The ultimate draw weight miss.

[Kirkll]

I thought i'd share a little adventure i'm having trying to hit draw weight on a carbon backed hybrid long bow. I think think is a record for me. after 18 years of building these things i've had my share of missed draw weights on custom bows, but its rare that i miss one 15# low... My biggest boo boo's are usually coming in way to heavy on glass limbs. i've learned i can deal with about a 12# reduction Max on glass backed limbs depending on draw weight required, by narrowing the width profile, trapping, and sanding glass.   But carbon backed limbs you only have width profile, trapping, and sanding belly glass. ( i don't ever use carbon on the belly side of my limbs.)

Well this particular long bow has a 19" riser with long carbon backed limbs at 64" length, and i have very few entries in my bowyers log for carbon backed limbs at the  40 @ 30" draw weight range. and the entries i do have was for a matrix carbon i no longer stock So i was pretty much guessing at my stack height and i failed miserably coming in at 25 @ 30" at rough profile  tiller check. I always leave a wee bit of extra width in my rough profile for weight and balancing adjustments. On this one i used the .015 Twill carbon over stable core for my backing. I had excellent results with light draw weight RC limbs doing this, and get excellent torsional stability. So i thought i'd give it a go on my hybrid limbs.  WRONG!  Way to light... 

Considering i always check my draw weight before doing my tip overlays, i decided to put the limbs back in the form and add another layer of carbon. it's a tricky procedure, but i've pulled it off before.

After getting that done i got her back on the tiller tree and am now 18# heavy at
 58 @ 30".        go figure. So now i'm eyeballing these limbs thinking i have got a serious carbon matrix backing on this baby, and am going to narrow this set of limbs skinny as a whip and see if i can shave 18# off.    

I know...i know... This sounds crazy. But if i can pull this off i might have a serious set of hot rod limbs here. I might have to blow the dust off the chronograph and see if i can ring the bell with these limbs....   

I thought you guys might find this story entertaining.... i'll come back and let you know how it comes out.... Time to do a little thrill seeking here.