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How to Make an Archer's Thumb Ring

Using Simple Tools

Thomas Duvernay, 1997

Re-printed with permission from

INSTINCTIVE ARCHERMAGAZINE

Anyone who is wishing to shoot a style of Archery that uses the so-called "Mongolian

Draw" needs to have a thumb ring. While most traditional thumb rings are made of horn,others are made from metal, stone or plastic. We will work on the plastic type in this

article.

The procedures in this article are somewhat simplified, so there are two basic

assumptions: you have at least a basic knowledge of how to use the below-mentionedtools and you are able to extrapolate from the information given.

First, as the title states, you will need a few simple tools. These include a hack saw (or

band saw), flat file, half-round file, round file, electric drill (with appropriately sized bit,

depending on your thumb size), and 100-200 grit sandpaper.

Next, you need a source of plastic. We will use a billiard ball.

1 . Mark the billiard ball into thirds (each ball is enough material for three thumb rings).

2. Find a way to support the ball while cutting (assuming you are using a hack saw). A

vise would be a secure way, but in our demonstration the man making the thumb ring,

Mr. Shim Jin Bo, just balanced it on top of a kerosene container (the top had anindentation).

3. Alternately, cut into the lines you have drawn, a little bit at a time, until you have the

thirds separated.

Now we will start shaping our thumb ring. The filing is not necessarily done oneprocedure at a time; you can alternate.

4. Take a flat file and start taking down the outer sides (the same as the outer side of the

ball).

5. With a file, start rounding the inside.

6. Locate where your thumb hole will be and drill the hole.

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7. Using the round file, start rounding out the inside of the hole.

8. Start filing the inside tip.

Mark a billiardball into thirds

prior to cutting

Working down the outer

sides with a flat file

Example showing

finger-hole ridgeThe finished thumb ring

9. Optionally, you can add finger hole ridges.

NOTE: At the apex of the ring, a small dip should be filed, with a shallow groove and a

cross-secting ridge. The reason for this is that the string needs to rest next to your thumb,

otherwise the string might slip.

File away, until you have reached the desired size and shape. Upon completion of that,take the sandpaper and water and sand the thumb ring smooth. Mr. Shim was able to do

the entire procedure in about two hours. It took me about two hours to fashion my first

ring (without polishing) using Mr. Shim Jin-Bo's procedure. Then 1 made one usingpower tools. I used a band saw to cut the billiard ball, a disk sander to grind out the

thumb-ring shape, a drill for the thumb hole, and an 8" round file. This method took me

less than one hour.