Hi Guys,
Thanks for the comments.
Today I got a little time to get some more work done on the bow. I cant remember who on here coined the phrase, but it is so true - a little osage makes for a lotta bow. I have been scraping like its going out of fashion!
It is obvious how much has been removed from the limbs when you see the handle area picture below.
Anyway, after what has seemed like a lifetime of scraping, the bow is now up to the full drawlength and just a little over weight - currently 56lb @ 28". Final sanding and shooting in should ensure that it drops to the 50lb @28" I was looking for. Physically, the bow is
much lighter in the hand, and I havent narrowed the handle area nor the limb tips yet. The tips are still wide and quite thick when compared to the rest of the limbs, and so I feel that I should be able trim them down a bit narrower, which should help keep any hand shock down and tip speed up.
The glue line between the main belly piece and the handle thickening piece is a little disappointing, but hey, I need the practice. Purple glue on yellow osage is kinda obvious, but this contrast should reduce in time as the osage darkens. Also of course a handle wrap will help disguise that line......
I forgot to mention before, but this is the shortest bow I've made so far - 63" from limb tip to limb tip when unstrung. And boy is it ever bending at 28" draw.
Pics to follow below...