Just a quick question. I'm making my first board bow and am wondering if the upper and lower fades should have the same tapper profile. Thanks
No mate, keep things as simple as you can - no need to overcomplicate. Good luck!
An even blend into the working limb is all you need to do.
Yep, make them the same. A lot of newbies make an abrupt transition into the limbs which usually ends up with a popped off handle.
Make your transition long and graceful. You can lessen the chance of popping your handle off if you put a couple of 1/8" shims down first before you glue the bulk of your handle material down.
(https://i.imgur.com/Kt1pBMJ.jpg)
Thanks for the info fellas.
Eric, in your photo, how thick is the limb after the fade?
The limb is 1 1/4" wide and about 1/2" thick at the fade not counting the bamboo, it is a bamboo osage bow.
This is before I did any tillering and the bow is probably in the 100# range at this point.
Ok great, thanks. Gives me an idea as to where to start with the tillering. I'm just making an ash board bow backed with carbon fibre just because that's what I have access to.
I always make my limbs slightly rounded on the belly and tiller away most of the hump as I head toward the target weight.
I never checked exactly but I suspect 1/8" or so of extra rounded wood on the belly would amount to at least 20# pounds to tiller off.
This extra wood gives you some breathing room on hitting your target.