Woodcraft

[Jaymzflood]

Has anyone got any good websites for ideas on woodcrafting? Id like to get into the hobby as its always something ive fancied, plus im a carpenters apprentice :P

Any ideas or anything someone can set me off with?

[Jaymzflood]

Maybee a Bow (and arrow) ??

[palmnut]

Maybee a Bow (and arrow) ??

Good idea. Look in the primative archery section of PaleoPlanet - there's more inspiration and info there on making bows than you'll ever need. Alternatively, several of our sponsors run courses in bow making - look up Forest Knights or Dave Budd for starters.

That said, PP also has info and inspiration on making musical instruments, atlatls, woodworking handtools ... Enough to keep you reading for an evening or so ;-)

Peter

[Elines]

How about a fan bird

You may already have all the tools to allow you to make them quickly

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=83949

contains links to other sites/sources

[Jaymzflood]

That bird is amazing, thanks for that idea Elines im gonna have a blast at that, and a bow. That should keep me occupied. Need to go and find the wood now.

[palmnut]

Need to go and find the wood now.

For the bow, if you can't find good straight grained hardwood boards, go look for an Ash sapling with a good straight clean section about 2m long and about 75mm, preferably 100mm diameter and ... acquire it ... however you see fit ... errrm.

Once you've acquired your sapling, seal the end grain with varnish or PVA or somesuch, strip the bark and split it down the middle. The side where the bark was is the back of the bow (furthest away from you as you shoot it) - do not touch this side and try to make sure that you don't damage this wood as you remove the bark. Put the stripped, split stave somewhere flat, cool and dry for a few weeks to begin to season - alternative begin to rough out the bow shape, leaving at least 1cm extra thickness and width for now. Do not try to bend it at this point - just put it somewhere cool and dry to lose moisture.

After the wood has stopped losing moisture (I weigh mine every week or two - when it's not lost any weight in a week, you're good to go), You can start to tiller the bow - best to read up either on PP or go borrow the Traditional Bowyers Bible (ideally volumes 1 & 4) from your library (if they haven't closed it yet) for details.

Peter

[Ian S]

The Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Green Woodworkers (also known as the Bodger's) website might be the sort of thing you're looking for. Here's a link http://www.bodgers.org.uk/index.php

Cheers

[Elines]

The Association of Pole Lathe Turners and Green Woodworkers (also known as the Bodger's) website might be the sort of thing you're looking for. Here's a link http://www.bodgers.org.uk/index.php

Cheers

Thanks for that - looks like some interesting stuff

[alex.c]

Have a look through robins blog there is loads of good info http://greenwood-carving.blogspot.com/

[addo]

Have a look in my blog http://woodsmancrafts.blogspot.com/
Theres a few projects to get you started. Im hoping to get a load more up soon but Ive no computer at home at the mo.