Maple backed cherry in Progress

[Thwackaddict]

Ken-thank you for the tips on rounding back and handle.Thank you sir for the wood work judgement the glue is drying as we speak     added some lams to the back at the handle for a bit of insurance.i couldnt stand the thought of letting it sit.so much potential!!

[ken75]

make sure your back pieces end before the fades end or they will pull up .remember back lams need to be inside the fades on a nonbending part

[Thwackaddict]

i laid em fade end to fade end and planned on workin em down to the thickest part of both fades.didnt get the best 45 joint on my splice but i think it will hold. got it together but i got my limb too narrow and it started chrysalling.I think i have it figured out and have another glued up.We'll see if my wider design will work Heres some pics of splice chrysals and tips.

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[Thwackaddict]

I glued in some deflex with this one and I am goin to leave the limbs 1 7/8 at fades taperin to 13/8 mid limb then to 1/2 at tips.Hopefully will have better outcome than last one.Bottom limb still holdin up so i guess this one will start my corner of shame until i have a brainstorm!!

[zenmonkeyman]

I'm not so sure about what kind of failure you had.  Sure the back is broke, but there are compression fractures on the belly, too.  Who's to say which came first?  Either one could precipitate the other.  My two cents based on one of my failed cherry bows is that reflexing the handle is a bad idea.  You're asking a wood that likes to chrysall in compression to bend even further to get to your draw.  FWIW, my advice would be to deflex the handle and put your reflex in from mid-limb out to the tips.  Sweet handle, BTW.  When you nail it, it's gonna be both a looker and a killer!

[Thwackaddict]

Zen- the back let go on the upper limb on my first attempt so i spliced another on it and the belly chrysalled this time.This was my first glue up attempt and i reflexed whole bow.I got another glued up with a bit of deflex and i'm goin to widen the limbs a bit.Thanks for the handle compliment.What are your thoughts on some short static tips?Think it would help or hurt the cherry?I'm backin with maple by the way.Thanks

[zenmonkeyman]

I'm flattered that you're asking me, but I've never made or really researched laminated bows yet, so I can't really make an opinion on maple as a backing for cherry.  I do know that static tips will sweeten the draw (low stack), but like reflex will concentrate more bending on less limb.  If you're having problems with chrysalling, better to play it safe and use the whole limb for bending.

The chrysalling could also be a result of a tension strong wood overpowering a weaker belly wood.  If you "trap" the back, there will be less maple to resist stretching, so it will be less inclined to crush the cherry.

[Thwackaddict]

Zen your flattery is well deserved as obviously you have more experience with cherry and brought some really good points to my attention.I had never thought about trapping the back,believe i'll give that a go.I think I'm askin too much of the cherry in my design,what ur thoughts about just slightly flippin tips and not reflexin at all?