Increase weight, or leave it?

[Stringman]

I don't know if I should leave it or try to get the weight up a bit. I worked the tiller over today and I'm at 35# now. I have been dealing with flaws in the wood the whole way thru. So I'm really just glad that it made it to the end. It is 68" ttt and the handle was naturally deflexed. My first thought is to pike it a bit, but I'm not sure if that's gonna look right.  Any suggestions?





Scott

[bow101]

Lol. I'm not the right guy to comment on the physical aspects, but I wanted to say what a beautiful piece of osage ya got there.

[ionicmuffin]

heat treating? that looks really beautiful on osage. Another option is piking and then maybe inducing a bit more reflex? Of course, whats your goal out of this piece? shooter or hunter? this could hunt small game and maybe even fish

[SLIMBOB]

I've read where others have advised to move on to the next one rather than pike an under weight bow.  I say pike it if you want it heavier.  May take a little more set.

[H Rhodes]

  I hate it it when they come in just under weight like that.  Looks like it was a pretty challenging stave.  I couldn't say what I would do.  It is easy to make suggestions when it's somebody else's bow, but when you have been pulling every trick in the book to get one to hold together it's  a tuff call.   If you aren't liking the way it shoots and it's gonna hang on the hook and not get used, then go for it.  I would probably pike it a little. 

[Pat B]

Leave it like it is. It's a well tillered bow from a difficult stave. If it is too light for you I'm sure you can find someone to give it to.

[bubby]

I second Pat, there's allways somebody that  need's a bow

[seabass]

i am with the others.i say leave it.give it to a deserving youngster.it is a nice bow btw.

[rossfactor]

It is well tillered.

Whats the draw length? Being that its is 68 inches long, I could see you piking the bow down to 66 or even 64 depending on draw length, and carefully re-tillering.  However, before you do anything, I'd round those edges out a bit more.

But as, advised, sometimes its best to move on and stop tinkering.

Gabe

[sleek]

In my experience, 4 inches total pike ( 2 of each limb ) and a heat treat equals out to about an 8 lb gain in weight, FWI.

[TRACY]

Sinew. Sinew and take a little off. It all depends on what YOU are wanting.

[Stringman]

Well I've heard pike it, heat treat, add more reflex, sinew, or leave it. All the very same thoughts I've had, just hard to make up my mind. The problem is like what Howard alluded to, you invest so much effort into a tough piece of wood then it comes in light and it's hard to throw in the towel. I had a very pretty snake skin sent to me especially for this bow and just don't want to waste it on such a light bow.

Boy, decisions, decision!!

Scott

[sleek]

Well here is one bit of advice that I would follow.... Shoot the snot out of that bow before putting on them skins. Like 3 to 500 shots before risking a snake skin on it.

[Stringman]

Very true.

Scott

[coaster500]

Leave it ....  Looks great!!!