Hi gang,

Using alot of the tips I got from my recent posts, I finally got  an Ipe bow to make weight. I used a 5/8" board to start and used a simple reflex design. The bow is 70# @ 27" draw; a little heavier than my target.....Question is: There was a hinge starting in the bottom limb as I tillered; I tried to work it out and even the limbs, but stupid me started a hinge in the top Limb also. I worked them out a little. I don;t want to get below 65# because this is to be a back-up bow to my recurve for this hunting season and right now it shoots my heavy carbons great.  My mentor advised me to just stop where we were, in case I loose too much poundage: What do you guys think?



I painted the back to try out a couple things, haven't done any finish coats yet:

Here is another bow I HELPED on--kind of a joint venture with my friend Jim: another bamboo backed Ipe with bloodwood tips. Going to be my sisters bow: 42#@28"----

If it was me I'd give up the little extra weight and get those outer limbs bending. Your sisters bow looks great.

If it were mine I would try to correct the tiller on it and then pike it a bit to get the weight back. It's doing most of the bending in one spot. Tiller on your other bow looks good. Maybe flip it end for end the top looks a bit stiffer. Just my humble opinions    Im sure they both shoot great    Like the bloodwood tips

Dano,
think I can get it using heavy grit sandpaper instead of going back to a scraper? No problem giving up some weight, i'm just afraid of messing it up again.........

Take it slow Ben, sandpaper will help.

I have moved to a sanding block myself.  I agree with Dano.  

At first, all I cared about was making wieght, but now, I really want a good bow, that won't fail.  And only way I can do that is even bow bend.    I would sacrafice the 5lbs and get those ends bending.

Should I leave the inner limbs near the handle alone, and just do more tillering on the outer 1/2 of limbs?  Everyone seems to agree my best bet is to get teh outer part moving.........
Gonna do some more work on it today or tomorrow. thanks guys..............  

I would get your inner limbs bending like the tiller on your sisters bow. It will lessen the strain on the sharp bend you

have where  limbs start their bend.

Can you put up a side, unstriung profile pic?  to ma that has a lot to do with it.  If it is straight, you are not as far off as if it was intended to be a R/D.

WEll......................too little, too late   :(  While sanding on the limbs today, I found a fret or crush-type mark on the edge of the lower limb, just past where the bending stops......I guess it is back to the drawing board.....again.

I think I'm gonna take a break for a while, do some more reading up on this; need to focus more on getting in shape for elk hunt anyhow---been letting that slide and I'm down to six weeks!

Not giving up----I got 2 good bows out of 4 attempts. Just gotta shift priorities now......

definitely a big THANK YOU to everyone here!!      

Sorry to hear about your bow Ben Jim told me. But atleast you get to go elk hunting.If you need a digital camera for your trip I will get you one cause I want Around 2000 pictures. I wanna see what it;s like out there. Oh and bring home some elk I really want to try it.  

Make yourself a tillering gizmo, sure helps avoid hingy sspots.

Eric,

Made one, then set it on the bench....and forgot about it!