How Deep to Center Cut?

[muskiedaze]

I recently finished a 60", one-piece laminated recurve drawing 47 lbs @ 26 1/2 inches.I cut the sight window to 1/32" past center. 20/16's nock left. 20/18's nock left. Tried 100, 125, and 75 grain heads.(both bare shaft and fletched) 22/16's shot straight but slow. I accidently discover from Viper's book that a bow cut too deep will perform like this so I added a thicker strike plate to the window and the bow tuned much better. This is all counter-intuitive to me, my thinking being that the close to center that the arrow is, the better the bow will shoot.  Apparntly I'm wrong. How do I determine how deep to cut the sight window? Will this vary with draw weight and bow type and design? I've made 22 lam bows so far, which are looking and sometimes shooting progressivly better for the most part, but I'm concerned that I lack an understanding of some fundemental design concepts, and don't even know what questions to ask.I haven't been able to locate anyone or any printed material to help. You guys are my only info source. I would be EXTREMELY gratefull for any assistance you could offer. Thank You all very much.   John

[GINKSTER]

If I may point out, your thinking is flawed. The bow will not shoot better, it will be more tolerant of arrow spine the closer to center it is cut. You'll be able to use a broader range of spines but you still need to properly tune your arrows. I recently made a Hill style bow cut to center and it took me a while to figure that out. I've been where you are. Try a 1916 cut full length with 125 up front. I bet it'll be close.

Richard

[Fletcher]

Personally, I don't want a bow cut past center, esp if shooting wood arrows.  They require too much spine.  The finger release starts paradox and the further in a bow is cut, the stiffer the arrow needs to be to come off straight.  With bows cut past center, that means pretty stiff.  They will shoot pretty well arrows spined heavier, but not when underspined.

[walkabout]

yep, with bows that are further from center you need a lighter spine to shoot well, so closer to center would require stiffer spine.