I am making a hickory self bow out of a stave I cut last summer. The the stave is only 64 inches long. Is this long enough to make a 60 lbs bow draw twenty six inches if I make the limbs wide and flet enough
Short answer is yes, but it depends on the quality of the stave (knots, density, integrity of the back), the design (rectangular limb cross-section)and your skills as a bowyer. I'd make sure that it's completely dry too. Without knowing how it's been stored and if it was debarked and reduced, it certainly may not be dry enough in one season.