Poor Folk Bows Archive

We are archiving and hosting here on Bow Addicted the very helpful guides by Sam Harper. Originally located on poorfolkbows.com, this was a site about making your own bow on a budget. We loved it so much we got Sam’s permission to keep it going so that everyone still had access to such a great resource.

Build Alongs

• Red Oak Board Bow Build Along – Extensive tutorial. If you’ve never made a bow before, this is a good place to start.
• English Longbow Build-Along I – Sam Harpers’ first attempt at an English longbow.
• English Longbow Build-Along II – Second attempt at an English longbow
• Bamboo-Backed Ipe Bow Build-Along – Also useful if the belly wood is Osage or bamboo
• Making a Fiberglass Laminated Bow – An extensive Step-by-Step Guide
• Bamboo Recurve Bow Build-Along – Learn how to build a bamboo recurve bow
• Singapore Bamboo-Backed Osage Recurve Build-Along – Learn how to build a bamboo-backed Osage recurve bow
• How To Make a Flemish Bowstring – DIY Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Make Arrows  – This build-along did not go smoothly, but you may still be able to learn something or just enjoy the adventure
• How to Make Your Own Knife – Extensive Tutorial DIY
• How to Make a Spine Tester – A Full Tutorial showing how to make a simple and inexpensive spine tester
• Bow Woods – Sams opinion about various kinds of wood he tried in bow limbs
• Purple Heart – Why I hate purple heart
• Finishes – Various finishes
• Glue – Various types of glue used in making bows and arrows
• How To Make a Cheap and Easy Hot Box – DIY
• How to Dye a Bamboo Backed Bow – Two Video Tutorials
• Backings – What can you use for bow backings?
• Reflections on band saws
• How to take Care of your Bow
• Frequently Asked Questions

How to Dye a Bamboo Backed Bow 

Disclaimer: All pictures are Sam Harper’s, the original creator of poorfolkbows.com