Hackberry layout help

[Citycop]

This is my first attempt at a self bow so I'm going to need a little help along the way.

I have a 68" stave with a little reflex in it. I've got the stave cut down to 1.5" wide, I was thinking to leave the limbs 1.5" wide out to about 18" and then fading down to .5" tips.

How do yall usually do the fades from 1.5" to .5"? I tried using a stright edge but couldnt get them straight.

I also have this knot about 6" from the tip.
 
Should I just run my fade around the knot?

[Citycop]

The lines in the picture show where I was thinking about running the 1.5" almost the full length of the bow to make live around that knot easier.

[John Scifres]

It can get tricky with humps and bumps but I use a straight edge with spring clamps and sight from above and follow the best I can.  Sometimes it's more art than science.  

I wouldn't leave a whole lot of wood around the knot but definitely some.  That close to the tip, you don't want too much extra mass as it will cause handshock and slow the bow down.

[So-Mo Archer]

Go with John on this one...very wise he is.

I use the same method for my fade layouts, make a mark on the tip, then use clamps to position the straightedge from full thickness to the mark. It takes some finesse sometimes, but it should do you right.

So far as the knot, I have yet to be so brave, so I'll be watching and learning with you on that one.

Good luck.

[sulphur]

tillered right,  that knot wont be bending anyway.  John is right about the shock if there is too much mass at that tip.  the bow will be a little out of balance.  I ususally make hackberry 2" wide and start tapering about 4-5" away from the fade.  You plan should be fine though.

[Black Mockingbird]

1.5" wide is too narrow for hackberry,unless you make it bend in the handle and run that width for almost 3/4 of the way out the limbs before any taper to your tips....and hackberry MUST be heat treated.

[Citycop]

I didnt cut all the way to my lines so I kept a little bit of the width. maybe it will work

How long should I do my fades from the handle?

[Pat B]

William, I usually make my handles 4" and the fades 2".