An archer’s bow represents the owner’s personality. In fact, bows can be just as unique as the archers themselves when customized to reflect their approach to archery.
Some archers name their bow, but all archers tailor their draw length and draw weight to suit their needs. Such specifics create one-of-a-kind equipment. Other archers go even further to ensure their bow’s unique identity. Wood-burning a “tattoo” onto your bow is a great way to express your individuality on the range. And why not? Just look around. Many archers tattoo their bodies, permanently stamping meaningful symbols onto their skin.
If you’re new to wood burning, learn more with this tutorial.
Not Your Average Bow
Be warned, however, that it’s unsafe to wood-burn your mark onto a bow’s back. Ravenbeak Natureworks cautions that a bow’s back endures considerable stress and tension when being shot. You’ll weaken that part of the bow by burning or chipping away wood to make custom patterns. The best spot for a wood-burned decoration is the bow’s belly – the surface facing the archer when drawing the bow.
Shooting Arrows in the Moonlight
If you’re a DIYer, buy a pyrography (wood-burning) set to create your own brand. The design on this moon is small, but its lines are thick. A wood-burning set with interchangeable tips lets you make the pattern as thick or thin as you desire.
Release the Dragon
Tattoo your bow with a powerful animal, real or mystical. If you want your bowstrings to breathe fire, try emblazoning your bow with a mighty dragon. Fire cannot kill a dragon, right? “Game of Thrones,” anyone? Designs like that require a finer tip and linework. If you’re not confident in your artistic abilities, take your bow to an archery shop and hire a professional to “tat” it up.
As you can see, there’s no reason to limit cool tattoos to just your body. Consider taking these customization cues and give your bow a DIY “tattoo” that makes it stand out, too. Once adorning your bow with brand new “ink,” show it off by visiting a local archery range and drilling some bull’s-eyes.
