Belly string grooves/Recurve

[Mad Max]

This is how I get my groove on the belly of a Recurve
I put some masking tape on the belly and use some 120 grit sandpaper wrapped around a straight edge to cut the tape.


I use a 1/8" round rasp and a 5/32" chainsaw rasp
Just barely start a groove with the 1/8  and measure for center, I use the 3" line on the scale in the center of the groove and I can see it's off center a bit, I file again pushing to one side to get it centered.


I use the 5/32 just a little, not deep at all
I skip down a bit and do it again with the 1/8 and the 5/32


I connect the lines (still not to deep) and I have measured many times to make sure I going down the center.
The string groove is still to short to make it to the Y
I round over the tips <---> because they will be in the way when I bring my 2 string grooves together.
I put my string on there a mark with a pencil how far my grooves need to go. I needed a picture for that


I file with the 1/8 rasp, up the nock groove and round it over to the belly.
I also extend the belly groove to the Y
NOW I file all the groves deeper, I like mine down into the glass some, some people say not to do it but there are many 50/60 year old bows out there still working.

[Flem]

Nicely done Mark Love seeing the how too's. I've got a 45yr old recurve that I cut into the glass on. It will outlast me I'm sure!

[Mad Max]

 

[Crooked Stic]

That is interesting how you connect the dots so to speak. My opinion on the Y grooves is I dont file them. I feel it weakens that area . More than once I have seen recurve limbs fail and the string went right down the Y groove. Maybe with an overlay it would be okay.

[Mad Max]

 

[Roy from Pa]

Sticky pops, he prolly puts them in there to make the string line up the limb twist:)

[Crooked Stic]

 

[kennym]

Very nice job Mark!