Osage Recurve

[redhillwoods]

Hi everyone. Here's an Osage recurve I've just finished. #44@28", 63"ntn. The top limb has a small cruck about an inch out of the fade (hard to see in the unstrung pic) that puts the limb into mild reflex. Rather than straightening it l just tillered it accordingly so it looks a little stiffer than the bottom. Maybe l made it too stiff? Two knots in the bottom limb and one in the top. It holds over 2" of reflex after being shot and unstrung. Bison leather grip. Finished with 5 coats of tung oil, the first two mixed with turpentine. Horn nocks. I'm always learning so please everyone give me honest opinion and critique.
Dave

[RyanY]

Overall the bow looks very nice. The fact that it took so little set is a great sign that it was designed well and not overstressed even with those good size recurves. To me it looks like the bottom limb is stiff out of the fades and mostly bending in the mid limb but it could be the angle of the photo. Bottom limb looks a bit weaker as well. Is the tiller negative at brace? Otherwise the finish is very nice. No doubt even if it isn’t perfect it is likely a very good shooter. Well done!

[redhillwoods]

Thanks for the input Ryan. What does negative at brace mean?

[bradsmith2010]

if the arrow flies well,, its perfect,, the way a bow looks is secondary,,

[scp]

if the arrow flies well,, its perfect,, the way a bow looks is secondary,,

Yes, speed also matters a lot. Good self-bows are expected to shoot 175 FPS. But I'm still struggling to achieve 170 FPS. Working on bamboo backed bows for now. Nice looking bow.

[RyanY]

Thanks for the input Ryan. What does negative at brace mean?

Means that the string is further from the lower limb than the upper limb at brace.

[Will B]

Nice looking bow!  Love the back on that bow!

[redhillwoods]

Yes the tiller is negative at brace. What are the implications of this? Again, the top limb has more natural reflex than the bottom.

[PaSteve]

Nice profile on that bow. I like the character of the top limb. Bottom limb may be slightly flat out of fade but it's minor. Like Brad mentioned,  if the arrows fly well it's perfect. Good job.

[Dances with squirrels]

There are no negative implications due to negative tiller when its warranted. In fact, if it's warranted and you tillered it positive, 'just because' like so many do, it would be unbalanced, have more hand shock that it should, treat the arrow badly, etc. Many of my bows show a negative tiller after I balance them.... even those with both limbs showing the same profile unbraced. Balance the strength of the limbs relative to your holds and there will never be a question like , 'maybe too stiff?' Cuz balanced is as balanced does. Right is right.

[simk]

Good work on that one  When I first examined the pics I also saw that negative tiller and tought lower limb was too weak. Then I saw you shooting 3under...so this tiller could be very fine 

[bownarra]

3 under tiller should have a slightly stiffer  lower limb all other things equal.
I think the lower limb is working a bit hard overall. Even with the bit of reflex in the upper. It's a wee bit stiff out of the fade and perhaps a smidge stiff past mid limb (that's making the middle work a bit hard).

[BoltBows]

Overall nice work Dave. I would also give that upper limb a few scrapes, but maybe I'm wrong. Also it's difficult to see the front profile, but the outer third, just before the recurve on the lower limb, looks a bit stiff. On the upper limb that spot looks perfect because there's a reflex in it.

[redhillwoods]

Yes, it seems the lower limb is working a bit hard particularly in the middle. Thanks so much for the info everyone. This forum is so a valuable as a learning tool.
Dave