Waiting a few weeks to get back to my ash project and the white oak log I need to split into staves, I decided to try and build a red oak board bow, for a few dollars investment I figured why not. I am making it for my daughter so I cut it to 62" and glued up the handle piece. Shaped it to dimension and glued up some silk backing. My wife bought me a yard of black Dupioni and it is a little rough in texture compared to the stuff you find in fine clothing but it worked. I waited a day and a half for it to dry and hit the backing a thin coat of spar urethane to keep it from fraying while I work things. Then I noticed that a string from tip to tip runs about 1/8" off center of the handle/riser. I figured if I steam it and clamp it up in a simple jig I could get it perfect but I am concerned it might loosen up my glue joints and backing. An eighth of an inch isn't that big of a deal so what say all of you?
Leave it as is, that's my vote. Id love to be within an 1/8" on any of my work.
I'm with Pearl. If possible make the arrow pass on the side that the string tracks to. Puts you an 1/8" closer to center shot. :)
Thanks guys. I will leave it be. One thing I have noticed with the silk backing is that put on wet it shrinks up tight and though the stuff I used is not dress gown quality, it looks pretty good. I will start tillering it in a few days and hopefully in a week or so I will have my first bow.
This white oak log is intimidating me a bit. I have to get at splitting it down some time, maybe this evening. I noticed a couple checks in th eends. I sealed them up with paint but it still checked a little. The log is about 6 1/2 feet long so i should be ok.
you can use some mild dry heat with TBIII but I wouldn;t bother. If you're not careful it can result in disasterous delamination.
All TB glues will release at 150deg(F) so I wouldn't use any heat where it might affect the glue. You could however heat the whole bow to release the glue, make you repair, clean up the glue surfaces and re-glue it.
I would just let her shoot it. You go messing with it and bad things could happen.