red oak stave suggestions??

[bucksbuoy]

Hello everyone,
 I got my hands on a really nice red oak stave, seasoned for a year and ready to go at 65" or so, and about 2" wide. Any design suggestions?

[BowJunkie]

What is the desired draw length and weight?

[bucksbuoy]

I would like to get a 28" draw length out of it and about 50 pounds would be nice too. I guess  my question is really whether I could go with a handle or would a bend through the handle design be better? I just have never worked with red oak before, let alone a stave of it. I have heard a lot of people say to stay away from bending the limbs with red oak and was wondering if anyone had anymore advice along those lines.
Thanks
Jason

[RyanY]

Well if you didn't let the limbs bend then it wouldn't be a bow! 

Red oak is just as good a bow wood as any other. I've only worked with it in boards but I bet your stave is better.

If you keep it the full length with an 8" handle, 2" to or a little past mid limb tapering to 3/8" nocks, you should be able to make that draw weight and draw length with no problem.

[BowJunkie]

The first bow I ever made was a red oak board bow.
The second was a red oak stave I had harvested myself.
I used the same dimensions on both bows. They ended up 68'' long, 66'' NTN,  50-55 lbs at 28''
They are both 1.5'' till mid limb and then taper out to 3/8'' on one tip and 9/16'' on the other
The Board bow finally broke about 4 inches from the tip. I think I made it slightly to thin
But it took three years to brake.
The stave Bow I still have and shoot. The plans I used were from the American flat bow.
Keep in mind I did back both bows with linen and a nice amount of titebond III
http://www.vintageprojects.com/archery/Flatbow-plans.pdf.
Hope this helps