Newbie recurve question

[Mac43560]

So I've been working on bow that I want to have decent working recurve tips.  I've read TBBs and I'm still unclear on somethings.  Im fully aware that there is more than one way to skin a cat.   What do most of you do to your recurve limbs as far as the cross-sectional profile?  I've made a flat bow and I understand that somewhat and I'm aware that elb are typically D shaped cross-sections.  The recurves I have seen seem like somewhere between the two or oval.    What have you guys found to be effective?  Like I said, I new to this and Google can only do so much.

[Pat B]

Depends on the wood but the ones I've had the best luck with had wide(for the length), flat(or slightly rounded) limbs although I've never made a working recurve.
What wood are you using?

[Mac43560]

Hickory.   It's very common here.

[PatM]

If you're going to attempt a working recurve it should  match your basic limb shape.

[Mac43560]

Thanks Pats.  You've given me something to mull over.

[Jodocus]

but be aware that heat-bent curves don't hold up well in working limb.

[PatM]

but be aware that heat-bent curves don't hold up well in working limb.

   Isn't a heat treated reflexed limb just that?

[Mac43560]

So steaming or boiling?  What if I heat it to shape and then back it?

[Jodocus]

 
   Isn't a heat treated reflexed limb just that?
[/quote]

It is. In my experience, it doesn't hold up very well. It makes up for about the amount of set you get, evening out to a straight limb,or a little Reflex, Not what I imagined when starting to add curves. What I imagined was only possible on statics.

I did not want to spoil it for anyone or say what they do is wrong. Just a word of caution.

[Pat B]

Hickory holds better after steaming or boiling. After that you could temper the belly side to set the recurve. I've never done it but it might work. If you add an underlay or back the recurve it will become a static recurve and not a working recurve.

[joachimM]

Heat-treated reflexed limbs: Marc St-Louis recently wrote that he heat-treats about 4-5" of reflex in order to retain about 1.5" or so after shooting in.
I'd consider these limbs to be "working recurves".
Not exactly like a duoflex or so. I haven't seen that kind of selfwood bow recently. With laminates, working recurves are much more common though.