You can narrow the tips without overlays. Overlays are basically cosmetic except for softer wood like yew and juniper. You should leave the tips a bit thicker so when you do narrow them you still have the strength so the tips don't bend.
  If you plan to cut string grooves across the back of your tips you must have overlays. Do not cut string groove across the back without them.

Ok thanks Pat B.

I decided in the end to put some overlays, if for nothing else, then for the experience.
Roughed-out here.

The wood is Australian hardwood Jarrah.





Bought some materials to make a tillering stick so that should be up and going over this long weekend.

Before that though, making a string.

I think the string grooves are too straight. I'll see how it goes with a string.

Good on ya, Tom!

Cheers Ben.

Well I made up a longstring with Fast Flight and jeez, it feels about 100# at 3 inches.

Tom. Take it real slow when removing wood, and exercise the limbs a whole bunch before stressing it again. Those Jarrah tips look real nice, wish I could get it easily over here but the only place I have seen it is as a pair of seats outside a dunny at a national park. Fanciest place to take a bog I have ever seen and you couldn't even wash your hands.
Razor.

Razorback, that's the funniest thing I've heard all day.
I'm gonna take it as slowly as possible.
Thanks.

There are buildalongs on my site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/archer.html

Jawge, thanks. Are you saying my bow is no good?

Made a pretty simple tiller device.
I've since fixed the right limb.

Next step: MORE SCRAPING!

Tom, that actually looks pretty darn good to me. Very nice and congratulations! Enjoy your first. Jawge

Thanks heaps Jawge.

What a feeling ha? I still get that rush, Tom. I  just don't make as  many as I used to now. Enjoy your bow in good health.    Jawge

Well Jawge, still got a bit of work on tiller to do. Haven't drawn passed about 15 inches yet.
Thanks for your kind words, though, and thanks for the link to the website. It's in my favourites now.

Tom.

Sanding etc...
Some unwanted tool marks that would change the bow too much so just sort of cleaned them up a bit.

 

Your a brave man Tom. that cup of stain on the carpet and the missus standing right there.    
Unless thats your hand with the nail polish.
Bow is looking real good, we need a full draw shot once it is finalised. The spotted gum looks good. Have you seen many self bows done with Aussie hardwoods.

QuoteOriginally posted by razorback:
Your a brave man Tom. that cup of stain on the carpet and the missus standing right there.    
Unless thats your hand with the nail polish.
Bow is looking real good, we need a full draw shot once it is finalised. The spotted gum looks good. Have you seen many self bows done with Aussie hardwoods.

It's still there (as far as I know) and has been for 3 days. Maybe i should move it now and not push my luck any farther.

Full draw in the other thread I started.

QuoteOriginally posted by razorback:
Your a brave man Tom. that cup of stain on the carpet and the missus standing right there.    
Unless thats your hand with the nail polish.
Bow is looking real good, we need a full draw shot once it is finalised. The spotted gum looks good. Have you seen many self bows done with Aussie hardwoods.

Glenn Newell says he's made hundreds of slefbows using Australian wood.
Maybe he'll be kind enough to show us.