Can I just say buddy: You're epic. You really are. Your videos are really informative and you've put an awful lot of time into them. Everyone seems to be mega critical of you in the comments, so I just thought I'd say props to you.
I agree, I know this is an old movie and post. The fact that someone is checking out your videos, still 2 years later is testament to your epic-ness (yes, i know thats not a F#$%ing word for the criticizers)
I work in a PVC manufacturing plant. richard greswell and james t have 2 very good facts about PVC. the thing with PVC pipe is different factories use different compounds to make the pipe. cheaper compound means you have a weaker pipe. although that does not mean the pipe you are using is bad because all PVC pipe has to pass set Q.C. standards across the country. but different factors effect the pipe such as chemicals it comes into contact with, weather plays a factor as well. cold and heat can cause problems. the sun exposure can weaken the pipe. but your bow will not be outside its entire life. the reason why the sun can weaken the pipe is because the pipe is made to be installed under your house and in the ground where it is not going to get much sun light. most factories do add chemicals to protect their product from the sun while it sits outside waiting to be shipped off to the dealer or the job site. there really is not a way to measure how long a pvc bow will last
rick showalter PVC pipes can be tricky things. Plumbing pipes can have a lot of fillers. I know the main company that makes the pipes I use uses a lot of calcium carbonate (gypsum, chalk) as a filler. Most of the time the pipes are sound, but I have found ones that seem chalky and others with visible particles and grit suspended in the plastic. I've found that pure PVC pipes tend to be more slightly more sluggish and slightly less heat-stable than plumbing pipes.While more sluggish, I really like the way furniture grade PVC works. The pipes are usually more uniform and seem to hold up really well without any special treatment.Thanks for the comments!
Young man in highly impressed by your love for this life you have chosen. Please keep up the great work and I am sure something fantastic will come from it. I used to shoot the bow but cancer took my right neck and shoulder muscles so I have no strength to draw them any more. But I love to see a great bow master at work. Thank you for bring back my good memories of it.
I stumbled on your tutorials by accident and have been hooked all week watching them and i spent a lot of the day setting up a fletching station in my garage. Tomorrow i will make my first bow and i thank you for inspiring me to take this up as a hobby, keep up the good work mate :)
Just made my first pvc bow today. 5' long made from 1" sch 40. Just a simple flatbow. Already shot it about 100 times. Can't wait to see how long it lasts! Thanks for all your informative videos!
I used to use electrical conduit, but the UV stabilizers and the softeners in it make it slow and elastic compared to white plumbing pipe. If the temperature gets high where you are, it can actually soften up and deform just from the ambient heat. It works great in cold temperatures as it doesn't lose elasticity as the temperature goes down like white pipe. The main tradeoff is speed. Gray pipe will usually be slower than white pipe of equal dimension and size.
When it comes to bows that have off-center handles, the idea is not to prevent arrow flex but to promote it to a point. A properly matched and spined arrow will fly straight, even if it is sticking off to the side on the bow. The arrow starts off pointing out to one side, then as it begins to fly it flexes around the handle. It will flex from side to side until it has leveled out and ends up flying straight in relation to where it was aimed. This is the archer's paradox.
I do like the potential cost to fun ratio with pvc bows. An added plus is the way you can design and decorate them in any manner. Their longevity does seem to be dependent on their owners. Like anything, taking care of any piece of gear will make it last longer. I have the confidence you give that they should endure for quite some time, with care. Thanks for the talk and demo.
the pipes we made were guaranteed for 10 years in the ground but lasted much longer. one of the guys at the factory made a bow with our 1.5 i.d. pipe and some carbon rods many years ago and it's still strong but he cares for it well. he put a wrap of some kind to protect from it from uv damage and I always wanted to make one too. keeps it un strung as well he said.
One of the ones I made after watching an earlier video of yours has held up for several years now. Still works well. I imagine pvc is a lot more resilient than some folks think! I did have a wood self bow break after two years tho.
