Finally got up the nerve...

[walkabout]

many people will tell you that a bow with some string follow will shoot better and more accurately. 1 3/8" isnt too bad, most ive gotten was about 2" with a board bow that wasnt great wood to begin with.ideally gluing in some reflex would help to even things out, nothing like a recurve is needed but a nice gradual reflex wont hurt. In TBB (not sure which volume) they explain that one of the best performing designs is similar to a pyramid, with wide inner limbs out of the fades, to take the stress that causes set and localize it there rather than spreading it out over the whole limb.

[red hill]

Richard, I think it was in TBB I, that's the only one I have so far.  I read that as well.  I didn't think about glueing in reflex when I began this bow.  
Thanks,
Stan

[walkabout]

no problem.as for how to glue in reflex you have a few options, and ive seen them all used with success. first being building a caul/form, which almost everyone who builds laminates use, although not dual purpose. i personally recently build a caul for heat bending, and as long as the surface stays flat and true i will use it to glue up any laminates i make as well. it seems to have just the right gradual curve for my liking. its 2 1x6 that are screwed together, although i plan on adding a strip of plywood together to make it the full 2" wide. the curve i cut was following a post i found while searching the term"caul", its pretty straightforward. the other option would be putting blocks under the tips and then clamping the handle down to a bench or 2X4, the length of the blocks dictating the amount of reflex. im sure this method would work great as long as you keep the laminations lined up. also, google books has previews of quite a few of TBB series, although some of the material is missing they are good references for much of it until you can buy them.

[red hill]

Thanks, Richard.
Here is a pic of the bow unstrung.

[red hill]

Here it is braced.

[red hill]

Here it is braced.

[red hill]

Sorry about the size and double posted pic.

Here it is at low draw.
 

[walkabout]

i wouldnt complain about the set at all, i think it looks about right for most.pics are a bit fuzzy so i cant really give a comment about tiller, but judging from the top edges of the limbs looks like theyre bending pretty evenly across the limbs. how long is your handle if i might ask?

[red hill]

Here is the bow at a full 26" draw. I've tried to resize pics. Get is down soon.
Stan

[red hill]

Richard, the handle tapers from 5 1/2" to 3 1/2". Measured from the where the osage tapers into the hickory.
Stan

[walkabout]

looks pretty good to me, did you designate a top limb for positive tiller yet? it looks like the left limb is pulling a little further,if it is id make that one the top. good job though, did you hit near your intended weight?

[red hill]

The left limb is 1" longer than the left, I'll use it as the top limb. I was hoping for a hunting weight bow somewhere around 50-55 lbs.  Using a tiller stick and bathroom scale I estimate the pull at 55-57 lbs. Of course this isn't accurate.  I thought after shoot-in and tillering the weight would drop a little.  Final sanding and finishing will also reduce poundage, won't it?
This is about the 8th bow I have made since December.  Most of the others were board bows made by Sam Harper's site and 4est trekker's site. The pyramid bow I made following 4est's thread is still shooting well and is in the mid 40 lb range.  I shoot it well.  I attempted an osage from billets ordered from 3rivers, but it exploded on the first attempted flex. Ahhhhhhhhh!
Thanks for all your input, guys
Stan

[walkabout]

finish sanding and such will drop it by a bit but ive never seen anything substantial. of course i do round everything off at variuos stages so i get a more accurate final draw weight. im guessing with finish and sanding maybe 5 lbs tops.

[Dublin Joe]

Well done.

[red hill]

Thanks, Joel.
Stan

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks very good, Stan. What's the draw length you want? If you want more leave the last 10 in alone and scrape the fades out to mid limb. Jawge

[red hill]

My draw is about 26", Jawge. It feels good when I shoot. Quite a bit stronger than my board bows. Now I just need to shoot it in and finish it.  Was thinking about using Osagetree's camo-stain technique. I've wanted to do that since he posted it and explained the process.

I really appreciate the input from everyone. Hopefully by the next bow trade I'll have gained enough experience and skill to participate.

Thanks, guys
Stan

[red hill]

Alright! I finished this bow and was able to shoot it today.  It shoots well to me and I guess that's what counts.  

It is hickory backed hickory with osage accents and handle. The length is 67" nock-to-nock.  Draw weight is roughly 50-53 lbs. at 26" draw. I put a leather wrap on the handle but need to glue it in place.  Deer antler arrow rest with velcro strike pad and arrow pad. The string is my on make of yellow and brown B-50.

I tried Joe's camo staining but it didn't work out. So I cleaned it off and used a medium stain over the entire bow and finished off with a few coats of clear polyurethane.

This bugger is hunting this fall!  Thanks for the help and encouragement guys.
 
 
 

[red hill]

Wanted to add an update to this thread...
After 5 weeks, 4 missed shots, and numerous blown opportunities I finally connected with a doe!
 

I used the 42 lb. hickory longbow with a 28" carbon express shaft tipped with an old Bear Razorhead.

The shot was less than perfect because she bolted as I released the arrow from 17 yards away.  The broadhead entered the left hind quarter, actually cut through the femur severing the femoral artery and lodged in the abdominal cavity behind and above the stomach.
I knew the hit was solid, even if far back, so I waited for one hour before trailing. There was a good blood trail at first. She fell after about 8o yards and broke the shaft off. From there there was literaly no blood. As I knelt where the shaft was found, I looked up and saw her struggling through the hardwoods.  I backed out for another hour before continueing but still didn't find more blood.  
I've always been persistent in searching for game. I came upon the doe laying in an over-grown logging road in a small mass of pine saplings.  I didn't stop even though she was only 8 yards away. I took one more step, slipped an arrow onto the string and turned only to have her bolt once more.  
One more hour later I came back, found where she had been and was disappointed to find only a little blood.  While kneeling to examine the blood, I heard a deer moving through the brush up ahead.  I continued to look for blood thinking it may have been a different deer.  After 45 minutes of no blood and no deer I returned to the last blood, back in the logging road. As I started out again, I heard the deer movement once more and realized it had to be her.  
I came upon her after another 60-70 yards and she was down.  I was there for her final moments.
This was a thrilling hunt. I arrowed the doe at 7:00 am and tagged her at 11:30 am.
Sorry this post is so long. The feelings of accomplishment are so strong it's hard to explain. I think you guys understand.
 

[Rich Evans]

excellent job and nice bow.