Bend-through handles

[zenmonkeyman]

I've noticed some people are able to have it both ways; they have a narrowed handle with fades, but the handle is very shallow and bends through.  My question is:

How is the transition made between the handle and the limbs?  Is the cross section of the handle more-or-less circular or D while the limbs are flat or eliptical?  Is there a trick to tillering this area?  Can somebody post some nice pictures of what's worked for them? 

Much appreciated, guys!

[half eye]

Zenman,
      Here's a picture of how you can make a "waisted" grip and still have it bend through or "into" the handle....just depends on how much wood you take off. This pic is of a Mollegabet (rigid handle) and how you would lay it out to bend through.
      The way you controll it is by narrowing the height of the grips' center and how much you "scoop" down into the LONG fades....in other words you can make it bend by thinning the handle (OR) you can scoop into the fades to bring the bend towards the centerline....(OR) combine the two things to fit the design that YOU want to have.
       Every bend through I have made has a waisted grip and flat limbs...so for things like elb's etc. don't believe a word I say!
half eye

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[Justin Snyder]

No secret just lots of patience while tillering. A little luck is helpfull also.

[zenmonkeyman]

Thanks, guys, you've given me a little confidence here.  Ultimately all I can do is try it, and hopefully get it right(ish) the first or second time. 

[George Tsoukalas]

The secret is in the dimensions. Handles that bend have some kind of a ratio of 3/4" thick  to 1.5" wide (yup, common board dimensions for a 1 x 2) at least for  whitewoods like hickory and red oak. So 1" thick and 1.25" wide will also bend, I've found. I don't feel comfortable changing those dimensions much more than that. This bow is hickory and the handle bends at 1 inch thick and 1.25 inches wide. Jawge

[gmc]

Very nice Jawge.

[George Tsoukalas]

Thanks, gmc.
Here's another hickory with the same handle dims. Jawge

[zenmonkeyman]

Thanks, Jawge!  That's very helpful too. 

[gmc]

Looks like you have the bend spread out a bit more into the outer limbs on the second bow, Jawge. Which bow has the best cast? Think I like the second bow better. Both are very nice bows thou, I like Hickory.

[George Tsoukalas]

I don't know, gmc, I made that second bow for Brad Smith and gave it to him a few years ago. I think he said it shot 155 fps at 26 in. I don't know what it would do at 28 in. We exchanged bows as a gesture of friendship. He made me a beauty! I got the best of that deal for sure. I think both bows shown here shot about the same. I do like that design. That first bow was my hunting bow this year so it shot pretty well. Conventional wisdom says start the bend at the end of the fades. Most of the time that's the ticket. But it's nice to experiment. I love that semi bend in the handle design as I think they are capable of much energy storage and have been making them for years. Jawge