This is my second bow and first attempt at a backed bow.
62.5 ntn shootin for 50-55# @28"        

Roughed out and handle glued up.Sorry so many pics but i been a bit behind on my posting.        

Few more.Heres where I am as of today.        

Looks good! Just wish the pics were a little bigger.

A 62.5" stiff handled cherry bow that looks pretty narrow?  Getting 28" out of that is going to take some superb tillering and a bit of luck!

Keep us posted - I love the way a cherry bow looks after it's aged a bit!

Otree-sorry forgot to resize my pics.next ones will be bigger.

Jeremy-its 1.125 at handle 1.625 at fades and i'm hoping i can make it work.Thanks.It has been in my buddys shop for prolly 10yrs or better.

Lookin good...keep the posts comin  

Jeremy-about that superb tillering.I got the bottom limb good but the top limb failed me.It broke at 26",not sure if backin failed or i had a hinge but it had some serious bend in it and POW!!!I think i just rushed the top limb tryin to get it to match the bottom limb,shoulda jus left well enough alone,but i guess learn as you go.Hers some pics of the damage and jus for kicks i threw some tung on it and man would it have been beautiful.        

otree-finaly figured out my pics size.      

looks like the back blew at a grain runoff, maybe just too much stress though. too bad it looked great.

A hickory backing may have held up better???

I consider maple and cherry as second string bow woods and would use bamboo/hickory, bamboo/osage or hickory/osage for you next bow.

Walkabout-that seems to be what everyone else thinks also.I got another glued up so i will try again.

Otree-might have but i only have maple

Eric-the wood was free and i have been out of work for 3 mo. and will likely be out for another yr due to health problems so I gotta make do with what i can scrounge up.I would love to try different woods but until i can get back to workin i gotta make this stuff work.

Thanks guys

Thwackaddict,
I am with you. Money is tight right now, so I am limited to wood that is cheap and available. Since osage does not grow anywhere near where I live, and since I will not spend (nor do I have the money to spend) the asking price for an osage stave, it is out of the question for me. I did pick up a very cheap ipe board today at a lumber yard.

NEProf-There is alot of osage round here but being new to bowyerin i havent cut any yet,rest assured this fall i will be sitting on a pile of it!!Got lots of access to good wood just didnt know.If i knew 2yrs ago what i know now i would be well stocked.

realy nice handle,sorry about the break you'll get it next time.very nice lookin wood.

That's how we learn.  Keep at it.  Thanks for posting.

The bow looked very nice, it's a shame it blew on you.  What glue did you use for the laminated handle?