Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Bhutanese Bow Making.

Last Sunday we spent the day teaching people how to make beautiful bows out of bamboo.

The adults wanted to craft Bhutanese Bows. Which are two bamboo limbs joined through the handle. The 3 younger guests choose to make more portable mini bows. 



Tom using a draw knife to shape the limbs. 

All the skills required to make a long bow are the same for making a bamboo mini bow. You shape the wood with an axe, drawknife, spokeshave, rasp and scraper. The bow is then tillered to ensure it is bending evenly with  no weaknesses in the limbs that might cause it to fail. 


Each new bowyer left with and shooting bow and a string they had made themselves. Not bad for a day's work. 

For more info on our 1 day courses. 

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