How to Make Bow Targets Out of Inner Tubes

Used bicycle inner tubes can be recycled for target practice.

A round target made out of rubber inner tubes is ideal for archery practice because the soft impact surface of the rubber prevents the archer's target areas from breaking, which is a common problem when using solid boards as a target. A rubber inner tube target, when it is completed, will look a lot like a large hockey puck constructed out of coiled tubing.

Things You'll Need

• Multi-tool with knife, saw blade and pliers attachments
• Bicycle tire inner tubes
• Heavy-duty sewing needle
• Heavy-duty waxed thread
• Thimble
• Disposable paint brush
• Contact cement
• C-clamp
• Wooden Shim
• Plywood backing board with mounting bracket

Instructions

1. Cut the inner tubes at the point where the air inlet valve joins the tube, removing the valve with the blade attachment on the multi-tool. If the inner tubes are particularly difficult to cut, consider switching to the saw blade multi-tool attachment.

2. Roll the first inner tube into a spiral disk shaped so that it lays flat on the table. Stitch the inner tube into the disk configuration by stitching each layer to its neighboring layer within the spiral shape.

3. Stitch the end of the next inner tube to the preceding inner tube and wrap the inner tube around the spiral disk shape tightly, increasing its size. Stitch the newly wrapped inner tube into place using the same method as the central inner tube. Repeat this step until all of the inner tubes have been used or until the target reaches the desired size.

4. Brush the contact cement onto the backside of the inner tube target disk. Place the inner tube disk onto the back board side without the hanging bracket. Clamp the two pieces together with the c-clamp, with the wooden shim under the clamp's screw contact to distribute the force evenly. Allow the contact cement to dry, as per the instructions listed on the contact cement packaging.

5. Drive a nail into the desired target mounting location with the hammer, leaving only about half an inch of the nail head raised from the surface. Hang the target on the nail.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a thimble to comfortably allow for some extra needle pushing leverage. In extreme cases where sewing is difficult, try using the multi-tool pliers to push and pull the needle through the rubber.

• A lot of money can be saved in this project by using the inner tubes from already damaged bicycle tires; even if they are slightly worn out and cannot hold pressure any longer, they will still be able to do the job for an archery target project.

• Use eye protection while stitching the inner tubes since there is a chance the sewing needle might break.

• Use disposable neoprene gloves to avoid direct skin contact with the contact cement.

• Use a thimble to prevent accidental piercing injuries from the sewing needle.

References

• Marc Carlson: Threads in Sewing Leather
• Liberty Bikes: Selecting Tires