I see post on here all the time of bows being started, then I never see the finished bow. Maybe they just got put back on the rack, maybe I missed the finished post or maybe they just didn't make to bow statist and the builder didn't post anything about them any more. Well I find I learn more from my failures than I do my successes. Maybe some of you can learn from my mistakes, also. So here you go.
![Smiley :)](http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
Islandpiper was correct, there were some stiff spots in the limbs. And the bow was bending too much right out of the fades. I knew this. In what little past I've had with shootable bows, getting them bending out of the fade was an issue. But, these were with staves not boards. So, I work on getting the limbs bending at the fades, but unfortunately I could not catch up the rest of the limbs before I would fall under my target weight, It seems. On the tiller at 20" pulling 40# I thought I could correct the problems in the next 6 inches. Lesson learned, board give up quicker than staves. Even with the tillering problems that I saw, I opted to stay at 43# instead of dropping to maybe 30# to correct the issues. I thought the bow might have a short life span, but I just wanted a target bow to work on my form and keep my muscles somewhat toned while I worked on another bow for deer season or if all else failed, I would fall back on my 58# hickory bow. So if I had a bow that tax my strength a bit and still shot where I aimed and last 3 months, I'd be happy. This bow accomplished the first 2 of the 3 goals.
Shooting it to today in the sunlight I noticed crystals on both limbs at the fades and a splinter raising from the edge of the back of the top limb.
I was sad that this bow wasn't going to give me what I asked for. But after an hour or so of pondering the situation I realize it gave more than I asked. More knowledge, more patience, and hopefully a little more skill for the next one. Sure I don't have a lighter weight target bow I can shoot tomorrow, but I bet I will have in the next few weeks.
![Smiley :)](http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
So join me in saluting a successful, unsuccessful bow build.
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