Ash self-bow HELP!!!!

[Roaring Reds]

Gidday, Im attempting to build yet another ash bow, Ash is the only wood i have access to at the moment. I was curious to wether or not  I have to chase a ring on the back and belly of the bow. I have chased a ring on the back of the bow but as it tapers to the limb tips it breaks into another growth ring, is that ok? How short can i make the bow and how wide should the limbs be and to what taper should it go down to at the limb tips? THe bow now is 66 inch.    

Thanks for the advice, John  

[lpcjon2]

If you ask this on the bowyers bench on the main page you will get quicker results.

[Nim-rod]

If the violation is in the non bending area it should be ok but if not it may break. Since the grain on board bows are violated and they work it might be fine. You could always back it with linen and not worry or do like you said and chase that ring. I think 66" is a good length and 1 5/8" (or more)for width and make it that for 3/4 the length of the limb and taper to 1/2" nocks from there. Ash likes to follow the string so adding some recurve to the tips is a good idea. I've had good luck with Ash especially with a light toasting of the belly.

[KellyG]

If you violated the ring you need to back it with. You don't need to chase a ring on the belly.
If it is the same ash as we have in the states you should be able to just knock the bark off and use the wood just under the bark.

[Roaring Reds]

I tried to use the wood under the bark but it was no good. I roughed out the bow now and had to cut three inches off both ends. Im now stuck with a 60 inch bow and that worries me. I chased a good ring on the back of the bow and have one knot that slightly broke through the growth ring. Im thinking of backing it with goat or stag rawhide. Would that be a good idea? Also what glue and steps would i need to take to glue stag horn on the limb tips? Also whats the best method for backing?      

Thanks again for all the help guys!

[dmikeyj]

You can't go wrong with hide glue for rawhide.  CA glue for the antler tips works well.  Not sure if its the best method for backing, but moistening the hide in warm water, starting near the tips with a clamp, stretching the hide as you put it down, squeezing out air bubbles as you go is pretty standard...

I'd use whichever of those two choices for backing that is the thinnest, you don't necessarily want the extra weight of thick hide on there.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Make the handle work at 60". That too short to do much else with on an ash bow.

[Roaring Reds]

Hi, thanks for the replies. What exactly is ca glue? Also do you mean  to shave the limbs thinner by the fades on the belly, when you say make the handle work? This would make the limbs work evenly verses putting to much stress on the middle and tips? Do you think thicker rawhide backing would help with it being only 60in.  


THanks again fellows

[PEARL DRUMS]

A working handle is felt moving just a few inches short of ull draw. It gives way some.

[dmikeyj]

CA= superglue (cyanoacrylate)

[okie64]

I would cut the thicknesss out of the handle and make it work. A 60 inch ash bow is probably going to take a lot of set with a stiff handle.