Can I thin out this handle?

[TacticalFate]

So finally got around to finishing my second bow, but realized that the handle felt too bulky. Can I thin it out some more? The feathers are mallard secondaries, btw, gonna do some doodlin around them. 

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[Del the cat]

Yup, no prob.
The thing you need to remember is twice as narrow is half as strong, but twice as thick is 8 times as strong.
So if you narrow it from the point on the fade where it's twiche as thick as the main limb you will be ok.
Del

[TacticalFate]

Thanks for the rule of thumb! Now I'll never have to ask this question again 

[DarkSoul]

Yes, you could narrow the handle, but I wouldn't reduce the thickness too much. I prefer a handle that is thicker than it is wide.
Be careful of those fades, though. The point where the fade starts narrowing down for the handle, must be thicker than the bending limb. You don't want any bend creeping up into those narrowed down fades!

[TacticalFate]

I kept the thickness, just narrowed the sides down, so I should be fine, aye?

[gstoneberg]

Aye!

George

[H Rhodes]

You got the straight advice already...  That said, i would add that i like to leave a handle and tips sort of wide during tillering,  until I can see how my string is bisecting the handle.  That way I can correct it by removing wood on the fat side, centering up the string on the handle.

[TRACY]

I kept the thickness, just narrowed the sides down, so I should be fine, aye?

Should be good , all good pointers above. Duck feathers for fletching arrows?


Tracy

[George Tsoukalas]

Maybe an 1/8 in at a time to check if there is too much bend in the handle. I wouldn't do it until you strung it to see how the string tracks on the handle. Jawge

[toomanyknots]

Yes, you could narrow the handle, but I wouldn't reduce the thickness too much. I prefer a handle that is thicker than it is wide.
Be careful of those fades, though. The point where the fade starts narrowing down for the handle, must be thicker than the bending limb. You don't want any bend creeping up into those narrowed down fades!

Sometimes I will make the handle like that of a fat broom. I really like the feel. I usually do a thicker handle too, but I tried it just plain round a while back and I liked it. Obviously not on a 80# bow or anything, due to chances of it breaking. But on a 50# bow with a simple cord wrap, it feels really good.