Proper handle design for a D bow

[Pappy]

The thing I have a problem with when the string lays off to the side a little is arm slap. :
   Pappy

[DanaM]

Wasn't there an article in PA about building your bow with offset limbs purposely
to reduce archers paradox? I know I saw it somewhere anyhow.
Thanks for the good info all.

[Hillbilly]

Seems like every D-bow I've made that the string didn't track down the center of the handle wound up developing a lot of limb twist after awhile.

[Coo-wah-chobee]

                                 I craft all my D-bows (thats all I make) so string tracks down center of handle. Dave Kissinger wrote article in ole' PA about offcenter string.  I Dont buy into it ..............bob

[Pat B]

If you use single side nocks on opposite sides of the bow it doesn't matter if there is a slight twist. the string will track across the handle. It is a good way to eliminate a slight twist without removing wood or heating to correct.    Pat

[tom sawyer]

Torges also weighed in on the off-center aspect, his opinion was similar to Pat's.  I persoanlly haven't seen where a bow that tracked a little to one side, ever broke or deteriorated at a rate in excess of normal.  Maybe if you shot one bow every day, all day for years.

I don't lay out a bow to purposely get a string to trak closer to one side.  But it seems that as often as not, this is the way they turn out.  Gary Davis recommends making same-length limbs for this reason, so that you can orient your bow for center-shot after the tillering is done.  It might not be quite as professional to do it this way, but it is certainly a practical way to go about it.

Guess I'm just naturally slightly warped.

[DanaM]

Pat what in tarnation are single side nocks?
I better start rereading the bibles again.

[Justin Snyder]

  It might not be quite as professional to do it this way, but it is certainly a practical way to go about it.

Who determines what is professional.  I say if it works for you, DO IT. 

[Justin Snyder]

   paradox is much more prevalent on the one that is off center ? Brian

I imagine that if the bow tracks off to the side, it could be even farther off to the side at full draw.  If it throws the back of the arrow toward the other side of the bow, it would make the paradox worse.  Justin

[Pat B]

Dana, On some of the Cherokee(and probably others) hunting and war bows only 1 notch was cut on one side of the limb tip and the same on the opposite side of the other limb tip. This will automatically bring the string across the handle.
   I made an osage Cherokee style hunting bow this way that I gave to Hillbilly's son for his birthday while we were at the Tenn Classic. That bow had a slight prop twist so I added the side nocks so they would straighten the limb as the bow was pulled.      Pat

[DanaM]

Thanks Pat I get it now and makes perfect sense.

[koan]

That makes sense to me Justin

[George Tsoukalas]

Two separate issues here. I don't care if the string tracks down the center. If it doesn't I shoot it on the other side. The string slap is awful on those bows that's why I flip them around. I would not intentionally tiller a bow like that. I leave the handle full width and nocks full width and shape the handle accordingly. Nocks can be cut deeper on the offending side to track the string better. I make sure the limb removal is equal on each side of the limb. Sometimes that contributes to off center string tracking. Wood is funny. Last yew bow I made I was careful to remove wood evenly and the string still tracked way off still. The bow bends to the weak side so remove wood  from the other side. Jawge

[jpitts]

George, I think what you're saying is to scrape the opposite side from the side the string is tracking to to bring it back in....
Side nocks are mentioned in Hardy's book, Longbow. If I remember correctly some of the Mary Rose bows had side nocks. Also remember reading where Hugh Soar has a few bows made by different bowyers that used side nocks too.

[Pat B]

Jimmy, I believe the side nocks on the MR bows were for tillering purposes. After the tillering was done, horn nocks where fitted. I'm sure others must have used side nocks.
  After building a few bows with side nocks I appreciate their simplicity and practicality.     Pat