PVC Bow shoot

forgeblast · Jun 17, 2012

Hi all I am throwing around an idea to invite some friends over to have a PVC bow shoot. My daughter (3) wanted one so I made one for her and my wife, and now i have one too. They are real easy to do (Bows of Many Colors). or Kids' bows on the cheap--Part I Amazon.com: The Impossible Bow: Building Archery Bows With PVC Pipe (9780983248156): Nicholas Tomihama: Books I heard good things about this book.

My rules for the shoot would be
1. the bows must be all home made
2. the only bought things on the bow can be the nock point, and the arrows
3. all ages can shoot.
4. I would have extra bows there.

But I am not sure how I want to set up the shoot. I have one deer target and I also have an old turkey decoy that i filled with spray foam that I can use. I am wondering what else I should have.
I was thinking about doing the longest shot, maby some hanging targets. paper targets or cardboard ones....I really need some ideas. I have a mix of field and wood that I can set targets up in. A buddy of mine sells hay so i can buy a few square bales if needed.

I figured we would shoot a bit and then break in the outdoor pizza oven.
thanks in advance.

forgeblast · Jun 18, 2012

Wanted to post the steps in making a pvc bow.
for all the bows I used sch 40 pvc, it came in 5' sections.
I made one for me that was 5' but my wifes I cut down to 4' and for my little one I think I am going to cut down to 3'.

Step 1 cut the pvc

Step 2 on the ends cut a 3/4 long by 1/8-1/4'' wide slot (I used the lettering to keep the cuts the right side and parallel to each other, I also found using a hack saw is much easer then power tools.)

Step 3 file the ends smooth and the center of the slot smooth

Step 4 then drill a 3/16 hole directly below the slot (all openings line up)

(when filing out this hole a 3/16 chain saw file works great)
Step 5 I use thinner to wipe the pvc and then paint, I hand the pvc from a nail and paint away.

Step 6 once dry you want to cut a piece of pipe insulation to 5'' and get two 1/4'' or 1/2'' cable to put on the sides of the handle as an arrow rest, for new shooters I recommend the 1/2''.

Step 7 find the midway point of the bow and then add one inch this is where the top of the handle should go.

Step 8 find the length of the bow and add 6'' (ie 48'' bow cut a 54'') and use this measurement to cut the para cord for the string.

Step 9 Tie one end the paracord to the bow and the other end make a loop and you can string it up and shoot.

The nock point is 1/2'' higher then the top of the rest. I use carbon arrows (the cheaper pre-made ones that they sell for youth bows). The arrows where the most expensive part of the whole bow. It shoots nice and its a fun family time.

Soundguy · Jun 18, 2012

for fun.. why not try some dowel rod arrows

forgeblast · Jun 18, 2012

I was thinking of the dowel arrows but I dont have a fletching jig.

Soundguy · Jun 18, 2012

should be easy to make for the level of quality of the bow.

you can draw it out on paper.. xfer to wood as a print and then some type of small vice or pipe vice aceter marking wood. perhaps draw out lines on a baord and drill hole at intersection to slip dowel into for initial marks, then extrapolate from there. then fishing line can be used for the fletching and split chicken feathers.. etc..
can rubber tip the heads with those push on rubber tips used to go over fiberglass rods or on cut metal rods for shelving..

forgeblast · Jun 18, 2012

Thats something to think about. I saw one site where they used fired .22 shells as the tips. I just recieved the bow builders bible volume 1, I cant wait to get more into it.

k0ua · Jun 18, 2012

forgeblast said:
Thats something to think about. I saw one site where they used fired .22 shells as the tips. I just recieved the bow builders bible volume 1, I cant wait to get more into it.

We used to use .38 special empty cartridge cases as blunt tips when I was a kid. They will still kill small game, but wont stick in trees. and a little less lethal for a kid to be using. They kill small game by blunt force trauma.

James K0UA