Built a red oak short bow...48" plank, spliced in a handle and then added 10" sayahs (brought total length, unbraced, to 56"). Was hoping that my tendency with red oak would shine through and I'd take on about 3 days worth of set which would help with the bow's form. However, when I went to bend it a fracture popped up in my handle. The limbs were intact, so I backed it with bamboo.
Bamboo is about 3/16" thick at the crown. I sanded the red oak down to where we're looking at 1/4"~3/16" X 1.5" through the working portion of the limbs.
Problem? I can lock the handle down in the vice and stand on my sayahs and the thing doesn't bend enough to even brace. That's 158lbs...I was shooting for 45~50lbs at full draw lol. I'm proud of my sayah splices, but I'm down to so little material I don't know where to take off at. I'm thinking if I make the limbs much narrower they'll try to twist when drawn. I think the bow is lost...it'll be better for me to try and pry the bamboo off than try to keep going with this bow, but this will be the second time I've "recovered" this backing.
Other opinions would be appreciated.
