I've decided to build a recurve bow over my spring break. It will be a board bow since I don't have any dry staves. Now I have ready access to some ash, hickory, cherry, maple and oak boards, so it will be some combination of those woods. I am open to using up to three different types or just one. But I have a few questions.
1) Should I go with a wood backed bow or a tri-lam?
2) Should I force the laminations into a recurve form during the glue up, or use steam/dry heat to do that afterwards? I already plan on at least putting the bow into reflex for the glue up.
3) I'd like to make it as short as is safe with a 28" draw and stiff handle. How short do you think I can safely go?
4) How wide should I make the limbs?
5) Any suggestions on which combo of boards I should use?
Now they might have a better variety of boards there, those are just the ones I am sure of, so if you think of a different type of wood that would be good let me know, and I'll ask if they have it. Also I plan on making the recurves non-working, and I don't plan to back this bow.
I should add that I'd like to get a 60lb bow out of it. Is this reasonable?
