Crafting A Leather Archery Arm Guard

Making your own archery arm guard can be a great option if you're having trouble finding one that fits you. Arm guards are one of the most important pieces of safety equipment when practising archery, as they protect the inside of your forearm from the bowstring. You can make your own at home using materials such as leather, cord, and glue. The process involves creating a pattern, cutting and shaping the leather, and then assembling the guard using your chosen fastening method. This might involve lacing the guard together or using glue to secure it in place.

How to Make a Leather Archery Guard

Gather materials

To make a leather archery guard, you will need the following materials:

• Paper and pen/pencil to make a pattern for your guard. You can also use these materials to modify your pattern if you need to make adjustments.
• Leather, preferably soft and pliable (1/16″) or thicker heavy-duty leather (1/8″). You will need enough leather to cut out two replicas of your paper pattern.
• Scissors or a sharp blade like a utility knife to cut the leather according to your pattern.
• Sandpaper or a Dremel sanding tool to smooth and round the edges of the leather after cutting. This step helps prevent the leather from snagging on your clothing.
• Beeswax and a Dremel (or any rotary tool) with a polishing bit to polish the edges of the leather. This step is optional but will give your guard a smooth finish and darken the leather.
• Punch pliers (punch tool) to punch out holes in the leather for lacing. The size of the punch pliers should correspond to the size of the holes needed for your lacing method.
• Cord or string to tie the arm guard to your arm. You can use a bungee cord, shoestring, or any flexible string that suits your preference.
• Lace hooks (3 or more) are optional but recommended for easier donning and doffing of the arm guard. You can find lace hooks online or use those typically seen on hiking or outdoor boots.
• Silicone glue to attach the lace hooks to the arm guard, ensuring a secure fit.
• A shoelace or similar material can be used for tying the guard to your arm if you prefer not to use lace hooks.

Make a pattern

Making your own archery arm guard can be a great idea, especially if you are struggling to find one that fits you. The arm guard needs to cover the inside of your forearm to prevent the bowstring from slapping your skin.

To make a pattern, start by drawing out your design on paper. You can first measure your arm and make a draft of your guard on paper, cut it out, and try it on your arm to ensure it covers the areas you want to protect. The typical arm guard for an adult male is 5" wide and about 8" long, but this can vary between brands and sizes. You can also look up different styles online and choose the one you like the best or consider the safest. Remember, the part you really want to protect is the one nearest to your elbow joint.

Once you have a design you are happy with, cut it out and use it as a template to trace the pattern onto the leather. You can use a pencil or chalk to trace the template onto the backside of the leather. You can also modify the pattern to add a cool design to your arm guard.

If you are unsure about your pattern, you can first make a draft with paper and cut it out to check if the size works for you. Paper is easier to modify than leather, so this is a good way to ensure your pattern is just right before you start working with the leather.

Cut the leather

Now that you have your template, it's time to cut the leather. This process will involve tracing your template onto the leather, carefully cutting the leather to the right shape, and then making any necessary adjustments to ensure a perfect fit.

Start by tracing your template design onto the leather. You can use a pencil or chalk to trace the outline of your template onto the back side of the leather piece. Once you have the outline traced, use a sharp blade, such as a utility knife, or sharp scissors to cut the leather. Cut carefully along the traced lines, ensuring that you are cutting on the back side of the leather piece.

The next step is to check the fit. Try the cut leather piece on your arm to ensure that it fits comfortably and covers the necessary area. If adjustments are needed, it's better to cut the leather a bit big at first and then trim it down as needed. This allows for fine-tuning and ensures a perfect, custom fit.

If you are using very hard or thick leather, you may need to use special cutting materials to cut through the material. Additionally, consider the type of tie you plan to use for your arm guard, as this may influence the cutting process and the number of leather layers you require.

Once you have cut and adjusted the leather to the desired shape and size, you can move on to the next step of rounding the leather edge to smooth out any roughness and prevent snagging.

Round the leather edge

To round the leather edge of your archery arm guard, you will need to smooth the edges of the leather to prevent it from snagging on your clothing while you wear it. You can do this by using sandpaper or a Dremel sanding tool to sand down the edges of the leather. Focus on smoothing the edges rather than shaping the leather at this stage.

After sanding, you can polish the edges of the leather with a Dremel or any rotary tool and some beeswax. This step is optional but will give your arm guard a nice, smooth finish and darken the leather a bit. Apply the beeswax to the polishing tool, turn it on, and run it across the edges of the leather. The beeswax will melt on contact and give you a nice, durable edge.

If you want to achieve a perfect rounded corner, you can use a corner round punch specifically designed for leather crafting. These tools can be found online and will help you create clean and uniform cuts. Alternatively, you can use a beveler to round out the edges before using sandpaper. This tool will help you achieve a more rounded edge, but it is not necessary if you are happy with a slightly more angular shape.

Remember to take your time and make precise cuts when working with leather. This will ensure that your pieces align correctly when glued together and save you time and frustration in the long run.

Punch holes

Now that you have your materials and pattern ready, it's time to move on to the next step: punching holes. This step is crucial as it will allow you to secure the lace hooks and cord to your arm guard. Here's a detailed guide on how to punch the holes:

Firstly, if you've marked out the holes on your paper template, you can lay this template back onto your leather and mark the spots where the holes need to be punched. Use a small thumb tack, pin, or needle to make a mark as close to the centre of the template hole as possible. This will ensure accurate placement for your holes.

Now, take your punch pliers and position them over the marks you've just made. Squeeze the pliers firmly to punch through the leather and create a hole. Punch pliers typically come with assorted-size punch holes, so select the appropriate size that matches your template holes. The goal is to make the hole just small enough for your chosen cord to fit through snugly, allowing for easy sliding through the leather.

If you're installing lace hooks, make sure to punch larger holes for the lace hook fasteners. These holes should be big enough to accommodate the hook mechanism comfortably. If you're opting for a simpler design without lace hooks, simply mirror the punch holes on both sides of the arm guard. This way, you can manually tighten the laces each time you put on the guard.

In case you don't have punch pliers, an alternative method is to use a sharp utility knife to carefully cut out the holes. This method requires a steady hand and precision, so take your time and cut slowly to achieve a clean hole.

Remember to double-check the placement and size of the holes before proceeding. Ill-placed or incorrectly sized holes can affect the overall fit and functionality of your arm guard.

With the holes punched, you're now ready to move on to the next step of adding lace hooks and lacing the cord.

Frequently asked questions