First recurve attempt- Suggestions?

[Elkstalker Jr.]

Dad and I have been building our first bows together and while mine sits in the jig allowing the sinew backing to dry, I'm contemplating my next challenge...  I want to try a recurve selfbow.  I've got an ash stave picked out and ready to go.  I was wondering if anyone had any building plans for a recurve selfbow or knew of a place on the net I could find them?  Ideally I want the finished product to pull 50-60# at 28" (anticipate sticking a white-tail with it, or any other critter that happens by for that matter!).  Would it be better/easier to build it as a flat bow or as a semi-flat/rounded belly?  Any and all help will be greatly appreciated- as I mentioned, I'm a newbie  

[sulphur]

flat bow with be fine.  2" wide at the fades till about 10-12" from the tips.  leaves the tips about 3/4 wide, easier to get smooth recurves that way.  i would steam about 45-60 degree recurves only.  it will be hard to get everything to line up on your first one.  Ash steam really easy though.  make sure the last 8-10" are on the same growth ring, that will help prevent lifting a splinter when you curve it over.

[Pat B]

I haven't made an ash recurve but I would make it wide with a flat belly. 1 3/4" to 2" at the fades and out most of the limb then taper the last 10" or so for your recurves. 62" to 66" t/t.

[ChristopherO]

Like the men said above a flat belly is the way to go for a recurve.

[Art B]

First, start with a stave that's not reactionary in nature. By that I mean you don't want your bow to move around on you when you remove wood or heat it. This can make tip alignment difficult. Just make sure your stave's growth rings don't run thick to thin as viewed from it's end. Retangular limbs also help in tip alignment. Easier to straight edge retangular limbs than say pryamid limbs for example (any side tapering should be done after tips are aligned). Neutral wood aids in long term tip alignment also (for instance, your wood isn't fully seasoned or you forget and leave your bow in a hot car). This is just a few things I consider when building recurves. -ART B

[ChristopherO]

Good points to keep in mind, Art, thanks for the tips.

[Elkstalker Jr.]

Thanks for the info!  Could you please expand on the "tip alignment?"  I'm not exactly sure what you mean by this.  Are you referring to the tips being aligned when viewed from the back/belly, side profile, or both?  Common sense tells me that you'd want the tips to be the same any way you look at them, but just wanting to make sure.  Any other suggestions for tip alignment and for correcting alignment after recurves have been made?  Thanks again!

[Pat B]

When sighting down the bow both tips should be aligned with the center of the bow. Heating and bending is how you realign the tips. Sometimes with self bows it will take 2 or 3(or more) sessions of this tweaking to get everything lined up just right.