selfbow with an arrow shelf

[Mike Boulet]

I've finished my first selfbow! It took me almost 2 years from the point were someone gave me a piece of osage to the point I actually made it look like a bow. I'm completely hooked. Now when I look at trees I only see staves...  

Anyways, I have just recently had a huge red oak tree cut down and got a few nice staves out of it. I was thinking about making a selfbow with an arrow shelf.  I'm looking for advice on measurements for doing a selfbow with an arrow shelf. How do people come up with layouts for handles? Are there measurements somewhere?

[DVSHUNTER]

I've made several with shelves, but can neer get the look I have in my head to come out in the bow. Just start to experiment and look at other bows with hadles. I'll try and dig up my handle pics and see if I can show you.

[Goose Gossett]

I know it's a board bow but maybe an example for ya... it was a bit thick but I didn't mind shooting it.  I know I've heard don't go past midline cutting out the shelf.  Not sure if it helps.

[okie64]

When I'm cutting in an arrow shelf, I dont think I've ever done two exactly the same, I start out cuttin it out with a jigsaw and then just rasp and file until it looks good. I usually cut it a little shy of center.
Heres a before and after on osage.

Heres another one not cut quite as deep.

Hope that helps a little.

[George Tsoukalas]

If I do a shelf it is a few glued on pieces of leather. Check my site for info. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/leatherhandle.html

[Mike Boulet]

Thanks for the examples. Now to get to making some shavings. I will post pics once I have something.

[Dick in Seattle]

My long standing no shelf tendencies have been getting stronger, so I just invented a new old saying:  "The long slippery slope from trad to compound begins with the cutting in of a shelf...."

     

Dick... who hasn't had his coffee yet and is therefor feeling kind of ornery.....

However, seriously, I recently did a "shelf along"...  you can see it at:

http://dickwightman.com/archeryactivity/bowbuilding/tgbow-2/swapbow-2.html

It's part of a complete and very detailed bow build and of course the shelf is waaayyyyyy   down toward the bottom.   Hope it helps..