Sides on limbs

[Axes bows n knives]

Hey guys I have made a few selfbows and was wondering if it is best to square the sides from the belly and back at sharp angles, I mean I would sand them to not have any sharp corners but would it be best for them to be flat on the sides or more rounded on the sides?

[hova]

usually everyone will tell you to round em up. my first two breaks the edges were rounded , but the one that i have thats held together , i rounded the whole side , not just the edges of the sides. on a selfbow , youre probably going to have a bit of angle there still , but i'd say round em up really good.


dont go too fast sanding either. i skipped 150 grit and went from 80 to 220 , and i have scratches in some places. that will teach me to rush...

-hov

[Pat B]

Your sides should be perpendicular to the back and belly unless you have a trapizoidal cross section. You should however round all of the edges to the diameter if a pea or slightly less. Rounded corners are less likely to lift a splinter and it softens the lines of the bow making it look better. IMO

[PEARL DRUMS]

I second Pats way......

[Art B]

I always seem to get mine too rounded. Looks better to me that way. Well rounded corners are less likely to get dinged or damaged with use, thus aiding in longevity of the bow.......Art

[John Scifres]

I remember a quote from Jim Hamm several years ago that went something like this:

 

The corners on the back of your bow should have the same radius as the period at the end of this sentence.  

I personally disagree but it's fun to have different opinions out there.  I like rounded corners on osage and a touch sharper on whitewoods. Mostly 'cause my gurus told me so.  Rounded corners look better to me on osage.