I'm a buyer of your ebook and still enjoy your videos after all these years. Enough years have now passed that you really should do an update on this subject if you haven't already. I have several PVC bows inspired by you and they have been kept indoors all the time. I haven't really checked them lately but I did check a long piece of pvc pipe recently with your test and it was brittle and shattered when I hit it with a hammer so they can definitely deteriorate.
Watch you grow in your bow making and your video was the first I watched. I am in the process of making a pvc bow strong enough take a deer at 50-75 yds. If my design works I'd be happy to share with you. Thank you for your work and artistic skill. You are an inspiring young man. Don't ever stop. 👍🏾
I cannot say for sure right now, but I have two bows in my garage freezer set at -10 F. I take them out every now and then to shoot, and so far they have held up fine. Only time will tell. Though I know from general testing on PVC pipe systems, PVC does get more brittle as the temperature goes down. Honestly, with a taper flattened bow I think it would hold up fine as long as the bow is not too short for the diameter.
I really dig your videos. I've been watching them for a couple of years. I finally subscribed to your channel. I especially like the variety of bows you've made with PVC and poly paracord. I haven't made one yet but I'm sure when I do I'll have to make several types to include crossbows. Thanks for posting all of them.
Three years ago my brother and I built two long bows with road marker fiberglass shafts inside.never unstrung, never dry fired. They've been our go to bow when weather is to extreme. Possibly lost a pound or two in draw weight or did we just increase muscle mass??? Lol!! Either way, love to shoot the old P.V.C.!!! A excellent training piece. Good for form and focus!!
These bows shoot very well when the arrows are matched. They are consistent from shot to shot. Like self bows, longbows, and other traditional bows, PVC bows comes in varying degrees of arrow deflection. With a matched arrow, even a fully round pipe puts arrows straight and on target. If you arrows are too stiff or weak, then you will end up having to compensate, but it's not the bow's fault.
That sounds like an interesting test. I can guarantee the PVC will take a set, though the question is how much and if the bow will last or simply fail after enough time. I think another two factors would be the length of bow and design. A highly stressed and short bow would probably take greater set than a less stressed bow of the same length. Also, a bow's length changes how much the limbs bend. A 4 foot bow pulling 28 inches would be like a 5.5 foot bow pulling close to 37 inches.
Good job, man, that is a real nice bow. Shot better than I thought. No good in Canada winters though, I agree with Richard Greswell below, but still, great job. Really good design, like the Mongolian style bows.
The best way is to keep it out of the sun. PVC pipe gets brittle out in the sun, but the damage is slow. Most pipe will last a couple years before getting too brittle. As long as your bow is not left out in the sun all the time, it should be fine. Paint or any UV resistant covering like certain tapes or cloth help.
You could do that. The result would be less efficient than a single piece of pipe, but for making longer bows or heavier bows in smaller diameter pipes, it has its place. I personally don't suggest it because of the loss of performance, but it really comes down to personal preference. Sometimes you just want to make a heavy bow, even if it's slower than comparable lighter bows. As for the fiberglass, if you find a good resin/adhesive that sticks, it would lend some good properties to the bow.
Thanks for your post; just now subscribed so I see I have a lot of videos to peruse! Actually my father, a wooden boatbuilder, told me about your tutorials and how they are well presented. Have to agree with him!
I came on to you tube this morning because my son wanted to learn how to make a bow. first we found a decent design for a 60 lb draw simple pvc pipe bow.. the half inch inside 3/4. and fiberglass insert. we just started them and surely they will work nicely. then i found your videos. you are the pvc bow jedi.. :) i am subscribing and have found a new hobby. i will avidly learn. i can see maybe selling these and even making a little extra money. this is pretty killer stuff.
I don't know if Nick will, but I'm interested enough to try - I'll make a bow up from scratch tomorrow or Monday, and post results. My guess: there will be substantial set.
Hey I had an idea to add to your bows - right above the handle on a pvc pipe bow handle - where the arrow rest, you could take a screw driver to a flame - heat it up on the side of the screw driver, then gentle place it on handle to gentle burn a grove into it - to make a area where an arrow could rest... some like this might already be in your videos however...
