I built one of sam dunhams red oak self bows and used a string to find the center of the bow from tip to tip and through the center of the grip...that being said, do the tips have to line up with one another and through the center of the bow?
As long as the string crosses the handle the bow will shoot fine. Your bow will preform better if everything lines up but wood bows will handle some twist and misaligned limbs.
How does the string track now and do the tips line up?
Pat I appologize I went and re-read my post, I should have added that I am now working on an elm bow and I thought about the way sam dunham did the string through the center and tips and thought about maybe I should do that when laying out my elm bow trying to get mine done
If you know the grain is straight a string will work but on most staves you are better off following the grain for the center line.
QuoteOriginally posted by Pat B:
If you know the grain is straight a string will work but on most staves you are better off following the grain for the center line.
Good deal thanks. Yea I couldn't wrap my brain around how everything is supposed to line up on a stave!