Confused about Bow Building Limb Structure

[bow101]

Exactly what profile in the photo shown is good for what.  So what Profile is good for what design, style or type of bow....?

cheers,

[steve b.]

[bow101]

So slightly radiused. I noticed some builders go with #1 profile.

[Pat B]

For me it depends on the wood I'm using. For compression strong woods like osage, ipe, Mulberry and yew I like a radiused belly. For weaker in compression whitewoods like hickory, ash, red and white oak I like a flat belly.

[steve b.]

I was half joking, as I assumed you were talking about boards.  I don't use boards so for me the back is dictated by the back that is given.  The only thing I might do on whitewoods is trap the sides so that the back is more narrow than the belly but that is because I have not the experience with heating treating that I want.
I cut the belly as flat as I can with a large rasp and scraper then I round all 4 corners off, to some degree, to avoid stresses there.  By the time I round the edges with a tool, and then sand the edges, the belly is no longer flat but has take on a slight radius.

[adb]

For me it depends on the wood I'm using. For compression strong woods like osage, ipe, Mulberry and yew I like a radiused belly. For weaker in compression whitewoods like hickory, ash, red and white oak I like a flat belly.

+1

[bow101]

I was half joking, as I assumed you were talking about boards.  I don't use boards so for me the back is dictated by the back that is given.  The only thing I might do on whitewoods is trap the sides so that the back is more narrow than the belly but that is because I have not the experience with heating treating that I want.
I cut the belly as flat as I can with a large rasp and scraper then I round all 4 corners off, to some degree, to avoid stresses there.  By the time I round the edges with a tool, and then sand the edges, the belly is no longer flat but has take on a slight radius.

 Oh.........hey no prob.  I do not have the space for a proper shop, work out of the garage which has a car in it during the day. Having said that, no Room for Bandsaw or Table Saw. At any rate I cannot spend hours on end Shaving a Stave with a Draw knife. I HAVE CHRONIC BACK PAIN. 2 Bad Disks in Lower Spine..!! Extremely Painfull.. So at this point in time I just devote my time to board builds, some laminated.Hopefully in the future probably in the Summer I'll get my hands on a couple staves..

[Fred Arnold]

I like #4