Started(and finished) my first Hickory selfbow

[CardboardDuck]

I roughed it out today and it is 66" tip to tip and about 5/8" thick. I am making it for my father-in-law for christmas. It is 1 3/4" at the fades and tapers to 1/2" right now. I decided to go with a pyramid style after reading about parallel and pyramid bows until my eyes hurt... Anyways I am shooting for around #40-45 @ 28". It was a really nice stave with some natural reflex and almost perfectly straight grain, but there was a knot and I hope I laid it out so it won't give me a problem...

 
I went around the knot... Can I just cut through it without weakening the handle? The center of the knot is on the edge of where the handle would be.

 
I think I will have to kick the top limb over a pinch

 
Natural reflex

Any comments, concerns, or constructive criticism are always welcome    

[PEARL DRUMS]

Nice. You can just pretend that knot isnt there if you want. Its in the handle and that doesnt move. Shape it as if its solid wood, it wont hurt anything. Thats up to you of course.

[briarjumper12]

I would incorporate the knot into a shelf. Add character and a shelf at the same time. win/win

[Osagetree]

I like the profile real well.

Let's have a horizontal view of that handle from the side.
The knot does not concern me at all, it's the steep, short fades. Looks like it might be a good place for a hinge to break out right off the bat.

Go slow when you decide to start bending it. I don't think you'll have to take off any wood above or below the handle.

[CardboardDuck]

Here is a side view. This is still just roughed out, the handle is not going to be this deep. The actual handle area is 4 1/2" and the fades are 2". I think with the handle looking so deep it is just an optical illusion.

 
This is what it should look like when I am done.

[razorback]

I was with Joe, but that profile looks much better. I am starting my first hickory bow so I will be watching this thread closely. Do me a favor and ask all the questions, so I don't have to  

[Osagetree]

That looks much better, but I'd still take it slow while watching those areas as you go to tiller it out.

I still feel the knot is no problem and you can do away with it and round out your handle with no worries.

[dtarbell]

Youve got the makings for a real fine bow theyre,I also would just shape the knot into the grip,watch the moisture content and you will be real pleased what that stick can do.

[CardboardDuck]

I put on some tip overlays today and did a little scraping. Got it on the short string and worked it for a while. I am still undecided on what on want to do to the handle though. I did cut the knot out and shaped it like the other side.
 

I also straightened it a little, it might need a tad more...
 

It still has some natural reflex  
 

 I think I should make my weight (#40-45)... I hope.

[CardboardDuck]

Well... After some "learning experiences" I am almost ready to put a finish on. I thought everything was going smoothly until for what ever reason it took some set. I was taking tillering slow and never pulled it passed my target weight, but I didn't heat treat the belly... and when I was tillering it was rather humid out.

So I flipped the tips  
 

 

But they didn't want to stay... So, I put some underlays on. (first time trying this)
 

 

 

I put a little arrow pass in.
 

I still have to do some finish sanding, put on a handle wrap (thinking twisted jute) and seal it.

[jsweka]

I like it!!  

[macbow]

Looks nice. Did you hit weight?

[Red Tailed Hawk]

Way to go!!! looks great

[Osagetree]

Looks like you did everyting right. Sometimes hickory just takes a set no matter what you do.

You gotta give us a hero shot at full draw...

[CardboardDuck]

I did hit my weight range, my scale says #43 at 26". I'll try to get a full draw pic up later, it's hard to take a picture of yourself drawing a bow  

[CardboardDuck]

Full Draw

[karrow]

looks great  

[vanillabear?]

[CardboardDuck]

Originally posted by vanillabear?:
Nice Job! The tiller looks really good there. Is your drawing hand in the right spot on the string?

Heh, now that you mention it... it looks a little low. I don't have the serving on the string yet...

[CardboardDuck]

It's finished, I hope he likes it...