Is the early wood the weak link to cause set?

[HH~]

Im watching. Done this with elm. No issue. Shot no better no worse than on flat grain. You leave fades long?

Shawn

[RyanY]

I’ve never seen anyone cut into the back of the handle like that. Seems like a recipe for disaster. Something you’ve done before Arvin?

[HH~]

Elms interlocking grain took it like a champ.

Cut in how Ryan?

[Bob Barnes]

It will be interesting to see the results.  If it does take a little more set than you want, maybe you could do another experiment and rough the back with some 36/40 grit, apply a thin bamboo backing, and glue back in the lost reflex.

~I'm not saying that it will lose reflex, only that if it does...    

[RyanY]

Elms interlocking grain took it like a champ.

Cut in how Ryan?

Looks like he took a semicircular cut out of the back and glued in a new piece to fill it in.

[Selfbowman]

Ryan I glued a thin piece of Osage on the back area to revive a shelf also  moving  the back of the handle back and the limbs forward. I also glued a thicker piece on the handle belly. It’s not going to bend in that handle. No I have not done it before. We are doing experiments here.well see.😁😁😁

[Selfbowman]

There is no rings to violate either. 8x stronger in thickness.

[Selfbowman]

 Bob that would only happen on the back of this bow. I’m not sure I like this kind of build. I’m giving it my all though. Arvin

[HH~]

I reenforce handle all the time. The issue is where grain peels off in fade. Where i would just make it longer where that vertical grain must be cut off for a sight window. Dont wanna have to shoot it off the hand!

HH~

[RyanY]

Gotcha. Even if the handle is rigid it’s still under a good amount of stress. That close to the fades would be uncomfortable for me. Hope it works out.

[HH~]

Why you extend to fade to keep stress out where sight window cut in occurs. Works fine. I just never did it with osage. Look if it does pull a grain its going up or down limb and not in half like a ring failure. Just peel a grain vertically.

Like it Arvin. . . Post an update when ya can.
Shawn~

[Selfbowman]

Well back from quail hunt . Great time but few quail.  Arvin

[Selfbowman]

Well I cleaned the handle up a bit . Now to finish up the tip overlays and start the tiller.

[Selfbowman]

Tip overlays done . On long string to 20” 50#. Back to heat bench for hopefully last straightening and will heat temper the limbs. Now to string it.

[HH~]

From the bench of America's most esteemed selfbowman. Freakin nice.

Shawn~