A few weeks back I posted a sinew backed Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum) bow, 67 inches NTN, 55 lbs at 26 inches. I've been interested in this maple species, which is native to my area, for awhile now. I've been pretty happy with the wood (it's like butter, beautiful clear stuff, pay no attention to the knot behind the curtain on the left limb). I've decided to push it to see how it stacks up against the "good" woods-yew, osage, hickory, etc. This bow is my next step, and I'd like your opinion as to how other woods you've worked would hold up under these design conditions. This bow is 55 inches NTN, 1.5 inches wide, pulls 50 lbs at 26 inches, and weighs a mere 13.75 ounces. A feather in the hand. It's a decrowned sapling. According to TBB etc., a maple bow of these specs should probably blow, but I see no sign of pending disaster. Not much set (the bow was dead straight before tillering with the exception of a crook in the left limb I removed with dry heat) and no crysalling on the belly at all. I measured the specific gravity of the wood at 0.63, right in line with what you'd expect from hard maple. I'm going to sinew back this bow for safety and to get 55 or 60 lbs at my 26 inch draw. How much reverse bend would you put in at sinewing? Do this bow's specs make "sense" to you? Feel free to comment on the tiller too. I'm trying to use all the limb I can! Thanks much, Dave
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