Design advice and low draw weights

[DesertFox]

I want to make a bow for my girlfriend, but she's never used a bow in her life (or her arm muscles, for that matter) so she needs a very low draw weight. I tend to have issues hitting lower target weights, is that common?

As for the design, I was going to use some more of the hickory I have here to make a slender ELB with recurved tips (I just love bending wood  :p ). Could hickory take the D shaped belly AND recurved tips without breaking? It'll also be about 61" total length, like my last one.

[4est trekker]

Hickory is best suited for a flat bow.  Being weak in compression, it doesn't handle D cross-section of the traditional ELB.  The few ELBs I've made of hickory either fretted or took more set than is acceptable.

[DesertFox]

Thanks, 4est.

I has heard hickory was bad in compression, so I wasn't sure it would work...

[Pat B]

I agree with 4est.
  You could make it with a flatter belly but still relatively narrow and even trap it positive to the belly(wider belly than back). At a low draw weight you shouldn't have a problem. If you add recurves you will be increasing the draw weight and adding more stress to the limbs.

[walkabout]

im with these guys, from what i know a true english longbow D shape is harder to tiller than a flatbow. with a flatbow you can get it close then trap the limbs or thin their width to get the weight you want.

[George Tsoukalas]

I'm not an elb fan. When I make bows for my daughter or children I make them as tall as the person and they are flatbows.  They are usually an inch to a.25 in and bend in the handle. Jawge