Narrowing limbs

[DC]

When you are narrowing limbs what kind of a cross section would you stop at, square, elb 5/8? This is a generic question but I'm thinking of more toward the outer limbs and tips.

[Badger]

In the outer 8" or so I usually end up with an elb type cross section rounded belly.

[Dances with squirrels]

Same as Badger.

Even at its widest though, my whole bow belly is radiused, corners rounded, and then that ellipse cross section gets narrower and more rounded or elb-ish if you will as it nears the tips.

I don't stop if I can still see flats or corners anywhere. Actually, I usually lose those shapes about halfway through tillering.

[Eric Krewson]

Me too, very narrow round belly tips with a more depth.

[Aaron H]

When building statics, I like to keep the back narrow and my belly flat and wide (trapezoidal cross section),  and/or groove the belly so that the string has good surface contact to rest on.  Seems to help with string alignment for me. 

[Jim Davis]

I think it was Paul Klopsteg or Clarence Hickman who first warned against making the tips narrower than their depth. The tips are apt to warp off sideways in that configuration. I only tried it once, but the tips did take some sideways set.

[DC]

I figured that narrower than deep would be risky but I thought maybe square would be the saw off point but i'm happy with about 5/8. It would be a safety factor against twisting. I guess recurves are even more sensitive to this than a straight bow?

[George Tsoukalas]

I haven't thought about that. I just let it flow. Jawge