I am getting ready to build a mild r/d longbow.was wondering if there are any advantages to either a wider limb with a thin stack or a narrow limb with a taller stack.
the more narrow a limb, the lower the mass Should be, and the higher the speed. In reality it probably doesnt matter too much.
I say do whatever you think looks cool.
Harry - Welcome to Trad Gang and the Bowyer's Bench. Where do you live in PA?
I might be able to help you out with a stack thickness. What length bow and what poundage are you shooting for?
I live in Vandergrift, Armstrong co.I can hit my weight I have made 3 so far.it is going to be 62".I was looking for opinions on narrow or wider limbs performance,stability,noise.hope that makes sense.
I haven't experimented much with differing limb widths other than to adjust width in order to hit a desired draw weight, but like LittleBen said, narrower should be faster. In a recent straight limbed bow I built, I missed weight and narrowed the limbs to bring it down. It ended up narrower than I normally make them, but it does seem faster than normal.
On my R/D longbows I cut the glass to 1 1/4 before glue-up. Finished limb after rounding the edges is 1 1/8- 1 3/16. Makes for a sleek looking fast bow. IMHO.
Narrower seems a little faster and also quieter. You won't tell much difference tho without a chrono. JMHO