Trying another osage sapwood sapling - how's the tiller so far?

[mwosborn]

My last attempt with a sapling didn't make a bow - turns out there was too much insect damage - http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,50021.0.html


This short piece had no insect damage so I decided to try again with a short bending handle bow.  I need a few bows for a summer camp we do at our local preserve with middle school kids - so I would like to get it out to around 25" and no more than upper 30's to 40#.

Pics show a front profile and unbraced side profile.  The pic on the tree (at a 4" brace) is pulling to around 16-17" and is just over 30 pounds.  It is 50" ntn and 1 3/8" wide most of the limb until it tapers to 1/2" at tip.  The right limb has a gradual reflex out of the handle to the tip.  The left limb is straight out of the handle with a natural flip to the last 5 inches or so.  Because of the difference in the unbraced limb profile the limbs do not look the same while being drawn.

Any advice before I continue on?  Thanks!

[bow101]

Tip on the left is stiff...other than that get 'em bending more mid-limb. 

[Roy]

I guess it's ok:)

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks good. Jawge

[bradsmith2010]

when this one starts to take some set,, stop there and let the bow dictate the draw length,,

[mwosborn]

when this one starts to take some set,, stop there and let the bow dictate the draw length,,

good advice - thanks.  I think I will gradually try to increase draw length - do you think it should bend more in the handle?  I have not completed a real bend through the handle bow yet.  I get scared scraping too much there! 

[Fred Arnold]

I don't think so? I'm not a bend in the handle type guy but when I do I prefer them to bend when dictated and that would be at close to full draw. Then it's a sweet feeling and you know it's right.

[mikekeswick]

Don't touch the handle yet. For now mid to outers need to be bending more. Left mid to tip is stiffest.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Looks good to me. The left tip has abrupt reflex, Id expect it to look differently.

[Roy]

I agree with Pearly boy.. The left limb is not going to bend as much as the right limb because it has a natural reflex, way more than the right limb tip does.

[SLIMBOB]

+1 PD and Roy.  I wouldn't touch the handle yet at all either.

[mwosborn]

That is what I was thinking with the left tip - if you look at it close, you can tell that it is pretty thin right at the beginning of the reflex tip.  I am afraid if I take wood off of there it is going to all of the sudden hinge - I am a little worried that as I increase draw length it may start hinging there anyway!

Thanks for the help.  At what point does a guy start in on the handle area?  When you are getting close to your intended draw length?

[George Tsoukalas]

I would not ever touch the handle area. Too much bend there and she'll kick like a mule. Jawge

[Del the cat]

I'd have said left mid limb. Tip looks to be moving ok from it's initial reflex...
Mind if left is lower limb it may be ok as is
Del

[cdpbrewer]

That much bend in the handle reminds me one of my few bend-in-handle bows that, as Jawge says, kicked like a mule.   I'd fling a few arrows at whatever draw lenght you have it worked into to assess the handshock and scrape on the mid limbs as Del says (maybe side tillering if knots permit?)  to get more draw lenght and reduce the handshock.   

I'd definitely stay away from the outer left end area you noted as being thin- it's bending pretty good to my eyes per the attached.  Thinning in mid limb would reduce the strain there.

c.d.