I built a 60" takedown recurve according to plans,it turned out ok but the dimensions of the riser seam a bit chunky.The width of the riser if messured accross the shelf seems to wide,and although I eventualy cut it deeper,if you go by their pattern the depth of the shelf dos'ent even go to the center line of the string(it seems like it should go to the centerline plus half the arrow shaft diameter).So my question is how much do you think I could safely modifythese dimensions? I'm looking to build anyher bow as a winter project.Tim

i don't think you would have a problem, especially if you use a good strong wood. if you have an accent stripe it will be even stronger. i use the binghams plans as a guide and have made small modifications w/ no problems.

good luck!!

I built the same bow and have taken a lot of wood off from the plans with no problems at all.  I used bubinga in the riser.  Bingham wants to make a strong, stable bow and the plans will get you there but the riser is way over-built from the plans IMO.  I just worked on mine with a rasp and sandpaper until I was happy with it.  I used Tru-Oil so that makes it much easier to refinsh just the area you work on.

Here's how mine went together:
 https://www.msu.edu/~parksmi1/recurve.html

I made mine and I ordered 60lbs and it came out about 100lbs....not sure if it was me or they sent me the wrong limb wood.  in any case its too heavy

after you have built a few you will realize that you can modify a LOT !!!! ............ you can make mistakes and still end up with a fine shootable bow ..

Think about it  .......... if the stone age dudes (indians ????? .... 8^) could make a bow with sharp rocks and no measuring tools , then maybe they dont have to be EXACT to work .

I am planing on building a take down from the Bingham plans as well.  When I was looking over the plans I thought the same thing about the riser. Also it seems long at 19" is there a way to shorten it up to about 17" or 16"? Has any one tryed this yet?

Cobbow