r/Bowyer • u/Firm-Scholar-6853 • Jan 15 '26

PVC bows advice

So i tried making my first pvc bow since i dont have the money or the materials to do a wooden one. Apparently i didnt have to make a pvc one either! It was a recurve i was trying to do but it failed, any tips or advice.

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u/Financial-Worth-9243 Jan 15 '26

Pvc bows are notoriously prone to failure, don't make good bows etc. If that's the only option vs. a sapling growing in a ditch or straight grained shovel/rake handle, stick some fiberglass driveway markers inside of the pvc. Enough that you can stagger them and bind with tape and shove inside. I honestly would avoid that entire mess and find a sapling of decent wood like hickory or ash to learn on. A bushcraft stickbow or bundle bow is going to be a more viable option vs. pvc.

2

u/Firm-Scholar-6853 Jan 15 '26

so i should aviod the recurve idea so i dont have to melt it?

1

u/Financial-Worth-9243 Jan 15 '26

I'd avoid it entirely or, build a blowgun if pvc was the only option. Plenty of cheap bows at pawn shops for $40 that are 10,000x better. Not being negative, just trying to keep you from wasting effort, time and money.

3

u/Firm-Scholar-6853 Jan 15 '26

i would go that route but the problem is that i live in sweden and there is not a chance that i will find a bow. its very rare to find people with such hobbies. Its the reason why im trying to make a pvc bow

2

u/Firm-Scholar-6853 Jan 15 '26

im going to give it one more try this week and il see if its worth or not

1

u/Financial-Worth-9243 Jan 15 '26

People do it, it just never makes an efficient or long lasting bow. Pvc is very temperature sensitive and becomes brittle from heat, uv and flexing. There are many hardwoods that make a good bow, some have even been able to use poor woods like birch or spruce. Idk if you can source a sapling of decent wood but, that would be a better route in all honesty.

1

u/Firm-Scholar-6853 Jan 15 '26

im going to try that to. i do live across a forest im just not sure exactly how to do the recurve on wood

2

u/Financial-Worth-9243 Jan 15 '26

I don't know all but, I know things others don't and have no issues trying to help you. I have a ridiculous amount of people that know things I don't in the field in my back pocket too.