Bowpress
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: fubar racin
18-Nov-19
I’m looking to get my own press and draw board so I don’t have to drive 2 hours each way when I want to tinker with my wife and I bows anymore. What would be the best bang for my buck setup in your opinions? Will be used for a Prime logic, elite energy 35, Hoyt powermax, and a Mathews traverse Iv read some presses can’t be used with some bows.
From: jstephens61
18-Nov-19
Last Chance press with a set of extra fingers. Best investment I ever made.
From: BOWNBIRDHNTR
18-Nov-19
Last Chance Press. Simple to use and well made.
From: Brotsky
18-Nov-19
LCA EZ Green is excellent, also use the draw board attachment. Best investment I ever made in archery tackle.
From: midwest
18-Nov-19
Last Chance EZ Green. Worth every penny!
I made my own draw board but after seeing the attachment for the EZ Green at a bow shop, I'll be adding that as well.
From: WapitiBob
18-Nov-19
If you can weld, build a last chance knock off for 1/3 the price.
From: 12yards
18-Nov-19
I would love to buy an EZ Green myself. Someday! I'm tired of using my Bowmaster.
From: Ambush
18-Nov-19
I did what Wapiti said and built a few knock off’s of the Last Chance. Probably cost about seventy bucks each. Good simple design.
Some of the Pipe Clamp press builds on YouTube are functional, cheap and very easy to build for someone with limited tools.
From: Boris
18-Nov-19
Look into Lancaster Archery in Lancaster, Pa.
From: midwest
18-Nov-19
I had built my own X press but when I looked into building my own limb tip press, by the time I bought all the thrust bearings and other components, I wasn't far off from the deal I got on my EZ Green.
From: fubar racin
18-Nov-19
Never considered building my own but did fabricate stock car chassis for over half my life I may look into that but also hard to ignore when 1 product has that many recommendations.
From: Grubby
18-Nov-19
I built mine. Probably have less than 100 into it. I have a draw board on it too.
From: Trial153
18-Nov-19
I have a BTM, unfortunately Jim isnt producing them anymore. Last chance make a good press and so does BOA. I have use them a bunch in the past
From: Franklin
18-Nov-19
With any type of mechanical skills you could easily build a knock off. It would be a cool challenge. I can`t see dropping that much coin for my own personal use.
I know a guy that built one out of wood....lol. Wasn`t the greatest thing in the world but it worked.
From: Bigwoodshunter
18-Nov-19
Let’s see some pics of the home made builds!
From: APauls
18-Nov-19
I made plans to build one. If I was buying it's almost worth buying a new bowtech, selling your old bow and simply saying forget the press.
From: Bigwoodshunter
18-Nov-19
Then your paying someone to work on your stuff, be self sufficient and don’t rely on anyone but yourself. The way this world is these days the more I know/ self sufficient the better off I am. 450$ press will save you money on the long run. I built a walk-in cooler, I have saved thousands in butchering costs
From: Ambush
18-Nov-19
^^^^. Ur coolar is junk. Wait a few months till the door fall off and the wall delaminate.
From: LINK
18-Nov-19
Not to mention you don’t have to have a walk in cooler to process your own meat. I wouldn’t mind having a cooler for aging but for 3 deer a year it’s hard to justify the space and money. A press on the other hand is something I’ve been needing for awhile. ;)
From: cnelk
18-Nov-19
cnelk's Link
For those that want to learn how to work on your bows, or freshen up what you do know, Josh & Tyler have put together a 'Bow Tune School'. See the video below and then click link attached
From: fubar racin
18-Nov-19
Built a walk in cooler so you can process your own huh? Heck of a deal never considered needing one of those in all the time Iv processed my own meat but good for you! Anyway looks like to me about $75 in materials and an afternoon to build a nock off like y’all suggest.
From: Franklin
18-Nov-19
To save some time see if one of these guys would stencil the "fingers" for you. That`s about the hardest part. Looking at the press it`s hard to see the large price tag. If it was more reasonable they probably would sell a lot more and no one would need a knock off.
From: fubar racin
18-Nov-19
True story franklin true story
From: Grubby
18-Nov-19
From: Grubby
18-Nov-19
I’m sure I’ll get all kinds of messages about why my homemade press is a bad idea and how dangerous it is but I can assure you it works just as well as a store bought one.
From: midwest
18-Nov-19
Just don't cook any meat on it.
From: Kurt
18-Nov-19
I built a pipe bow press. Uses a carpenter's 5' pipe clamp the neighbor gave me when he moved away. I bought a really heavy piece of hardwood at the lumberyard....about 3" thick x 6" tall x 8" long that cost me $5.00 that I sawed into 4" lengths for two press fingers. I then sawed cam slots into it and drilled it for the pipe to create two monolithic wood press fingers that easily slide on the pipe clamp. Works very well on the bows I've owned: Mathews Solo Cams, a Hoyt Carbon Element and Prime Rivals. Short or long axle to axle bows...it takes seconds to adjust. I can change cams or limbs, install peeps, etc on any of the noted bows very easily. Google "Archery Talk, pipe bow press" for 40 some pages of ideas. Mine is about as simple as you could make as I didn't have my wood working shop and tools set-up when I built it. PM me a number if you are interested in photos. No guarantees on the design, but I have used it for about 5 years without issue.
Not as nice as Ambush would build from steel, but functional and cheap, and a whole lot better than driving 2 hours one way to the nearest archery shop (that I don't trust). And building a draw board is even simpler, but cost me for a bit more for hardware...about $30 if memory serves me right. Good luck!
From: Ambush
18-Nov-19
Tubing and parts laid out.
Tubing and parts laid out.
Fingers are angle iron welded to 1/2"round rod, welded to 3/4" keystock
Fingers are angle iron welded to 1/2"round rod, welded to 3/4" keystock
Keystock is drill and/or drilled and tapped.
Keystock is drill and/or drilled and tapped.
Mounted on a heavy duty door hinge. The one solid the other cross slides as you turn the threaded rod joining them. One angle adjusts independently as well
Mounted on a heavy duty door hinge. The one solid the other cross slides as you turn the threaded rod joining them. One angle adjusts independently as well
Found some pics of the first one in progress.
From: Bigwoodshunter
18-Nov-19
Yeah I used to do it without a walk-in cooler as well. I stepped it up. Let the deer ate for 7 days now and butcher when I have the time, instead of having to do it ASAP. Makes a world of difference in how it tastes and looks
From: Ambush
18-Nov-19
The expensive part could be the 5/8" Acme machine threaded rod and one nut. Weld nut into collar that fits into inside tubing. A few inches of the rod,I lathed to 1/2' to fit the flange bearing.
The expensive part could be the 5/8" Acme machine threaded rod and one nut. Weld nut into collar that fits into inside tubing. A few inches of the rod,I lathed to 1/2' to fit the flange bearing.
Flange bearing is from the Canadian equivalent of Harbour freight. Hand wheel is made from a large bearing race, but you can buy them on Ebay for about $15.
Flange bearing is from the Canadian equivalent of Harbour freight. Hand wheel is made from a large bearing race, but you can buy them on Ebay for about $15.
From: WapitiBob
19-Nov-19
A friend of a friend was selling these 5+ years ago. I think I paid $150 for it.
From: Straight —» Arrow
19-Nov-19
bought an apple Hercules pro many years ago. Very good investment.
From: Trial153
19-Nov-19
Two questions on the homemade press Total cost of materials? Total hours start to finishing include R&D ?