R/D bamboo backed Ipe first try glue up** Up date**

[scottm]

This is my first try at an Bamboo backed Ipe.I cut the profile out on the bamboo and sanded it on the belt sander from the center tapered out to the tips.I tapered the Ipe from 3/4" thickness  in the 14" handle secton down to 1/4 thick at the tips.I then roughed it up with the toothing plane.I glued 4.5" of reflex and 1/4" of deflex with URAC 185.Its 1.25 inches wide 66" Nock to nock.Purple heart and Ipe handle.Im nervous about tillering a R/D bow.I guess we'll see what happens.    

[Pat B]

I have a hard time tillering R/D bows also. Keep your mind and eye on what you want for your full draw pic to be and remove anything that doesn't fit! d;^)

[KellyG]

Good luck! cant wait to see her finished

[canopyboy]

I've been struggling tillering r/d as well.  But it seems to me that a good tiller looks about the same at a full draw.  It's the in-between draw lengths that look different which really messes with you as you inch out..

Semo also was working through the same issues with a bbi and r/d.  He figured he'd try to get better at tillering that shape on a bunch of hackberry before trying it on a glue up again.

Good luck.

[Ranger44]

I've been trying to make r/d bows too and the tillering has been tricky.  I seem to have trouble coming in light on the weight.

[scottm]

Update!! Grain lifted on belly while i was sanding glue from the edges.Its fire wood.Thanks for the tips fellas.Im not giving up on an R/D bows, but I think im done with Ipe.

[rainman]

Same problem fellas were having about 8 years ago.  Some guys have real good luck with Ipe others real bad luck.  Blood wood and Beef wood went thru the same cycle as well as Black Palm. My first year at MOJAM 2001 everyone wanted to try it.  2002 no one wanted it.

[scottm]

Well I had pronounced it dead.Then went back and ca glued the crack,clamped it for 2 hours then sanded the belly to 3/8' thick just outside of the fades tapering it to a 1/32 at the tips.I think I may have actually gotten past the depth of the grain that lifted but its hard to tell.Im trying to decide weather to try to glue a 1/8 osage lamination to the belly.Or try to tiller it as it is.Im leaning twords the laminations.I hate to give up but also hate to waste the osage lams.I think ill decide in the morning.Any advice would be appriciated.Thanks,Scott