Osage RD build/help along

[mosestejas]

A while ago I got a pair of osage billets off ebay. Being a long time admirer of Marcs St Louis's work i decided to attempt a relatively moderate reflex deflex design. Im relatively new to the addiction so i would love to hear any suggestions as I build this bow.
The victims

[mosestejas]

splitting off the belly and chasing a ring then burnishing the back with a small glass jar

[mosestejas]

laying out to 1 1/4 wide at the widest then tapering to 1/2 at the tips. After splicing this stave should turn out 64 1/2 long

[mosestejas]

didn't get any pics of the splicing process. its a pretty basic z splice 2 1/2 long. glued into 1 3/4 deflex with two short maple lams to rienforce the handel. The splice was pretty sketcy and had a few gaps so i mixed some epoxy with sawdust filled them up. hope it holds.

[mosestejas]

put it on the piller tiller  made some adjustments and braced. I think the next step will be to heat treat  in the reflex ala Marc st louis.
I was wondering what the finished mass should be on this bow
Plans are 63 ntn
47lbs at 27inch draw
handle and fades = 9inch
Heat treated

not sure if i should reduce the limbs some more before ht or what. right now its pulling about 30lbs at 10inches
the current mass is about 27 oz

[coaster500]

Looking great so far!!!

[randman]

Looks like you're doing a fine job so far Moses. I would have been more inclined to glue it up in reflex rather than deflex but if you're makin a RD (or would that be DR - always confuses me ;-) ) then that's the way to do it, then heat in the reflex in the limb. I'd also fill that notch at the handle with a piece of wood cut tight to fit (hope you're not plannin on leaving it there for a cut in shelf or something - not a good idea near your splice joint). You got some good skills there young man!

[mosestejas]

Hey.
Its been a while but i have made some progress on my bow though I havent taken any pictures. Turns out doing a comprehensive build along is a bit more work than id anticipated. Maybe when i get more experience ill be able to do a good one, but for now im mainly focusing on the bow building part. Since last time i heat treated 1and 3/4 inches of reflex in and glued on some overlays. Right now i have it at a zero brace hight (which creates tons of string tension)
Having never tillered an RD bow before i am not quite sure how to continue from this point.
First pics shows unbraced reflex and the second shows me pulling it about 6 inches where it weighs around 25lbs.
The mass of the bow is 4 oz over what i think the finished weight should be.

[steve b.]

You're helping me