Now we need to drill the holes for the limb atachment. I use a micrometer to measure and then mark the bolt and pin holes. Next I use a tiny drill to make pilot holes in exactly the right spot.

the bigger bits follow thepilots and I end up with good bolt position.


pins are also on the money!

next I mark and cut the sight window on the BS. I cut it so the shelf is square.


Now I need to radius the shelf.

I make several passes with this bit to get it shaped to the line.

Now I need to get the cut passed center to a perfect 3/16". It takes several passes with each one a little deeper. I adjust depth by gently adjusting the table height on the DP.
 
after first pass..

after multiple passes its perfect.
I use the bandfile to smoothe out the shelf.

Gotta deal with the steps left by the burr.

 

Gotta love the speed and ease of the angle grinder with a paint removal sponge.

drilling out throat with 1.5" hole saw.

no the radius under the handle.
 
now follow the lines and cut outthe rest with the BS.



first I shape the throat on the spindle sander

more shaping

handle mostly shaped
\\





Next step is making wedges. I do that in the next couple days.

Beautiful work, Dan!  These are going to be two fantastic bows!

Thanks you Dan for sharing these steps in shaping a handle... I find that handles are very difficult to do so seeing the steps really help!!! Well done!

Thanks for the pics! Those risers are sweet- the lams are going to really look great

A little more Progress. Got both sets of wedges built. I learned a quick and easy method several years back for building perfect wedges every time from Steve Quinton of Ibex bows. It uses my trusty 6x48" Harbor Freight beltsander and a simple jig.Heres how it works...
First i cut my stock to the length and width I want for my wedges. I this case its .3" x 9"




Heres where it gets interesting. I rip a 36 grit down to about 4" and put it on the sander. And use this simple jig that took about 15 minutes to make.

The jig is just a chunk of MDF with a wedge with the dementions I want that is split in half and glued on either side of the MDF. I clamp my wedge stock to it and use the exposed roller as a guide to make the wedges. The belt runs in between the guides. All of this took maybe 20 minutes.
 
 

The wedges always turn out perfect!

.
Also cut some burrs off for limb bolt nobs.
 


These are premium South TX antler burs BTW...

Looking very nice!

Looking forward to shooting it...

Sweet !

really sweet!

Dan, nice jig, I can see my wedge grinding just got easier.
These bows are gonna look amazing cant wait to see the ending of this thread.

Cory

Great build! Looking forward to seeing how you do the limb bolts.

It looks like Whitehat and I will be meeting up  with Dan in July in New Braunfels, Texas to pick up our St. Jude's bows and wood arrows.  Should be great!

OK Paul's bow is only needs finish and its done. Lots of work and pics to post so I wont elaborate much. If you have questions just ask.
First Stripstrike came by and elped me clean up the shop.


then I got on with the limb bolts

5/8 forstner bit




tips and overlays

Important point here. I uses 7 mil painters plastic (home depot) and Fibertape (walmart) to keep my lams from slipping and getting glue everywhere. works great.

Hose on back so I do all the overlays at glueup.
Use zipties to pull lams into form (very easy)



Built my form using a condensation pan heater under .040 stainless sheet with a timer and a thermostat. Its a killer setup. Set the temp, set the time and go on to something else.