Round belly

[ranger 3]

Round belly or flat belly on an Osage self bow? Which is better and why?

[John Scifres]

If for no other reason than looks, I like a rounded belly.

[No-sage]

Your tillering skill will make much more difference in your bows performance then the belly profile.

That said, which do find easier to tiller well?  This sould be the basis of your decision.

[shamus]

either one.

If flat bellied, be sure to round the corners.

[Roy Steele]

The round belly the wood cells compress easyer so it has to be better tillering.Other trhan that just looks.

[Dano]

I'm like Mr. Sci-Fries, cept with hair. The round belly is better lookin and easier to tiller as in Mr. Torges method.

[Pat B]

I use both, depending on the bow but mostly a slightly rounded belly for osage. I'm working on an ALB now that has an almost flat belly but it fit the style of bow I wanted to make. An osage bend through the handle recurve I made last year had a pretty flat belly and I made an ELB with a deep rounded belly and that worked well.
   Osage can handle practically whatever you throw at it and shine.
  Hey Dano. Where ya been?

[ranger 3]

Thanks guys I will be starting another one soon.