I think the important thing is to let the stave determine the design.
For example, I'm working on a character hickory stave.I wanted to make a bend in the handle type bow where the handle was the widest point. I wanted the bow to be about 1 1/8" wide.
However, to track the string better, I figured I had to make a handle bow and leave the handle wide until I strung it and so it is.
Jawge
