New Ocean Spray, critique appreciated

[Accipiter]

Just finished a quickie ocean spray sapling bow, 53" ntn and 37# at 26". To my eye it looks like it has a slight hinge about 1/3 up the top limb, but otherwise I'm pretty happy. What do y'all think? Any tiller advice for next time? Also, do you think with a longer piece (60 or 62") I could get a 50+# bow from wood this skinny?


My thumb is at the widest part!

[bow101]

"To my eye it looks like it has a slight hinge about 1/3 up the top limb"

Hard to see that hinge from the photo, but it does look pretty good., maybe, just maybe; more bend in outer third closer to tips.   more poundage......? not sure 'bout that with lite stuff....
More photos might help.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I see that "hinge" area. Midway on the upper. Give the portion after that a few scrapes and I bet she straightens out nicely.

[Peacebow_Coos]

Good bow for shootin looks like, I'd say the outer thirds of both limbs are a little stiff, leading to more work being done on the inners of both limbs.  She'll shoot though, good work from a stick.

[Accipiter]

Thanks guys, I'll definitely be doing a bit of scraping on the outer part. I was scared to take off too much before, since the dimensions are so tiny, but it seems like the wood can take it. Definitely a fun one to shoot, sends an arrow a lot faster than a stick that size seems like it should.

[Jmilbrandt]

Looks very nice! I would love to try some oceanspray someday. I can't see any hinge in the photos, but I agree that you should have a little more bend in the outer 1/3.

[Zion]

Cool bow man! Just take some wood off the upper fade i think. You could porbably get 70-80# off that kinda piece, here's one i did that's 65#

[Joec123able]

Wow that's a NARROW bow I don't know anything about ocean spray would love to try it

[randman]

I agree with Zion, between your hand and the hingy area 1/3 the way on the upper limb is where I see a flat spot. I can see you haven't heat treated the thing yet Accipiter. Heat treat some deflex into it and you will gain at least 10 pounds. Ocean spray responds real well to heat treating. Can we see a back profile pic? It don't take much OS to get a 50+ pounder.

[bushboy]

I agree with zion and randman.maybe flip it 180 and take another shot,u will be surprised how much it will change the perspective cuz it looks like your bottom limb is already weaker.I like to hold the picture upside down and see that it's pretty even on my bows with the bottom limb a little stiffer to be prudent.just another idea.

[Accipiter]

Wow, good ideas, although unfortunately I'll be gone for the weekend and can't put any of them into effect for a bit. I'll post some updated pics when I get back though.

Randman - D-eflex R-eflex? It seems like deflex would take poundage off. As for heat treating, I actually did do a bit on this one (did it fully on my first OS bow and it definitely helps) but only on the area with the slight hinge. It did take a bit of the hinge out, and I'm afraid that if treat the rest of it that will be undone, although I guess I could scrape the face and tip areas to compensate.

Zion - Your bows are scary strong, I'm not clear I could even draw a 65 pounder!

[lesken2011]

I agree with Zion and the others. The handle area is a little flat. A couple of scrapes just outside the top fade would help.

[Marc St Louis]

I wouldn't quite call that a hinge, just a flat spot above your hand

[randman]

Sorry Accipiter, I meant REFLEX

[steve b.]

Accipiter,
I'll finish tiller on my first OS tomorrow.  Mine is about the same width as yours but 64".  I decrowned and rawhide backed mine and am going for 55 + lbs.  I'll let you know how it goes..........