bendy handle question

[BOWMAN53]

So I wasn't planning on it but I just got my bow floor tillered and I can feel it bending in the hand. All my other bows have been stiff handle so my question is, will the tillering process be different? Should I thin down the handle so it bends a little more, its still a bit stiff

[tom sawyer]

Is the design such that a little bend won't hurt?  If you have fades, then sometimes bending into the handle will result in a crack that runs from the edge of one of the fades back into the limb.

Otherwise, a bow with a little bend in the handle isn't bad and it doesn't have to be as bendy as the rest of the limbs.

[sharpend60]

I have an easier time tillering a bow with a bendy handle.
There isnt that flat spot (handle, fades,) to interupt your eye.

If it were me, Id go with it. Make it a proper bendy bow.
Like Tom said, you can overstress the handle area and cause breakage.

Not a single thing in natural bow making is absolute.
Other than maybe it shoots arrows or not...

[George Tsoukalas]

I often make bows with fades that bend into the fades and handle area. You have to go slowly. The tiller will still appear elliptical ideally. Jawge

[BOWMAN53]

Its a red oak board pyramid bow. 2" wide and 68" long. I'm aiming for 40# at 28"

[sharpend60]

I have never built an red oak board or a pyramid for that matter.

But...

A little bend shouldn't hurt. If you have alot or all the bending happening at the handle things are gonna go boom.
You can tone down the fades to even things up a bit.
J
ust remember, no sharp bends or extreme angles. And go slow...

I'm not master but ever time Ive built a bow in a day it had turned out all wonky.
There is no hurry and, if you can, post some pics.

[lesken2011]

I actually made my first bendy handle bow by accident. I had glued on a 5" handle with 2 inch fades for a total of 9".  When it popped off, I never touched that part of the bow again except slightly at the fades for a smooth transition and wound up with a very circular tiller I was quite proud of. I then built up the handle with leather. Since that time, I have made several bendy handle bows and really like them. I like my handle to bend as I approach full draw.

[BOWMAN53]

It only bends just a bit so its not too bad. Ill try to stay away from it for as long as I can. Thanks guys