bow from a bow

[Ruddy Darter]

Well, I went ahead and did it...I had a 140@32 Italian yew (78&1/2" ntn) that developed a bad splinter/lift  in the sapwood, I did a repair by binding with linen cloth, thread and epoxy. It looked horrible and I didn't feel I got enough glue in the splinter to ever feel safe with it, so I chopped it at the splinter and I am left with 66" of Italian yew which seems in good condition. I'm going to reshape where I sawed off the same as the bottom  limb, put a new horn on and go for a flatish D-section bend through the handle bow that will draw to 30&1/2", I'd like it to have a high draw weight as possible but a reasonable working bow is the priority. (I still have 1&1/2" at the centre.)
I'm of little experience so was wondering what I could hope to expect from this venture or hazards and problems I should be aware of?
Thanks for any tips, I'm currently taking out some of the set  gently with a  heat gun.
( it will now be 6" short on the criteria for a warbow, so I thought post on this section for what I can get from here)


   Ruddy Darter.

[Del the cat]

30.5" isn't too drastic a draw length and you can prob still be within 5/8 depth/width ratio as it's pretty generous.
Just work as if you are starting with a fresh stave, don't feel obliged to leave the mistakes of the previous bowyer intact!
I'd go for about 100# (or a little over) better to have an effective well made bow than an overstressed one that ends up taking a load of set.
Del

[Ruddy Darter]

Thanks a lot Del,
 That's music to my ears , and sounds a reasonable weight if I can pull it off, may go for 31 max draw but I won't push it. Managing to get the remaining length nice and straight easily so when that's finished I will get the top nock glued on and shape that limb end up.
Thanks again and certainly seems worth doing with the confirmation received 

    Ruddy Darter

[Del the cat]

Thinking outside the box...
You could splice a few inches extra ( say 3" ) onto the sawn off tip using say a 1 or 2" V splice . It wouldn't be subject to too much stress being near the tip and just might give you a bit more wriggle room.
Del

[Ruddy Darter]

I'll bear that idea in mind Del, although I am keen to see what Italian yew can be pushed to (and a specialised glue which I don't have?),  although it will be a gentle push and I think I will learn more of what this wood is capable of, and I quite like the idea of a short strongbow . I'll post with how I get on,
Looking as straight as a die at the minute.
(Slight miss calculation, just 64" in length, happy if I get 80ish@ though and settle for a 30" draw, I have got some nice arrows that would suit that.)
Got the horn on with superglue and activator and roughed it out,  got it bending in the middle just over brace height(7") and currently shaping the bow to look right at this.


Ruddy Darter.

[Ruddy Darter]

Got a chance to get on with the bow(64" ntn), here's where I am, its on at 20" draw and is weighing 105lbs@20". I guess just even out the inner limbs and scrap the outer thinner from here. A little of the bottom limb set is returning slightly( to be expected I suppose) but overwise doing pretty good.  Had to dig out a couple of small knots on the belly and fill with epoxy and dust, so all I can do today.
Hope I can get it to a 30+" draw, (?)
Maybe I could of left a bit more wood at the centre, looking skinny and a bit concerned, hopefully be alright when the limbs are worked down. Seemed the right thing to do to reach a long draw and minimize set, not so sure now. Oh well, I'll see how it comes out, it was only a damaged bow that I wouldn't of used again anyway and hopefully learn something from this experiment. Keeping an eye on the sapwood seeing if it is coping with the increased bend which doesn't seem a problem as yet, I think that's my main concern.

Ruddy Darter.

[Del the cat]

Right limb doesn't have much bend IMO (except down near the grip)
Left is better but still a tad stiff mid limb?
Del

[bradsmith2010]

i think when you get bending even its gonna make it

[Ruddy Darter]

Thanks Del,
 I have to agree with you on that..hope to do some more tomorrow when glue fills are dry, just got to remove slightly left from centre to even it up and then get the mid limbs working more and then the outers, see what it draws to with a nice shape and see from there, and reduce it down evenly to get the 30" draw if needed.

 

i think when you get bending even its gonna make it

Thanks bradsmith2010   , I'm grateful for those encouraging words. 


 Ruddy Darter.

[Marc St Louis]

A 30" draw on a 66" bow is pushing it for sure but I'm sure you can get whatever draw weight you want out of the bow