Handle thickness?

[cool_98_555]

Hello everyone,

I am wondering what the absolute minimum thickness should be for a stiff handle with a cut-in arrow shelf.  I have a wormhole just below the back of the stave on the side in a spot about midlimb, and if I take it down 2 growth rings to eliminate the hole, I only have about 1" of thickness left at the handle, maybe 1 1/16" thick.  It's at 66" right now, and if I pike it so that the hole is in the handle area, it would be a 62-63" bow, and I have a 29" draw.....any ideas on what the minimum thickness could be for a cut-in arrow shelf?

Thank you

[Eric Garza]

I think it depends how deep your arrow shelf is cut in. 1 inch should be enough for a non-bending handle in a 63 inch bow if you leave the handle a full 1 inch wide and shoot off your knuckle.

[upstatenybowyer]

I agree with Eric. I've made stiff handle bows around that length with an inch thick handle, but my draw length is 27.5. Thumbs work fine and so does a little extra leather or something under the grip.

Good luck

[PatM]

Just flatten the belly side and glue on an extra piece.

[osage outlaw]

1" is plenty thick enough.  Just don't cut the shelf in to far.  I'm finishing up a bow now that the handle is only slightly thicker than the limbs and it doesn't bend.  I added layers of leather on the back and belly of the handle to make it more comfortable to hold. 

[loon]

I think it depends how deep your arrow shelf is cut in. 1 inch should be enough for a non-bending handle in a 63 inch bow if you leave the handle a full 1 inch wide and shoot off your knuckle.

Ha, I've been hoping 3/4" is enough for minimal or no bend in a 74+" bow also with no arrow shelf and maybe a 1 1/8" wide handle.. and a light bow. But I think I'll go shorter

[Badger]

  I usually figure a minimum of 1" thick for a 64" bow drawing about 50#.  I don't like to cut in an arrow shelf less than 1 1/4 because it can pull a splinter if it flexes at all near the cut out.

[mikekeswick]

Easy ! Chase the ring on your limbs and leave it on the back of your handle. Feather the rings over the fades. I'd add a shelf.

[George Tsoukalas]

What wood are you using?

A 29 inch draw for a 62" length may be fine for osage but not so much for a white wood. In that case, you would want the handle to bend.

Jawge

[cool_98_555]

It's Osage and it was cut 9months ago

[George Tsoukalas]

A handle 1" thick and 1 3/8" wide should not bend. That's what I would do.

I would also go with 1.5 in. fades and a 3-4" handle. You are on the cusp of having too short a stave so maximize the bending part.

You could also let the handle bend. Nothing wrong with that.

Jawge