good practice or bad habit? practicing on small branch (new bowyer)

[shofu]

While waiting for wood to dry to make my first bow, I couldn't wait, so I decided to practice on a throw away piece of wood.
Please give advice and let me know if you think this is a waste of my energy...
Pacific Yew 3/4" diameter 30" NTN slight deflex to roughed-out 'stave'

[Del the cat]

It's never ever a waste of your energy...
You can play at heat bending it in line and all sort of stuff.
I've even added side overlays on a bow like that to get the string across into line*.
It's how you can experiment and learn new tricks without the anxiety of spoiling a lot of hard work. If it turns out to shoot well, you can the pretty it up. It can also be a good give away as kids bow etc.
Never ever a waste of energy... unless you'd rather be indoors decorating shopping or doing some chores? 

If you can put it somewhere warm/hot and airy it will season in a few weks now it's roughed out.
Don't over bend it until it's had a bit of time to dry out.
Del
*Here it is:- http://bowyersdiary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/stick-bow.html

[DC]

Yew is never "throw away" George If it was good enough to bring home you must have seen something in it. It's funny, we don't know what a lot of PA members look like but I think we've seen all their feet

[aaron]

Seems like good practice to me. Give it to  a kid when done. Remember most stiff tipped bows typically have tips only about 1/8 (or less) thicker than the main limb. Anything more just slows down the arrow and causes hand shock.

[Pat B]

It's never a waste if you learn something.   

[shofu]

Here it is after I practiced steaming.  FYI, for some reason with yew, the nice copper color steamed out and stained my ceiling - wife was not impressed.  Had to scrub all morning...
g

[shofu]

Pat B thanks for encouragement
Aaron thanks for 'tip' I will try reducing tips
DC Haha! I noticed that about feet.  Maybe I should get some bowyer shoes...
Del - that's what I thought and was hoping I wasn't out to lunch!

Here it is at first 3" brace

[shofu]

Here it is at 9" and 15" draw.  Obviously having some growing pains.
g

[shofu]

Here is how she pulls now and the 1.5" set it has taken
g

[shofu]

oops. full draw (ish)
g

[DC]

Looks pretty good. I've had my steaming water turn color but I've never seen the steam carry a stain. Weird.

[shofu]

Thanks DC maybe left it too long.  Better get a steamer like yours or paint the ceiling brown...
g