cutting in sight window and shelf

[BUCK-EYE]

how high past center line on the center of the handle do you cut the shelf in at? also how far past center do you cut and how high do you cut the sight window,
 it is a one piece recurve 64". thanks

[jsweka]

There's probably no hard and fast rules and depends on the bow and riser design.  

On the longbows I build my shelf is 1 3/4 above the center of the bow, 1/8 out from center, and I really don't know how high the sight window is.  I just eyeball it and rasp away until it looks good.  Now obviously you want to leave plenty of the fade out full width.

[bigbob2]

Like John I cut mine in 1 3/4 above center, but only an arrow width in depth, unless the buyer specifies a deeper shelf.Same again as john with the shelf, eyeball 'til it looks right.

[D]

I cut mine 1 1/4 above center and cut to center but by the time I file and sand it up.  Its probably a little bit past.

[LittleBen]

I cut mine so the shelf is 1" above center.

I usually cut mine just to center as a precautionary measure. I think you can go a bit past center if you want as long as you have a deep sight window say 2.5".

I cut the sight window vertical as hgih as I can go, and fade it back into full width using the 3" drum of a spindle sander or the round end of the belt sander to define the curve. Making sure that the sight window gets back to full width before it fades to less than 1.75" thick roughly.

Hope that makes sense.

[chackworth3]

I go 1 1/8" above center and 1/8" past center.  2 3/4" sight window.  With the strike plate and rest it takes it to almost back to center and about 1 1/4" above.

[BUCK-EYE]

thanks guys! been away for awhile.

[Dan Bonner]

Is it built on 1.5" or 1.75" lams? You can cut deeper shelves if the bow is wider. I cut my shelves 1" above center as I like the shelf to be just a tad above the hand. You have to be careful though so that when you radius the shelf it doesn't dip below the level of the bow hand. I generally cut at least 1/8" past center.  I like to keep a minimum of 5/8" of thickness at the shelf but I reinforce all 1 pc shelves with 1/8" phenolic to allow a deeper cut. The sight window can be cut however you want. On my short bows they may be only 1.5". On a longer bow I may cut them to 5". It doesn't have much effect on durability or performance.

Bonner

[Pete W]

I like to shoot it off my knuckle at diferent places and let the bow tell me where to cut the shelf.