Preparing hickory backing question

[david w.]

  Do i glue up the bow before i cut the bow to shape so when i do cut it i cut the osage and hickory at the same time. Or do i cut the bow to shape and then lay the bow on the hickory, trace it, cut the hickory, and then glue it up?

Thanks for the help

[Kegan]

Either way is fine. For some scenerios one might be better than the other, but for a standard straight bow you'll be fine glueing them up and then cutting, or cutting and then gluing them up. Which ever you prefer.

[david w.]

ok i will cut and glue them up.

[adb]

I do the glue up first, then cut to shape on the bandsaw later.

[david w.]

i wish i would of waited to cut it because i cant cut perfectly straight.  Trting to get the edges straight with only a surform rasp will be time consuming.  I will have to go pick up my drawknife. that would make it a little easier

[david w.]

there is a tiny knot smaller than this smiley  on the side of the osage board.  Will it effect anything?

[radius]

don't sweat that tiny little knot

i always glue the slats together, and then lay the shape out after cleaning the glue away.  Mark center lengthwise and widthwise at the handle...lay a string from end to end, running through the center mark.  mark the ends by pushing my pencil through the string...

what kind of tools do you have, my friend?

[Apex Predator]

For me it's easier to lay out the bows back profile on the smooth flat backing before gluing, since I am usually induced curves in the glue up.  Harder to draw straight lines on the curves.

[Pat B]

David, You can do it either way but I prefer to cut out the shape on the backing and belly, then floor tiller the belly so I get a nice even bend through out the limbs before glue up.     Pat

[radius]

You can draw the outline first, like a.p. said, but then you have to be very careful to glue the pieces exactly perfectly.  Not too hard, but i sometimes find that in order to hit the center of the bow at the handle, i am not in the center at the ends...maybe it's just me

[Pat B]

Cut them both outside your lines and cut out the ultimate shape after glue up.    Pat

[radius]

there you go!  that's a good idea

i haven't found it too too difficult to lay it out even on r/d bows...i just find center at handle and tip, and clip a thin straightedge to the curves...no problem...but i think david's glued it up already...How's the stave coming along, david?