kiln dried Maple selfbow

[John K]

This is one i'm working on at the moment. Kiln dried Maple board that i got from a friend who was using it for stickers for his lumber.
There where 2 that had some nice grain and he said i could take them. I have it tillered to 50# @ 23" i'm shooting for 28" it's 67 " ttt. I also had some Purple Heart sitting around so i thought i would try my hand at glueing on some tip overlays and a handle.

Hope you enjoy the pics !







John

[chessieboy]

looks good. I'm taking it that your still working it down since you said that you wanted it 27 or 28". The right limb looks a little stiff if so. The other thing I saw was that in the close up of the nock the groove closest to the handle looked a little sharp. I would sand or file it down just a little so it doesn't nick your string. Bow does look good though.
Bill

[John K]

Thanks Bill, The next bow i make i'm going to do my tips a little different and come more with a 45 degree angle instead of strait across.........

John

[adb]

Hi,
Your bow looks OK, but it is very square looking. If I was you, I'd round off all the edges. Round edges are stronger, and more pleasing to the eye. A square edge is more likely to lift a splinter, especially on a self bow. Your tiller looks decent, except your picture is at a bit of an angle, and it's ahrd to tell if your tiller is in fact even. Also, you need to cut your nocks at an angle!! Measure 5/8" on the back, and 1 3/4" on the belly. Draw two lines across, and then corner to corner, and cut your nocks along that line. A bit longer, and more tapered riser would probably be more comfortable too! I love maple... I'd have to say it's my favourite white wood. The grain on the piece you selected looks super.

[George Tsoukalas]

Tiller looks good. I would consider using a rope and pulley rather than a tillering stick. I see some pretty significant run ups or run outs at the tips. They are areas where the grain lines on the edge go belly to back. Anymore than 2 per limb and I would back the bow with silk, burlap or linen. There's board info on my site. Jawge
http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/

[medicinewheel]

yes, tiller looks good but hard to tell whether it's even; everything george and adb say i would say the same!
good bow, though!
frank

[Pappy]

Nice job,what the others have said.Right limb dose look a little stiff about mid limb,The main problem with the tips is it will probably cut or wear your string pretty quick.I would straighten that out if I didn't do anything else.I love the color contrast on the maple and purple heart,looks very nice.
   Pappy

[Marc St Louis]

Coming along nicely.

[John K]

Thanks for all the advice guys ! It really does help. Since this is only my second bow that is not 30#'s or under i'm pretty happy with it.....Adam i will round off the edges and try and fix the nocks. I've shot about 30 arrows through it so far and after being unstrung it only took 1" os set ! That Maple is some hard stuff !!

Pappy, I like the color contrast too !!

[cowboy]

I agree what others have said on the little fixes - love that color contrast also!

[John K]

Thanks cowboy !

[DCM]

Fantastic.  Thanks for posting and being a good sport about the suggestions.

[John K]

David, Thats why i posted it, if you can't take some criticism i think  you shouldn't post pics...i'm hear to learn.

Thanks John

[OldBow]

This is a neat bow. And if you do more with it (I wouldn't), post another picture. But it is bookmarked for June Self Bow of the Month, anyway.

[John K]

Don, I dout i will get anymore work done on it before the end of the month, so put it in BOM as it is 

Thanks John