My First 2 Bows..Daddy/Daughter set..R/D BBI Build Along

[macbow]

I take it the 3/8" you refer to is,at,the tips?
If so that is a good width.
The tip overlays can wait till after tillering in case you want to cut off some (pike) to gain weight.

You can cut the string grooves just on the sides for tillering.

[Roy from Pa]

Nice, Carl..

[8leg-lover]

Thanks Roy! I found Eric's BBI build from 2013 and saw where you and others really helped him out. It's been a huge help!
I didn't do a power lam so I'm a little concerned about my handle possibly popping off (mainly my bow because of the weight).
I got my handle joints married up pretty good on both bows considering the tools I've been using (jig saw, four inch grinder w/sanding disc, and a palm sander).

Macbow, Yes my tips are 3/8". My thoughts are that since I made my tips narrower, I now have the full 7/16" Ipe limb thickness to tiller and make weight. Since I made my bamboo too thick, I should have plenty of wood left after tillering to not be thinner than the boo. So hopefully I won't have any major set or overpowering issues.

[Roy from Pa]

When you tiller the bow, don't let the area just outside of the riser ends bend hardly at all. Don't even remove wood from the riser ends out into the limbs about 4 inches till you are almost done tillering. That area will bend all on it's own. Many a new guy has lost a bow because of getting that area too thin and causing a hinge there.

[8leg-lover]

That makes sense Roy. Stay away from that area, the less it moves the less chance for a hinge or handle issues.

Roy, what's the benefit to cutting the tips off at an angle and then gluing on the tip overlays?

[Roy from Pa]

Just how I do it. You don't want real thick tips, adds weight. Causes hand shock and slows down the bow.

[8leg-lover]

Should my temporary string grooves be filed in at about 45 degrees? That's about what they look like from the pics I've seen.

[Roy from Pa]

File the back first then hold a string in that slot and pull it down in the center of the limb on the belly side and trace that out with a pencil. Last couple bows I haven't put slots in the sides of the limbs.

[8leg-lover]

A little more progress last night. I started with mine. Got it floor tillered and temp string grooves in.
 
I beveled and sanded all the edges. I put it on the tree just to get a feel for it. I just flexed it enough to get the tips to move a couple of inches. It's pretty stout right now.

I'm staying away from the fades like you guys said (about 5 inches right now). I'm pretty happy with the handle glue up considering the tools I've been using and the fact that it's my first one.  
 
Question: Should I go ahead and get the fades shaped now or wait until I get the weight down a little more and the limbs flexing more?
Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Martin Schutte]

Those look awesome, it is a blessing that you have almost unlimited access to bamboo that look so good!!    

That work shop looks like it is never used it is so clean mine looks like a war zone after these couple of weeks work(knife making for a knife show)!!

Keep up the the good WIP

Martin

[Roy from Pa]

One suggestion Carl, put a shorter string on the bow. Put on one that lays tight against the belly when the bow is strung. Then when the limb tips are bending down to 6 inches, shorten the string so the bow is braced to about 3 inches. Then when the tips are bending to 9 inches, brace the bow to 6 inches and continue tillering. One word of caution here, because of the amount of reflex you have, sometimes at a lower brace height, the string can roll off one side and string the bow backwards. If that starts to happen, you will need to shorten the string to bend the tips more to prevent that situation. I would also get the riser cut down closer to the finished profile. It's awful thick right now.

[macbow]

Looks like you did a good job on the handle.
Follow Roys suggestions.
That is a lot of reflex more than I usually have. But I like the curves.
When you are tillering don't remove much from the last 6 to 8 inches of the tips you can blend them in later.

[8leg-lover]

Disaster!!

 

I was trying to get it braced at 3 inches and POW!! I was good though. I didn't even throw anything! It split the bamboo backing too far down to pike it so I ground the entire backing off the bow (this took a while). I wasn't too upset since I had made it too thick to begin with and I had one more piece of boo left.

 

 

Despite my setbacks and mistakes, I'm enjoying myself and learning a lot as I go.

[8leg-lover]

Well I salvaged it. I ended up tapering the belly so l would have a thicker handle section. This made for a much lighter bow but I've learned a ton. Right now it's 58" n/n @ 37ish pounds. Do you think it's worth piking to 56" to try and get a few more pounds out of?
Sorry for the lighting. I've got an antler chandelier hanging above and to the right. It throws some crazy shadows.

 

 

 

 

[LittleBen]

Hey that's not half bad. Bending a littl much in the inner limbs, but t not too bad considering the reflex and reflex. I'd probably just build another.

Liking might get you 5#. Will 42# be enough of a bump from 37# to risk it breaking?

[macbow]

I agree it would be better to start another and finish this one up for a youth.

[mikkekeswick]

Do not pike that bow!

[bowhunter15]

Good save on the bamboo. Like the others said, I'd leave it as is and build another. I can't remember if you're new to trad or not, but having a light bow to shoot is a good way to engrain good shooting habits.

[8leg-lover]

Yep. I'm leaving it as is. I'll get some more material on the way and go at it again. How does my first ever tiller job look?

Now that I have broke mine, fixed it, and brought it back, I'm ready to finish up my daughter's armed with what I've learned. She will have a nice new bow for Christmas. I'll keep you posted!

[LittleBen]

For a fist filleting job that's great. If I showed you my first filleting job your cry it was so bad.