Here is the scenario. I was making an osage self bow, but needed more handle material, so I glued on a handle piece of 4 thin laminates of osage. Somehow I got it off center by 1/2". The bow is 68.5" tip to tip, but the center of the handle is at 33 3/4 and 34 3/4 (total 68.5) putting the center off by 1/2".
What do you recommend that I do? Obviously the ends now need to be designated top and bottom and one be the weaker limb. I forget which way to go.
Which is shorter and which is weaker (positive tiller)?
Bottom is shorter to make it stronger. Many do this on purpose.
Don't hold me to it, but I think the shorter limb should be the bottom and the upper should be weaker. I don't have too much experience with wood bows. Someone with more knowledge will chime in soon.
That's how I lay most of my bows off Pastorhunter. I generally use billets for my bows so I cut the upper billet 1" longer than the bottom. Just mark up 1 1/2" from center for your arrow placement/shelf and use a medimun grip and tiller in from there. ART
That's a pretty long osage bow. If it were me, I'd shorten it anyway. But, yes, the bottom is often designed to be shorter. My longest osage bow nowadays is 64" NTN for a 28-30" draw. I prefer 62" for my 27" draw. Even shorter if I make it bend right into or through the handle.
This bow is for a friend and he swears that his draw is 31. I've questioned him about this several times. I know he does have long arms, so I've designed the longer bow to his supposed draw length.
Then leave it that long. Is he a trad shooter? If so, watch him shoot when he doesn't know you're watching him. See how much arrow is hanging off the rest at full draw. I bet 3" or more :)