Bending the fades

[Don Case]

This is a hypothetical question. Suppose I made a bow with a 4" handle and 3" fades, tillered it and everything was good. Then I reduced the fades to 1 1/2" and blended them in nicely. I've just made each limb 1 1/2" longer.  Would it affect the draw weight or would the draw length just get longer? Or would the weight stay the same but at the new draw length? I'm just trying to get my head around this stuff.
Thanks
Don

[PatM]

The draw length only gets longer if you actually draw the bow longer......
 If you just work the fades down the bow will get weaker.

[Don Case]

Yeah, phrased that wrong. What I meant to say was "allows" you to draw it farther. And the bow gets weaker because it's longer?

[PatM]

No, it would get weaker if you just reduced the fades. It would end up being about the same strength if you then drew it further. Possibly even a bit higher in draw weight since poundage tends to spike on the far end of the draw.
 Impossible to be really precise in this estimation since reducing the fades and extending the working limb is a bit of a blurry area. It also depends on how much further you are actually going to draw the bow.

[Don Case]

Okedoke, thanks
Don

[bow101]

If you wanna build a bendy handle bow I guess.