Item:Book of master shaping instructions/Chapter 1/Bowcrafting instructions

A page of the Book of master shaping instructions, chapter 1: bowcrafting instructions.

Book	Book of master shaping instructions
Chapter	1
Lowest book	Apprentice

The book page below is quoted as read in game on 11 November 2026. Page numbers shift when recipes are added or the books are re-sorted; the chapter page has the current list.

Book page

You page through the chapter and begin to understand how bows are crafted.  The first step is to locate lumber in a sufficient quantity for the type of bow being crafted.  Although many bow are comprised of a single piece of wood, it is often necessary for have enough lumber on hand to allow the crafter to be selective.  The extra wood is also useful in some designs as backing material or inlays for the grips.  Crafters should always refer to the ingredients list to ensure all components are on hand before beginning work.
Once the wood is selected and the page is studied, a drawknife is required.  By scraping the lumber with the drawknife it will begin to take shape and flatten out where needed.  After this step, a carving knife is needed.  Repeated carving of the bow stave is necessary, though every piece of wood presents its own challenges.  Often the crafter will run into problems that require other tools to sort out.
For example, knots may obstruct the carving process.  To remove these you can use a rasp and scrape the unfinished bow.  This tiny file is better suited for such delicate work than a knife.  Other times the bow may benefit from shaping with a wood shaper more than whittling with the knife.
Composite bows have an additional step here.  After assembling in a backer material, they will require the application of glue followed by pushing it into clamps to secure it for drying.  Older adhesives would take weeks to cure, but the new formulations set extremely quickly with good results.  All bows will need to be pushed into clamps towards the end of the carving process so they may be tested for draw strength and a balanced flexion of the limbs.  This step is followed by additional shaping to even out any defects
At last the bow will be ready to be assembled with bow string and finished by applying stain to it.  The stain provides sufficient protection from normal use, but an additional finishing enhancement is available to lacquer and seal the material for adventurers seeking a more rugged construction.