Thank you very much. Mick

Thanks! Mick

Thank you - glad you enjoyed!! Mick

Thanks Raj! Mick

Thanks so much!

Ha!! Thank you, well it's still got a bit of sow's ear about it but - well, it was a good experience. Mick

Thank you 🙏

Thank you David. Mick

Thank you Milos, hope you are well. Mick

Thank you! Mick

Thank you! Mick

Thanks Bill! Mick

Yes, knotty but fun - sort of. Thanks Gare.

Thank you very much Dmitry! Mick

Thank you Sorin! Mick

Good luck with the hazel - it's a great wood to work. Mick

Thank you Mihai!! Mick

Thank you! Mick

Thank you very much! Mick

Good luck!

I always keep offcuts, you never know when you can use them. Shame your bow broke - knots are a danger though however well the bow is made. Thanks for watching. Mick

Hi Devin, you are right about fearing the worst - and that slows you down. Best just to get on with it - took me a while to learn that but it comes with time. Good luck with the osage. Mick

Greetings! Thanks for watching. Yes they are difficult but really worth the effort I think! Mick

Thank you very muck! Mick

Thank you and hello Colombia. Good luck with your bows and thank you very much for watching. Mick

Hi William! Good luck with the laminate. Yes, made me jump when it jumped off the tiller!! Thanks for watching. Mick

Hello! Thanks for that, appreciate you watching! Great idea with the bench, that'll be a great project and useful. I have the tiniest of workspaces and wish I could have a big bench to work at. Mick

I have a 8 by 10 shed ,but its full of junk lol ,i will use the bench outside ;)

Hi Quinton, yep - I jumped when it went bang. I know about the novice thing, but I still feel I have a long apprenticeship ahead. Mick

Thank you!

¡Alfredo! Muchas gracias. Espero que bien y con buena salud. ¡Saludos desde Reino Unido!

Good luck with your first bow Adnaan! Thanks for your message, most appreciated. You live in a stunning city too!

Thank you Jakub! Mick

+Amer Dervisovski Thank you!

Thanks Logan. Mick

Thank you. Willow is not an ideal bow wood - but there are many ‘willows’ so some may be better than others. Why not try? I know others have made lightweight bows with willow. Good luck!

I've started my first bow from pretty wonkey knotty pice of wood and would be lost without these videos.

Best of luck. Go steady, don’t rush. Walk away when you get frustrated. Slowly, slowly. Treat the wood gently, urging it softly to bend. You can do it. I wish you well; but must of all I wish you good health in these frightening times.

Muchas gracias por mirar. Nunca he hecho un arco como este, así que estoy deseando (esperanzadamente!) Completarlo. Saludos desde el Reino Unido. Mick

Thank you, glad you enjoyed - yes, a real wonk of a piece of wood for me and I did learn much. Thanks for watching. Mick

Thank you Patrick!

I'd love to learn how to knap flints - well done! Mick

Mick Grewcock because we're in the uk, the Flint here is very high quality and you can find it there in Norfolk and here in Kent. Great videos, keen em comin, Jack

Thank you John! Mick

Well that's kind of you to say that Alex! It's a bit wonky but has been a great teacher. Mick

Thanks Dell. I rather like that knotty appearance! Be safe yourself! Mick

Yes

Thank you! Yew is a lovely wood to work, I enjoy it very much. Yew is incredibly elastic and seems happy to bend in tension and compression. Longbows are often made with a rounded belly - I can of D cross section - but as far as I can tell it's more than happy to be made into other profiles. The Meare Heath bow found in Somerset is from the neolithic period and was made of yew and has a flat belly and wide limbs (I may make one from hazel soon). I can't see why yew wouldn't make virtually any type of bow but can't say for certain. Thanks for the encouragement, I'll keep at it! Mick

Okay, okay! But I still feel like a beginner. So much to learn. Thanks for watching. Mick

Its so that when he does mess up he can say I told you so instead of looking like Thor when Odin took his hammer away.

Wesson Liam Ha! It is because that's what I am. Ask any experienced bowyer and they will tell you. Ten bows is not a big enough apprenticeship. Thanks for watching.

I've learned more practical knowledge from Mr Grewcocks videos in the last two months than 80% of the literature I've read over the years.

Thank you 🙏 🙏

Hi Dave, thank you very much - it actually took hours and hours to make that bow and there were problems but all were covered in the video - though I couldn't accurately show just how long the solving actually took! Side nocks were used in medieval times as evidenced by a find on the Mary Rose. I increasingly like them for old style bows, they seem somehow in keeping with an ancient weapon. If anything I found them a bit harder to get used to than the 'normal' horn nocks but I get along with them just fine now and really like the look of them. I guess the 'normal' nocks on a longbow are a Victorian nicety and they are certainly user-friendly but there is something crudely efficient about side nocks that I shall probably use them all the while now on horn nocks. Thanks for watching. Mick

Thank you, but I think I can do better! Mick

frozenthunderbolt1 Called a serving tool. Available eBay and Amazon. Thanks for watching. Mick

