Well, here we go again for bows #2 & #3 coming your way soon...the wood this time is Ash & I am aiming for a bit shorter bow this time @ 60" knock-knock with a straight taper design ie taper starts at 2" from the end of handle area (both ends) and tapers to a 1/2" wide at the tip. This puts more of the "power" down closer to the handle and less working at the tips.  When done I am shooting for a draw wt 35-40 range at a draw length of 24".  A lot of that depends on how well the final tillering goes.......but that's much later.  For now I began with a seasoned Ash stave that was about 75" lg and cut two bows out of the one stave.  We draw a pattern on the "face" side after debarking, then rough cut it on the bandsaw to save time (and my labor).  Now in this pic I am getting the width down and will rough form the handle area too. I will work on getting the thickness of the limbs down to around 5/8" before making the first tillering test.

Stay tuned for part 2 next week.  I know you kin hardly wait... 

"The Beginning"

nearly dun.....I have two that are strung now but need more tillering to fine tune them...then applying a finish comes last......won't take pic, too big a file it seems like......

go to the Handloader archery/bow page and see pictures under longbow.......