Here are some photos from today's session on the first try at a trade bow.
Cut the length down to 66'' overall, going for 64-65'' NTN. Going to recurve the tips after I get it bending some more. I plan on recurving it about an inch more than I took the hickory bow since some will work its way out in tillering. Probably end up with 2-3'' of recurve after tillering. The hickory retained 1 5/8'' recurve out of 2 1/2'' recurve after tillering.
Took it from rough blank to slightly bending today & leaned the handle down since I may try to use that area for some of the straightening. The limbs were worked down from a rough 2'' wide to 1 3/4'' wide. Might be building a caul to reflex it slightly. Still have some prop twist so I need to work on that as well.
I really like working with the stave type of material instead of the board bows I've dealt with. Seems easier to read the wood while working on it.