Lesson 1Intermediate checks during each step: measuring weight, balance, straightness, and visual inspection pointsHere you go set routine checks at each step. You measure weight, balance, straight, stiffness, record, use visual points to catch problem early before no fix.
Setting up a measurement checklistWeighing stick, frog, and assembled bowBalance point measurement and adjustmentStraightness checks against reference edgesRecording data and interpreting deviationsLesson 2Drilling and fitting hardware: screw channel, eyelet installation, alignment checks; tools: drills, reamers, tapping toolsDis cover drill screw channel, fit eyelets, align hardware so frog move smooth. Learn tool pick, drill order, tap way, fix small align error safe.
Layout of screw channel centerlinePilot drilling and step drilling strategyTapping threads and lubricants usedEyelet fitting, depth, and thread engagementAlignment checks and minor correctionsLesson 3Shaping and tapering the stick: longitudinal and transverse planing, spokeshaves, scrapers, filing; critical checks: cross-section profiles, straightness, symmetryDis cover shape taper stick use planes, spokeshaves, scrapers. Set long short tapers, refine cross-section, keep straight symmetry wid regular checks.
Marking reference lines and tapersLongitudinal planing sequence and passesTransverse shaping and octagonal facetsScraping, filing, and surface refinementStraightness and symmetry verificationLesson 4Wood selection and preparation: visual and acoustic inspection, moisture content measurement, rough cutting and seasoning considerations; tools: saws, planes, calipersLearn choose, test, prepare bow wood, focus grain, density, sound response. Measure wet, rough cut, plan season wid saws, planes, calipers safe accurate.
Visual grain, runout, and defect assessmentBasic acoustic tap testing and density checksMoisture content measurement and target rangesRough cutting billets and orienting the stickSeasoning schedules and storage conditionsLesson 5Tip making and head details: carving tip, tip plate fitting, rolling and finishing head profile; tools: knives, needle files, chiselsDis explain shape bow head, fit tip plate, refine profile. Carve tip, inlay flush plate, roll head shape, finish surface use knives, chisels, files safe.
Rough carving the head and tip outlineCutting and fitting the tip plate bedGluing and flushing the tip plate edgesRolling head profile and chamfer transitionsFinal head surface cleanup and detailingLesson 6Frog fabrication and fitting: cutting, mortising, dovetailing, slide shaping and eyelet seating; tools: chisels, files, lathes, gaugesLearn make fit frog, cut size, mortise, dovetail, shape slide, seat eyelet. Tool control, base surface, exact space for smooth no-noise work.
Squaring frog block and layout linesCutting mortises for hair and screwForming dovetail and slide channelShaping and fitting the slide and linerEyelet seating, clearance, and travelLesson 7Finishing and polishing: shellac/application methods, rubbing and buffing, surface protectionLearn finish plan use shellac coatings. Prepare surface, put thin even layer, rub between, buff to sheen keep feel, protect, clear look.
Surface preparation and pore fillingShellac mixing and application methodsDrying times and rub-out techniquesBuffing tools and controlled sheen levelsTouch-ups and long-term surface careLesson 8Hairing procedure and securing hair: selection, bundling, glueing to mortises, adjuster setup; tools: clamp blocks, staple techniques, glue applicationStudy full hairing, pick sort hair to bundle, tie, glue mortise, set adjuster. Stress tension balance, clean work, strong hold use clamps glue.
Selecting, sorting, and aligning bow hairForming bundles and tying end knotsPreparing mortises and glue applicationClamping, drying, and trimming hair endsAdjuster setup and tension equalizationLesson 9Cambering (heat and bending) and stabilization: heat sources, bending forms, measuring camber and residual stresses; tools: bending iron, clamps, radius gaugesExplore curve wid heat bend forms. Learn safe heat, bend order, measure curve, steady stick watch twist, springback, stress.
Selecting heat source and safety setupHeating zones and bending orderUsing bending forms and clamping pointsMeasuring camber curve and reference arcsCooling, stabilization, and springback checksLesson 10Winding, grip and final shaping: wire winding techniques, thumb leather or grip application, final sanding and finishing; tools: winding mandrel, pliers, burnishersDis detail wind, grip fit, final shape. Practice wire silk wind, fit thumb leather grips, refine handle, burnish protect old work.
Planning winding length and terminationWire and silk winding techniquesThumb leather cutting and gluing stepsHandle shaping and ergonomic refinementBurnishing and protecting adjacent areas