Thank you Simon. Mick

Hi Kurt, yes it was a wonky piece but I got there in the end! Mick

Good luck with it! Hope you get a bow. Mick

Don't worry about string follow, it happens to an extent but so far nothing troubling for me. 1"-1.5" follow at centre on my hazels, 0 on my yew war bow, 0 on my blackthorn. Self bows are almost living things, made well they resist follow but a bit of bend is just a bit of character. If coming from laminated bows, this may sound strange - there is an expectation that laminates last forever, and maybe they do - but it's just part of the life of a self bow's life. And in my limited experience, follow does not increase, it stays static. Thanks for watching. Mick

+pjculbertson55 String follow impacts shape of the force/draw profile more than the actual draw-weight. Typically It will tend to stack (an increase in gradient) towards the end of the draw.

Sometimes the bow decides for me, sometimes I do. Longbows are asymmetrical and the lower limb appears to be 'shorter', the grip being taken below centre. So when either the bow or me decides, which it will be, then I tiller accordingly. Mick

I'll b making a video to test it soon. Mick

It's not the bow as much as who,s shooting it!.

Hi Mike, I'm afraid I don't sell or supply bows to others. But I appreciate your confidence in me. Appreciated. Mick

+William Hector The weight will always be heavier early on. Important thing is the shape. Concentrate on the shape (bit like part of a circle). Get that right, don't worry too much about the weight. Good luck. Mick

and keep up the good work on your newer stuff too!!

I can do that but to may be awhile - I have lots of videos to make! Mick

I dont know only distances to line to see how much lbs is having my bow . Thanks for answer , i very like your wideos and i want be bowyer like you. I am doing know my bow but it have small crack and i try to fix it .

Hi Ryan, I don't have easy access to steam so use dry heat - though I will try steaming as soon as facilities allow. Thanks for watching.

I think the tips could come round more and the tiller is not perfectly even - but I find it hard to tiller such a wonky (for me) stave. Mick

Just boiled linseed oil initially. I will probably seal the bow at a later stage but yew is fine with just oil - tung oil also very good. Mick

Thanks Mick!

Hi Sandra, wow - lots of questions! Here are my answers. I have always waxed the serving, I guess I don't know why!! I must admit that I now enjoy making bows over shooting them. I am not an especially good shooter; I have joined a field archery club this year and bought a 40lb AFB but life has got in the way of attendance on the range. My interest began when I was very young. The story of the medieval longbow - which people now call war bows - was an early interest and remains so today, and has grown in to a hobby making (mostly) heavier English style longbows. Good luck with your bow and thank you for your kind words about the videos. I guess I am a filmmaker who makes bows, rather than a bowman who makes films! Mick

Thanks for answer, you're the best!

Hi Mick! Finally after much practice, I can stand in the middle of a barn, and consistently hit the walls. I hope the summer has been treating you well.

Dear Mick, I just finished watching the two yew videos for the third or fourth time and in going through the comments, you bring up the question with Sandra whether “you’re a bowyer who makes videos” or “a filmmaker who makes bows”. That’s seems to be the chicken or egg conundrum. Rather look at it this way: Who is Mick? a. a bowyer who makes videos; b. a filmmaker who makes bows; c. both of the above; or d. none of the above. And the correct answer is c. both of the above. I doubt if there is a single viewer here who would disagree with that answer. As to the chicken or egg. Both are fine foods when chefs do their magic. Best and may the bows and videos keep coming.

@@johnjriggsarchery2457 Is that with the door open or the door closed? ;-)

Yes, parts of yew are poisonous - but that's as scary as saying all snakes can kill you. Yew can be handled safely provided that care is taken. I work yew both green and seasoned and take simple precautions such as washing hands after work, wearing breathing protection when I create fine dust etc. I've never had any issues nor have heard of any as a result of working yew wood. Mick

Hi Steve, side nocks are proven medieval string grooves - an artefact was found on the Mary Rose. They look just right on medieval style military inspired bows. Search for a UK bowyer on Facebook Will Sherman - he uses side nocks all the time. Now, more importantly: fear! I understand, you have to push through it. I used to worry about ruining a stave (they seemed really precious) but now less so. A spitfire flies just as beautifully with a bad paint job, a smile is no less worthy if teeth are missing - so you have to leave aside looking for perfection to start with and make a bow that works, perfect can wait. I had zero experience of woodworking when I started but that wasn't a problem. Put down the less demanding and have a crack at a bow. If it goes bang, well, do another. You'll only start to read the wood when you hold it, feel it, stroke it and bend it. Making none-bending items will help a little but I suggest you get a branch or something and just have a whittle at it with a knife. A perfect bow is something I aspire to, but I might never achieve it. But in the meantime I will have made plenty of functional bows. Good luck!! Mick

Mick Grewcock thanks for the encouragement! It means a lot.

+Steve Long You are welcome, any time

Mick Grewcock okay, I got back at it and have 2/3rds of my rough stave. It's about 2" wide and follows the grain, mostly. Next I take it down to a 2x2, but it's time to call it a day. Happy to share pictures if you're interested.

