How much reflex is too much?

[glenbo]

I have a stave from a local hickory tree about3-1/2" in diameter at the base.It is 72 " long and 1-3/8" wide and will be a bending handle design.The thing is that it has pulled into about 5"of natural reflex.Any input? glen

[Pat B]

Five inches of reflex makes the stave unstable to work with. Exercise it plenty on the long string as you tiller and that might get it to a more stable amount of reflex. I have removed reflex before because it was too much to comfortably work with.
If by the time you are at brace height and there is still too much clamp it to a form with less reflex(say 3") and heat treat the belly. This will reduce the reflex plus strengthen the compression strength of the hickory.

[glenbo]

Thanks Pat.

[DCM]

Usually the butt end won't reflex as much as the other, so it might serve you to get it reduced to floor tiller size, throw it on a caul and use a heat gun and clamps to reduce and even out the reflex.  Like Pat, I find it difficult to build a bow starting with more than 4" reflex, and prefer around 2".

[John Scifres]

I really struggle with anything more than 2" of reflex.  I do this for fun so struggling isn't part of that.

[DVSHUNTER]

two inches is about my max as well.