Nick, it's been over 4 years since you published this video. I'd be interested to see an update on how long you think PVC bows last as I get that question posed to me all the time.
I don't know if it would shape very well but you can put one pipe inside another and use that as a bow. Also I don't know about fiberglass backing but I do know that if you put a fiberglass rod in the PVC pipe it works great.
Time shall tell little brother. I have one I made my very first after watching your video. It had about a 50 pound pull not a pretty bow but, it worked it has been strung hanging on my fence for about 8 months. I live up in the mountains about 2400 ft elevation. I am doing a test with synthetic Sinew I have shot about 80 arrows from it and shoot it from time to time. The Sinew is still hanging and so far the Bow hasn't broken. After it goes through a Hot Summer I shall let you know how it does. I don't live up in Alaska but trust me it gets cold up here and also has its days of heat. I shall give you my evaluation as time is the best evaluation along with the weather. So far it is good and I think if it was indoors it might last a lifetime. Time shall tell. Lou Caravayo.
I would like to see the out come. I just picked up a small re-curve from a a guy who is very good with your methods. It is such a nice bow. Very impressive.
I love your videos. wood shrinks in low humidity and swells in high. a product the causes wood to swell permanently and doesn't dry out and become brittle like any of the glues you might try is a product called chairloc- available at most woodworking stores.
I've bought a few of your books and have been going over some of your old videos like this one and I would really like a update to this video. Now that it has been over ten years since this video I'm wondering how the PVC bows have held up over the long haul.
Exactly the same you'd use depending on the draw weight. If you go to the Academy sports you can find some real nice ones. If you are intending on using them for real hunting, You'll need to get the aluminum and use practice tips. But for backyard stuff, just get the wooden ones or make your own! There are tons of videos on it.
I went to a friend of mine who works at a PVC manufacturer place near my home. He said the industry uses that very phrase "100 years" but that isn't accurate. He said safely, modern PVC as a water carrier should be good for 20-30 years without UV exposure. With exposure to the sun, not long at all. But we're talking bows here, Since it is thermoshapped, there is no reason why it cannot last indefinitely.
Also keep in mind that all arrows flex several times before striking the target. This is what the tuning of the bow is for. Many traditional bows have no arrow rest of any kind. The arrow is just shot off the top of the hand. This is also why feather vanes are important. Not only to not kick the back end of the arrow out, but also to go easier on your hand as the fletching drags across during the shot. To stiff or soft of a shaft affects the flexing of the arrow.
Richard Greswell they become more efficient when they get stiff, though. which means faster arrows and harder draws... but also the possibility of a failure
I think that this discussion of how long a pvc bow will last compared to other types of bows is really rather moot. After all, anyone who makes a bow of this sort is very likely going to want to make another one soon after with some slight improvements. Eventually, any tinkerer will have made several of them and will likely still not be fully satisfied. So, if the bow lasts for months, years or decades it matters very little, because you can always simply make another one.
when i was plumbing i ran into problems with pvc pipe getting brittle with age, say in 10 plus years they break if tweeked to much. granted this was pipe that was under constant pressure and use. in my thinking your probably rite, if cared for you should get years of use out them. but would careful after awhile. i personally would retire one of these bows after decade, if it lasted that long even. keep up the good work man i'm lookin at making one or many myself.
the top of my 80lb PVC Long Bow just broke. So yeah, took 2 years untill it finally broke. Or should I say, Unfortunately. Let's make another bow haha! Maybe a little request. Could you do a tutorial on how to make Pvc Arrows ??
PVC bows become brittle in cold weather. I live in Washington. We had a few days that were below 32 F. I was shooting one of my PVC bows and it broke on release. Even though the bow has never been dry fired, after like ten shots it shattered right where the grip is. I must say I had this bow for like 2 years.
