Updated! Rollercoaster stave: a ride-a-long (take 2). . DONE!! Finished pics:)

[k-hat]

Much food for thought Steve, really appreciate it.  

Now that the back has been exposed to the air, i can see the grain a lot better.  so in the future, i'll chase then let'r sit a while to get a better contrast on the back.

I had plenty of meat to deal with for the light bow i'm doing, but i completely agree that it would be easy to go too far.  

I did finish the side profile before any real floor tillering.

I'm really enjoying this one, can't wait to git'r done!

[k-hat]

So i know the long string lies, but this is ridiculous!!    :eek:  

Low brace:
 

Unbraced:
 

Can u say POSITIVE TILLER?!  it's ok to laugh, i did soon as i strung it!         it was looking much nicer before the short string, and i knew that would change as soon as i low braced it, but that was a surprise.
I did quite a bit more work on it this morning and it's getting there.  Lightnin up the right side, working inner and outer limb on left.  I should have it looking right on low brace come tomorrow.  

Here's how i'm finessing my belly taper:
 I'm using a small c-clamp set to a low gap.  I place one side against the belly and the other above the back, slide it down and watch the gap change.

 

Do have to watch out for little bumps and ridges on the back, but it's easy to see where the taper is flat or or limb is too thick.  Did most of that this morning after i saw my 3" positive tiller, so it doesn't reflect in the pics.


Here is a problem area I saw the other day.  A crack probly from not being so careful while doing the lateral string alignment corrections.  It runs back to belly on one edge:

 
 

My plan is to finish the initial tiller, back it, and wrap/glue it before i do any serious heavy bending.  That way i won't have to worry about removing belly material from this area.  it doesn't open up at all with what i've done so far.

For the wrap:  arty sinew, nylon serving, or dacron?

[Art B]

I wouldn't be comfortable with a wrap myself. A patch would be stronger.

[k-hat]

I saw how they did a patch in TBB3, don't think i have the set-up to do that, and it may be above my pay-grade at the moment   :rolleyes:

Thanks for the suggestion though!

[k-hat]

Made some more progress this morning, still have some work gettn her evened up:
here's yesterday:
 

and today. . .
 

Here's some pics on the tiller block, then a video of the bending:

 
 


video link:
 http://s1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/?action=view¤t=120120_001-1.mp4

[k-hat]

I was exercising the limbs after wood removal and . . . CRACK!  Lifted a large splinter on the back, right down the middle, bout 8-9 inches long.  Here's the damage:

 

The culprit is a sneaky little pin knot that i missed, or neglected since it was sooo small . . .

 

I know this just shows my inexperience in dealing with staves, so it's a little embarrassing:(


I'm gonna patch'r up and back her.  Here's what i have... superglue, TBII, arty sinew, nylon serving thread.  What is your recommended fix on this?  Should i wrap before i apply the backing or after?  Either using silk or linen.

Arrrrgh!      

Thanks for any and all help!

[k-hat]

Got some of the runnier type super glue and glued the splinter back down.  Kinda made a mess as it ran out when i pressed it down, but it's cleanupable:)

The splintered limb is holding up nicely, did a little mild tillering this morning.  There's only about 1/8" difference in the gap at midlimb, may leave as is and go on and start working both limbs, after I back it of course.

 

It looks like that curved tip isn't wanting to bend when i pull short on it, but i'm thinking it may open up more as full draw approaches?

The taper right now is only at about 1/16" from end of fade to the recurve.  It's the mildest taper i've done so far.

[k-hat]

Well here she is all done up and ready.  This one i'm going to call "Eve" because she was a lot of firsts for me:  first bow from a stave (from my first harvested tree), first character bow, she's strung with my first handmade string, first rawhide backed bow (THANKS AGAIN BEVAN on PA!!).  Coincidentally, i also cracked my lower left rib     :eek:    while she was coming about lol (but not as a result of working on the bow).  I Think Eve is a fitting name.

57" ntn, just a hair under 20#@25", 1 1/4 inch wide for most of the width, narrows to about 5/8" tips.  Not much set to speak of, surprisingly, i think about an inch.  The midlimb wrap on the top limb is functional, the others are just deco.  I've never decorated a bow this much, i usually let the wood shine, but i think i like it:
 

 

 
borrowed this pose from Ken i think    :D  

And the money shot:
 
This is my son doing a good job helping with the pics.  My wife didn't want to have her pics on the internet lol

I REALLY appreciate all the help and encouragement given by all the folks here, couldn'ta done it without ya!  Looking forward to doing one like this in a hunting weight!

NOTE:  the rest of the build was finished over on PA, got tired of double posting.  Lots of good help on that thread from other more experienced bowyers:

 http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,30090.105.html