Question on D bows

[Dave 55]

Ive been thinkin hard on trying a D style bow,guess 1 1/4 inches to mid limb then tapering to5/8 tip seems to be the norm but I was wondering about grip and limb thickness to the tip,Id like a 50 to 55# draw weight,also do they taper all the way to the tip or are the tips left non bending,any help would be appreciated,thanks.I have a 26 inch draw,and thinking of a 56 inch bow unless something else would be more appropriate.

[Dave 55]

Sorry I forgot to post 26 inch draw length and posslble a 56 inch bow,Dave.

[knightd]

What kind of wood are you going to be using?

[Dave 55]

Im thinking about hackberry or hickory,are there any more that would be more appropriate for this design?

[n2everythg]

I just finished up an osage bow with approx same dimentions and draw.
1 1/4 wide to mid limb. tapered to 1/2" tips.

for thickness I started with 3/4 at grip and tapered to 5/8 at tips to start floor tiller but this was really heavy couldnt hardly get any bend at all. think next time if I use sage would start with thickness of 5/8 at grip and go to 1/2 at tips to start floor tiller but different wood might be diff. but this would be cutting the margin and you might end up too light if you wernt careful. first time I would go thicker and work it down slow.

also I found that during tiller I started the bending out in the limbs then gradually work it back toward handle that seemed to work good for me.

luck
N2

[Dave 55]

Thanks for the reply you pretty much answered my question,I appreciate it,Dave.

[Hillbilly]

Hackberry or hickory should both work fine. Wade's dimensions are about what I usually would rough it out at. Err on the side of too thick.