Measure twice, cut once

[J. Holden]

So, I thought I had a 68" osage longbow.  Came in a little under weight and wanted to increase that while thinning the tips as well.  After seeking some advice I went ahead and cut off the tips and tapered the limbs into some new tips.  Well, I thought I cut 3 inches off, my bow is now 63 inches tip to tip.  So, I really gained quit a bit of weight.  Measure twice and cut once my friends.  Please learn from me.    

- Jeremy  

[jsweka]

In the words of Homer Simpson - DOH!

I once went to cut a piece of 72" fiberglass in half.  One half ended up 34" and the other was 38".  Fortunately, the short end was still just long enough for a limb and my form. It was to be a 68" long longbow and for some reason I divided the length of the bow in two rather than the length of the glass.

[kennym]

I was gonna cut some 60" recurve glass in half to ship... guess what I got a 36"(half of regular glass) and a 24"

You could clearly see the difference in the 2 ifn I'da just looked !!

[J. Holden]

Feels good to know I'm not alone in this!  Thanks for the honesty.  On the bright side I got all the weight I was looking for and then some!

-Jeremy  

[wood carver 2]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's done that.
           
Dave.

[Roy from Pa]

I have never screwed up when cutting bows out.

I have never screwed up when cutting bows out.

I have never screwed up when cutting bows out.

Ok, maybe once.

Well maybe twice.

Ah crap, I forgot about the third time..

 

[cunruhshoot]

I was going to keep this to myself but since everyone is being so open and honest...I actually glued up one of my tapers reverse on a bow that I was finally making for myself. I noticed it after I had shaped the limbs and cleaned it all up ready to glue up the nock overlays.

It now hangs over my work desk as a reminder to slow down and look at what I am doing.

[Roy from Pa]

LOL, I've made myself a left handed bow, trouble is I'm right handed  

[Eric Krewson]

Yep, I am a measure once and cut twice guy, many more times than I like to admit.

[Mike Most]

Yeppers, can I join the club...

[J. Holden]

Well Roy, next time remember I'm a lefty!  And one more thing, when you screw up do you add yourself to your thumpin' list?

-Jeremy  

[Ranger44]

Yep, I've done that a time or two.     When it comes to working with wood it's almost impossible to never do this.

It reminds me of the saying one of my old high school teachers used in a different application.

"When surveyed, 90% of people have admitted doing this and 10% are liars."

[Paul/KS]

I have been known to trim an arrow, or 2, a tad too short from time to time...  :eek:  
Helps to have a couple of short bows around to shoot them with then.  

[paoliguy]

I'm with Mr. Roy, made my right handed son a left handed bow. Good thing a kid at church was a lefty. Made me feel a little better!

[Bowjunkie]

I'm a measure twice, cut once, leave a witness kind of woodworker. I don't recall the last time I measured and cut something wrong(knock on wood). However, I make up for it with other types of 'oopses'... the last one resulted in dropping all lams and riser of a longbow, slathered up with glue, onto the floor and into a bunch of osage and yew shavings... like it was tarred and feathered... broke the fadeouts on both ends of the riser and had to make another one immediately... I had epoxy from my armpits to my knees because I tried, ungracefully and unsuccessfully, to catch everything  :(

[Roy from Pa]

Wish I'd have been a little mouse and seen that Bowjunkie:) I'd of laughed my butt off:)

Anymore I measure, check, measure again, check. Think about it then cut..

[monterey]

i usually dont measure at all.  just swag it!  that way the cuts are always as expected

[J. Holden]

On the bright side I achieved the 60 lbs. I was after!  I'd like to say it was intended...

-Jeremy  

[Roy from Pa]

Told ya so dude.