You Need "massage" The bow simulating release slowly 10 times or more to unrigid internal fibers in frozen days, before used. Keep you arc inside you house. or use the power of sun to warm it. Or you can make a bag with old sleeping bags. try to use CPVC instead regular pvc pipe
Well, my adult recurve (48" schedule 80 gray pipe) took quite a set after shooting initially. I took it and heated the limbs up and took the set out, and so far, it hasn't taken the set again. I'm not exactly sure why yet, but it could just be it hasn't been shot in again enough.
i have had one break under full draw one time. it was my first and reason for it breaking was probably due to me burning the pvc slighty around the handle when i was forming it. anyways nothing bad really happened it was wrapped in cloth for the handle so when it colasped on me it didnt have and shatter to it at all. so if you wrap your handle and cover your bow with a canvas of some sort it will prevent a potientionally harmful shatter
Hello. I have a question. I've made a 30 pounds PVC bow and wooden arrows, but when I shoot it my arrows don't fly so far than a 2 or 3 meters. Then I made another but this time I made a 60 pounds bow, and now my arrows fly over 20 meters. So my question is what is the right power to make a wooden arrow fly well, cause I've seen some of your videos where you use a 30 pounds bow and your arrows fly long distances as if were a 50 or 60 pounds bow? I would appreciate your advice. Thank you.
Your videos are great!!! I really like the one your shooting now. Want to make one like it. What video is the tutorial with the PVC with wood ends like the one you shooting?
Your 1st pvc bow looks PHAT... HELP! ...I want to make one just like that one, exactly like that one. I've watched a lot of your videos & I've only saw your. 1st video last night. I'm addicted to watching them. I want to go to the hardware store, BUT I want to know if that 1st bow is made from 1" diameter pvc? Cause it looks like it could be wider. I just really like the meatiness of it. It looks badass. Thanks for all your uploads
@616e6f6e SURE there is! With decent care, quality firearms have lasted CENTURIES & remain shootable!!! and they are subjected to WAY MORE pressure and stress than a 40#--50# bow. That sounds pretty indefinite! 🤔
I do love that PVC horse bow with the wooden siyahs. One question regarding bow strings ... I know youve done a vid on making simple bow strings but would it be possible to do a vid on the way you make your own strings using Dacron B-50 if thats what you usually use. Thanks
In the ground, and back about 20+ years ago it was good for at least 15 years. After that time it became brittle. However, they've changed the composition of PVC and it has better oxidation properties, so I'm not sure, but I'm guessing at least 20?
How accurate can you get your bows? You dont seen to talk about the accuracy you get from each bow you test. Im not sure if thats normal or not as i'm only just looking into archery myself, which is how i came across your videos. The other thing i wanted to ask was to challenge you to make a pvc compound bow? Not sure if it would be possible. The other idea i had was a carved wood handle with pvc limbs. That would be a good build that i would want to try myself.
also your sch 40 and 80 pvc pipe has more filler than conduit. i am still learning more about pvc pipe as i go im sure other more experienced people with pvc pipe can add on to what i said or correct something i may have gotten wrong. also i know something that may help strengthen your bow's if you ever get the chance to get a tube micrometer you can check the wall thickness of the pipe you bought and you can find the thickest part of your pipe and face that to the front of your bow. that way you wont have the thickest part on the side or the back facing you. thats just a thought to try out.
hey man iv seen tons of ya vids and i think ya a top bloke i just have 1 question umm s40 pvc, where can i find it? is it just normal pvc? if not would normal pvc work? thanks mate. keep up the good work
having no experience with pipe bows ( yet ), so i don't know for sure but i would imagine any grove melted/burnt into a pipe would weaken it at that point, i think nicks idea of ''adding'' an arrow rest is far better. imo
Hey BackyardBowyer? It's been 11 years since you've uploaded this video- how are your bows holding up? Thanks to you I've brought many people to archery using pvc bows I learned to make from you, and they're holding up nicely for a year and counting. EDIT: Funny thing- the same day I posted this comment, my favorite bow of one year broke- I just pulling it casually multiple times. HOWEVER, this bow has gone through numerous reformation, has broke once already (snapped in half because I was trying to reform the center without heat), and was made of pvc pipe that failed the hammer test. This bow was around 40 pounds.
Hello bro i love your videos i buy a pvc bow before a day ago and i wanna ask you how to figure where is my center of the bow to make it like you on the handle? :))