+Steve Long Would like to see your pics, Facebook a good way if that suits!

Hi Evan, I don't know about Matt, I'll have a look. Oddly, for its modest wonkiness, it's quite accurate and my arrows all grouped quite close. When you draw it, it feels much like any other bow. Mick

Hi Rod, I think there is a bit of praise in there - thank you!. No not a truly wiggly stave but a handy excursion along that route, breaking my spell of always seeking out the straightest bit. I guess I left the handle alone too much this time, stung a bit by the soft handle in a previous effort. Maybe I'll get all three elements right one day! Cheers Rod. Mick

Well I suppose it depends upon context and inflection, but "not bad" is one step above "pretty good" whereas "nice" is moderate approval and "very nice" is a superlative. Acts of God requiring a change of underwear are "interesting". :-)

Oh no, so I've got to wait for a "nice" before I become a novice? As to events requiring garment replacement, I found perforating an eardrum when inverted solo at 5000' in a Pitts S2 "interesting"....

I once wet myself in a Sidcot suit.... but I was only a baby at the time. :-)

+Rod Parsons Lol!

Hi Kyle, depends where you live and the wood that is available to you. Let me know and I'll try to help. Mick

I know this is an old comment. If you are in the U.S. there are quite a few good bow woods, but all with different qualities. Hickory is a very sturdy wood, but isn't great in compression. It would be best to make a bow with fairly flat/wide limbs. Osage Orange/Hedge apple wood make excellent bows as the wood is great in both compression, and tension. It is also good at keeping a shape for things like recurves. Pacific Yew is another, but it is the combination of sapwood, and heartwood that work together. The sap wood is great under tension while the heartwood is good under compression. Ofcourse there are many more woods to make bows from. Clay Hayes has some excellent videos, and a book on this.

Hi Aaron, those were from eBay. Oversize for what I needed so I had to shorten them. Mick

Good luck! But I’m afraid my bow making days are behind me. Message if stuck with your wonky stick.

@@MickGrewcock that's sad to hear, looks like I will just have to rewatch the last ones. Thanks for your kind offer of help. Looking at my piece of yew I will definitely be taking you up on that! At the moment it is in the shed weighted down after heat treating. Not confident I can get the curve out of it

Lost count! But I’ve stopped now. Video soon to explain.

@@MickGrewcock oh that's a bit sad:(

nst låse Stuff happens in life that’s not expected

@@MickGrewcock very true it happens to All of us

Hi Pia, I guess - strictly speaking - that a 56" bow would not be a 'longbow'. No matter. I suppose that if you used an excellent piece of wood and worked the bow carefully then you could probably achieve your aim of 28" draw. I've never made a bow of that length and draw weight so I cannot say for certain though.

Oh I'm sorry Sir Mick, i didn't notice at the first place that the length of my stave wont be a longbow and the second one is that my Name was change into Pia, for sure my sister use my email for her assignments. Hahahaha! Thank you Sir Mick! Maybe this 70" stave will be a longbow.

I got your name wrong! Sorry. My longbows are generally 77" long - though some are a little shorter, some longer. Mick

Ebay usually.

Cool, thanks.

I do say in the video. It's about 55lbs at 29". Mick

They do, but they can be bad for a beginner - but I love the look of them! Thanks for watching. Mick

Boing indeed!!

Hi there. Was a puzzle to me for a good while! This is my understanding - which might be altered as I learn more!! Top limb on a longbow is, in a manner of speaking, longer than the bottom one. This makes a longbow asymmetrical. This is because the grip is taken below centre to permit the arrow to be as close to centre as possible - it appears to me a compromise between grip and arrow pass. The limbs of a well tillered bow are, therefore, slightly different to one another - the bottom limb is slightly shorter 'stronger'/top limb longer 'weaker'. It is a small difference but, as I have gradually learned, a key part of making a bow that is well tillered. Self bows sometimes 'choose' their own top limb/bottom by virtue of one being naturally stronger/weaker than the other. Skilled makers can choose on a self bow, I tend to let the bow tell me. WIth a laminate it is a little easier because, notionally, the limbs should be made identically. To make it happen I mark the bow's centre then measure 1/2 to 1" above that mark. That half inch space (between 1/2 and 1" above centre) is the arrow pass and that limb the top. Put your hand around the bow as if nocking an arrow - the crook of the thumb will be near to centre but the hand will be holding about three/four inches of the bottom limb. Thus the bottom limb is slightly 'shorter'. I think.... ;-)

@@MickGrewcock Thanks for taking the time to reply, Mick... That's the most lucid answer I've had and it confirms that I've been doing OK., because that's more or less what I've been working at... It's frustrating that it gets dark at lunchtime nowadays... I want to go out there now and start work on another stave... :-)

Darren Hindle 😉

Hi Hadley, I'm afraid I don't sell my bows or offer a bow making service - but many thanks for being willing to trust me with your stave. Mick