Building a reflex / deflex caul help needed

[lebhuntfish]

I have been working on a reflex / deflex caul and have modified my original design because I had too much deflex in it and the form and it was too long. I don't have access to a bow that I could trace. And i'm just going by my own thought of what it should look like. I like the reflex part but not sure about the deflex part of it. I thinh it should have more "swoop" to the center. What do you think, any suggestions, ideas, input or other would be great. Here is what I have so far.

This is the original plan before I cut it down.

[GB]

I've only made a few R/D longbows (all tri-lams) and I'm no expert, so take this with a few grains of salt.  Lately I'm leaning more toward less deflex and more reflex for that type of profile.  The form I made is 1 1/2" deep at the deflex part.  I'm thinking about building it up so it's only 3/4" for the next one I make.  Here's my form and the last tri-lam I made with it.  The bow is hickory backed osage with a cherry core, 66" long.







I made a recurve form with way, way too much deflex in it.  Since then, I've gone to putting just a little deflex in recurves.  I just filled in my form with a couple of blocks.

[lebhuntfish]

Thanks buddy,  from the looks of your form I need to take some of the "hump" off of the reflex part of my caul. Patrick

[GB]

Maybe.  It's kind of a guessing game.  My take on it is you just don't want to put too much deflex into it.  IMHO you'll have a snappier shooting bow if the shape of your form will make a bow with the tips a bit in front of the handle after it's shot in.  But I'm still learnin' here, too.    Good luck on your bow!

[lebhuntfish]

Thanks again GB. Patrick

[lebhuntfish]

Any other info guys!

[JoJoDapyro]

Mine is just a deflex caul, I pegged it with 3/8 dowels to use with inner tube rubber bands. I have found that a good quality twine woven in an X pattern seems to work as well. But, I'm a noob.

[GB]

Patrick, did you see the other thread on R/D cauls?  Will H posted some pictures of a really good looking caul that he uses.  Check it out...