Hickory backed pecan build

[Keith Wolfe]

This is a rebuild for a friend that had my first limb failure in a long time. That was un-backed hickory with walnut handle. I think I crowned the belly too much. This time I'm doing hickory backed pecan. I got three backing strips and this was the best one but it has heart wood and sap wood. To match the backing strip better the handle blanks are made of layers of contrasting hickory and pecan that have lots of character. I made a miniature of the belly half of the handle to see how the layers would look before i glue the handle on and i think it's going to be pretty cool. The backing strip is glued on but i still have to thin it to 1/8th inch. I still have to draw the limb thickness on the side of the bow once i get the backing strip to proper thickness. Then i can glue on the handle and really make some progress on the bandsaw and belt sander.

[fujimo]

i am open to correction on this, but based on what i have read- is pecan not deemed to be similar in properties to hickory?
i have never used pecan before- but built a few hickory and HBH bows.
others will offer their opinions soon i bet!

if it is to be treated like hickory- being that it is stronger in tension than in compression, personally, i would not be "radiusing" or crowning  the belly, i would be building it wider, maybe trap the back- and toast the belly.
i think if one wants to build a crowned belly on a bow- and i do agree they do like quite spiffy, i would use a wood on the belly more suitable for that- but would still trap the back- to try and help equalize the forces at play.
just my thoughts 

[KenH]

Pecan IS a species of Hickory.  Both are the Latin genus Carya.  Pecan is Carya illinoinensis and is native to northern Mexico and the southern US.

[Keith Wolfe]

I agree!!! After the failure deffinitely not crowning belly. On the first one it wasn't crowned per say but I was close on draw weight and got to desired weight by rounding belly corners more....definitely much more than the back. It really sent me back to school and created self doubt so in my extensive post mortem,  I believe this was a big problem. I may not "trap" but instead just do the opposite and do more rounding on the back

[Keith Wolfe]

[Keith Wolfe]

I decided against the many layer handle and did solid calico hickory on both sides. Hickory backed pecan. 71" nock to nock. 45lbs at 31". Wife wasn't here to get full draw pic but tillered carefully and slowly and it was doing just what I wanted it to. Reinforced the skinny tips and did and epoxy glaze on the tips that turned out pretty neat. This one was slow amidst house remodel and adopting a baby but i got her done and pulling nice and far with not a dreaded tick to be heard. Delivered it the other day with confidence. It may be the redoo of a blow up but alls well that ends well and that failure sent me back to school and re-taught me some lessons i may have been disregarding. In the long run that bow failing a year ago and this "get back on the horse" bow right here made me a better bowyer.

[Flem]

Looks nice!
I don't know if I'm seeing it right, but it looks like the tip reinforcement is on the belly side?
In the same picture it looks like some serious grain runout near the tip?

[Keith Wolfe]

You see right and yes grain run off. Its backed and it was close to the tip on the linger limb so it worked out.

[Keith Wolfe]

[Eric Krewson]

Full draw pic?

[Keith Wolfe]

I know!!! Doh. Wife wasn't there and had to drive it out to ft worth. I don't use a tillering stick so can't take them myself. I do a high brace height and use a block. Phobia against not feeling it when I pull. crazy  i know. I'll try to get one from the recipient. I normally get one but didn't this time. My bad!!!!

[Keith Wolfe]

Normally tiller is on point, infact, posted full draw on the one that blew that caused the rebuild and consensus was good. Ithink the guy pulled the first one to his ear like his compound and he's 6'3" so bam. He has been educated now, which he said he was

[Flem]

It's actually pretty easy to take a self shot. Has to be if I figured it out. You prop your camera or phone and make sure you are in the frame, set it to video and hit play. Then after you upload it to your computer, all you have to do is take a screen shot off the video.

[Crooked Stic]

How about the 10 sec. timer on your phone after you get 'er propped up.

[Keith Wolfe]

See there? This is why I'm on here. Didn't think of that but I'm going to try that one out!!!