longbow weight reduction

[eric101]

hello ive been away a few years due to my job but im back and need some help or advice.im no bowyer so what have is bamboo backed ipe longbow a friend  made a few years back and it is 64in. 62#@28 i love to get it to between 50 and 55# if possible.dont want to sell it like the bow can anyone help or tell me someone who be interested in doing this.thanks

[macbow]

The best bet would be to re-tiller it to the lower weight.
This would involve sanding or using a scraper in the proper places on the belly reducing the thickness and maintaining the tiller.

[eric101]

Thanks for the info is there anyone you would recommend.I have not gained the knowledge or skill for this and it is very nice bow i will gladly pay for the work.Again i thank you sir.

[macbow]

Well Roy is out he is allergic to Ipe.
Bowjunkie and many others are capable if they had the time.

Too bad your not closer, you could come by and we could fix it up.

[mikkekeswick]

Do not reduce the belly - this will lower the bows efficiency and therefore performance.
Reduce the width. Width reduction will leave the bow at the same strain it is at now at the heavier weight.
Width reduction and weight reduction are proportional. You have a bow that is 62# and want to make it 52# that is a reduction of about 16% so you need to remove 16% of the width.
Also removing width is very easy to do and is something that you could easily do yourself. If you remove even amounts along both edges the tiller won't change and you will be good to go.
The correct tools would probably be a fine rasp then a bastard file then finer file and onto sandpaper 60 , 80, 120 and 240 then refinish.

[eric101]

Thanks i will give that a try.Feel confident i can do that.Small even amounts until get the weight looking for thanks.