2nd Bow almost Done

[mastin03]

Just in the midst of putting the finishing touches on my second bow and thought id share a few pictures. Bamboo Backed Hickory R/D board bow. 64"ntn, and 35#@28" (or at least im assuming it still there, i stopped tillering 35#@27 to give some room for shooting in and final sanding.) Made this one for my girlfriend since she wants to start shooting trad with me, and she shoots a compound now, so i didnt want to overbow her right out of the gates. Riser and tip overlays are laminated purple heart and hickory. Im probably a little biased, but i sure think that its coming around nicely. Pictures here are after the first coat of tung oil was applied and it hasnt been buffed out, so there are a few spots that look a little iffy....I just wanted to share some pictures. Ill get some more pics up with the happy new owner after finish is complete....as always, critique and comments are greatly appreciated!!

Riser
   

Arrow Pass
   

Side View
   

Tips
   

   

Full Draw
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Brace
   

[woodenwonder]

Very nice second bow! how does it shoot?

[mastin03]

i would say overall really good.  Its very well behaved with almost zero handshock.  The only thing that i dont like so much is that I didnt take it far enough during floor tillering and had to move A LOT of wood to get down to weight, and the limbs took a little more set than i would have liked, making the deflex more pronounced.  I think this is stealing a little speed, but overall, im pretty happy with it.  Not a screamer, but it shoots where you look and doesnt jump out of your hand on the shot.

[razorback]

Very nice bow. i like the wedge in the riser, nice touch.

[Pat B]

Your bow looks very nice. You could remove some wood from nearer to the handle on both limbs so they bend almost to the fades. The width of your limb tips may be where the shock is coming from. By leaving the tips thicker but reducing the width you reduce additional physical weight without removing the strength. This will help to lessen the shock.  Pat

[mastin03]

thanks for the kind words gents...

Pat, Im always a little skeptical about how close to the riser I want to get the limbs to bend.  I have read so many times about risers popping off that i guess i tend to stay out on the limb a bit to far.  Oh well, something to work on next time!  

nocks are about 1/2" at the very tip....could i go to 3/8 on the next one and even slim the width down over the entire length of the nock without compromising stability?

[Pat B]

If you look at the thickness of the bow material at the riser and the way the limb material tapers down to the actual limb belly surface you should have enough there so your handle doesn't bend. That fade area is where the handle "fades" into the limb; the transition from the non-bending to the bending section. As long as the handle area itself doesn't bend the handle shouldn't pop off.
  As for the tips, I usually leave the last 6" of each limb tip thicker and reduce the width, in a gradual taper, to 3/8" at the string groove.