elm bow design advice - please

[smoke]

Folks I'd appreciate your thoughts on how I ought to design a bow for a nice elm stave.  The stave will give me a width of about 1.75 inches with a length of 66 inches tip to tip.  I'd like to have the end product pull in the 70-75 pound range at 27 inches.  I'll probably back it with flax fiber.  With that in mind, what would you recommend for a design?  Any insights are appreciated - thanks!

[ohma]

id do the full width, 3 inches of back set, heat treat ,64" straight taper to 3/8 tips. heres a 62"55@28 self. red elm.

[smoke]

Thanks Ohma.  I hate to sound like such a beginner but by "stright taper" do you mean a pyramid?  Your bow looks great!

[smoke]

ttt

[DarkSoul]

No need to bump it back up again after 25 hours only...be patient my friend.

[Pat B]

A straight taper is just that. Taper from the fades to the tips. You can call it a pyramid because it is a long pyramidal shape but it is basically a flat bow with a taper from handle to tips instead of a modified pyramid that stays the same as the fade out the limb a bit before tapering to the tips; which is also an option.
  I just made my first elm bow. It is 60" static recurve that pulled about 55#@27". Elm is a great bow wood.   Are you using a board stave or a tree stave? If a tree stave you shouldn't need any backing.

[crooketarrow]

   I've made quite a few elm pyramid bows 1 1/4, 1 3/8 to 1 1/2 wide at the fades leaveing the last 4"s of the tips stiff 3/8"s wide tips 1/4 after you cut in the string nocks.  Anywhere from 60"s to 66"s nock to nock, 45 up to 6o pounds. All turned out well, 1/2" to and inch of string follow. No backing on any of them. One of my favoret woods to stain.
  Elms a good and easy wood to work.

[smoke]

Thanks folks - this is very helpful.  I intend to get carving this weekend!

[TheWildCat]

Post what ya build...I am very interested...I am workin a Red Elm stave right now...Self Bow/No Backin...I am goin slow with it...Nothin fancy, I am goin to put static recurves on the tips...1 1/2" wide at the fade...72" in length...I am hopin to come out with a solid 55# bow before it is shot in, and hopin to end up with a 47 to 50# bow after all said and done...What is decievin to me, is how light this wood is, in comparrison to other woods, like Hickry and Hedge Apple. The wood is not fightin me at any point in the build process...I am not used to this...Good luck with your build...Look forward to seein it...TheWildCat

[ohma]

smoke just what Pat said [and thanks for fielding that for me pat] i usually just get on in the morning for awhile and then go to the wood pile and see what is in store for me today. thanks again Pat and go get that elm Smoke.

[Pat B]

No problem Ohma. We all cover each other when we can or have to.