Increasing draw weight of a recurve

[Steven_CO]

Has anyone tried to increase the draw weight of a recurve?  I'm not really looking for performance.  Just want to work up to a higher draw weight.  I just don't want to buy another bow just for that weight, just yet.

I'm thinking of adding a paracord backing like backing on some primitive bows, sort of like the view below.  No glue.  Just soak the paracord and whip it on.

 

[SportHunter]

What kind of bow do you have? You can pike selfbows: shorten them 1-2" per tip and cut new string nocks. Also you could just put another set of string nocks on it, or you could put temporary tied on nocks on the tips that effectively shorten the bow and increase draw weight. Really depends on what you have that will tell us what you can do with it.

[Steven_CO]

Sorry.  Guess I thought calling it a recurve would suffice.  It's a factory fiberglass recurve (Damon-Howatt).  I was hoping to avoid irreversible  changes to it, if possible though.

Thanks.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Leave it alone. It is what it is.

[jsweka]

Originally posted by PEARL DRUMS:
Leave it alone. It is what it is.

I agree.  You could end up with no decent bow at all.

[Steven_CO]

Ok - thanks anyway.  I don't think there is enough taper in the limbs to do what I was thinking anyway.

[inksoup]

how about, just thinking, instead of adding the paracord, adding bicycle inner tube layer?

[Steven_CO]

That just might do it.  I'll have to see what I can scrounge to give it a try.

[SportHunter]

Howatts are great bows, leave it as is. Buy another cheap old bow in a higher weight for your workout bow. You can always sell or trade it later.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Adding an innertube will do nothing for you but ruin your bow. You cant increase your draw weight by adding a less tension strong material.