quick question about making a board bow

[tradsniper]

I am going to try to make the red oak bow from poor folks website and on page four about shaping the belly it shows 1/4" on one side and 3/8" on the other side. why is it like this?

[Pat B]

I don't understand. Thickness or width? If the limb were shaped like that the limb would twist as it was drawn.
 I remove wood until the limbs bend the way I want them to and at the full draw weight I want. Every piece of wood is different so I don't care about thickness measurements just how the limb bends.

[sulphur]

the 1/4 line is a guide for rounding off the edges of the limbs.  that you keep everything uniform.  most planes or rasps cut sharp corners easier,  so by rounding the corners first its easier to remove the wood along the limb for your thickness taper.  it might help if you check out my video build along.  just to give you another perspective.  Sam's build is great, its what i used on my firt.  here's mine.
 

[walkabout]

like sulphur said the 1/4 inch line is a guide for rounding the corners, whereas the 3/8 is the final thickness of the limb

[walkabout]

keep in mind though every piece of wood is diferent, so you may end up with something a lil diferent than the specs sam has on there. all depends on how well its tillered and how light/heavy you want the draw.