I'm close to fiinshing my first bow, and this forum has been a big help - thought I'd post a few pictures of the current state of affairs.
This is a bamboo-backed Ipe and hickory laminate, reflex/deflex. I make split bamboo flyrods as a hobby, so a bamboo-backed laminate seemed a natural starting place.
The grip is some burled white oak I found
I flamed the bamboo before glue-up, both to temper the bamboo, and for cosmetics, as we sometimes do in rod-making
I steamed the pieces before gluing up, in an effort to help them hold their shape. In spite of that, I lost about 2 inches of reflex during tillering. The bow is now at 40# at 27 inches. I was aiming for 35-40#, so so far so good. (I'm a novice archer as well as bowyer, so massive bows are not yet for me - rotator cuff problems, no thanks, already been there!)
I haven't finished ( or shot) the bow yet, so input on the tiller would be welcome:
Just remember that I've never tillered a bow, never spoken with anyone who has... so the little I know about tillering I learned from you guys here! LOL
Thanks,
Lee