builds but not one fully out of wood alone with exception of the spring stabilizer for the bolt you added.
Amazing work 👍