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Hello all- Wondering if anybody here has ever made violin or cello bows? Any pics, tips, or general words of wisdom? Suggested reading? Thanks in advance!

I think you might be out of luck. I've never heard anyone here mention that they made bows. Violin makers usually don't make bows. Bow makers are specialists.

Bill Moll doesn't post here much, but he has been and is a bow maker. His started in this business in violins and bow making. He still has many of the tools and parts and if gets a request does them. I was shocked when I found out how prized and how much a bow can bring. More than a guitar. I always thought when one bought a violin the bow was just part of the package. Not so in the pro world of violins.
Just talking to him over this subject came up a lot in the shop. This is a very specialized thing to do. He noted how the wood (some rosewood I can pronouce but not spell) from Brazil is getting hard to get and expensive, it has to be graduated just right and very tight spec's it is not just a turn on lathe and go for it thing. Schools teach this as much as the making of the violin as it is harder to do and the bow can cost more than the instrument if done righrt. It was fancinating hearing him talk about them and how they are done.

The Fall 2007 issue of American Lutherie has an interesting article on re-hairing a bow. They have a pretty good searchable index and I'm guessing that the index would be a good starting point.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC