hbi ??

[soy]

I had royally messed up a perfectly good blank of Hickory backed ipe...or so I thought I'm making it into a bow for my boy now...it is 58" ntn 1 1/8 wide@ the fades to just under 1/2" at the tips....the question I have is I need to reduce weight do I continue removing from the belly which is getting thin or do I remove it from the sides? I am happy with the tiller bit I don't want to ruin a bow by thinning one vs the other any suggestions would be greatlyappreciated, thank you, thad

[soy]

sorry I forgot to mention I trapped the back and I also forgot to post pics
 
 

[Bowjunkie]

Yes, you can narrow the sides to reduce weight without affecting tiller. Just be careful to remove the same amount of material from each edge.

I think 1 1/8 is a good width though. How much weight do you want to lose yet? If you get too narrow, you'll begin to lose lateral stability, and since I like my bows with a fully radiused belly anyways, I would leave it 1 1/8" wide and add in the necessary facets on the belly, and round it over through the course of tillering and nearing target weight. Expecting to lose several pounds or more, depending on how deeply it's rounded.

I've never made an ipe bow, but from what I hear of its strengths, it should easily handle a radiused belly.

You should aim to have all trap facets and belly facets established, and have a good tiller at target weight about 4-5" short of full draw. Then when you round over what's left of the belly facets, sand the whole bow, make any final minute tiller corrections in the last inch or two of draw, you should be able to hit weight.

[LittleBen]

What is the draw weight now? What is your target draw weight?

I don't think trapping in necessary with Ipe. It shouldn't chrysal under hickory. Mor eliekly your hickory will splinter.

[soy]

I have not put it on the scale it is 6" to strong for the boy now ...gonna round the edges and sand it recheck thanks for the help

[macbow]

I've made a lot of BBI bows don't think. It would be,much different than hickory.
Looks like you have plenty of Ipe left. I've had it as thin,as 1/8 inch in the R/d,area on kids bows.
So I't make it thinner watching,tiller,as I,removed wood.