Bow got abs! Washboard belly?

[Jomohr84]

Howdy guys,

So I finished sanding my latest bow last night after shooting it in about 100 shots, ending with 600 grit. It's smooth as butter, hut I notices that it seems pronouncedly more washboarded than before, almost wavy or lumpy, on a small scale. It can only be seen if sighting down the length of the limb held up to a light.

It's not a huge deal to me, but will it hurt the bows durability or longevity In any way?  I'm sure it was from scraping, and i'll try to minimize it in the future, but am hoping this won't be bad for the bow. It has a pretty good tiller, and is 50# @ 28", red oak board bow. Oh yeah, I heat treated the belly as well, it gained 3 or 4 lbs. And hasn't taken any more set.

[kennym]

Probably due to different hardness of grain. Black locust also seems really bad about that to me!

Shoot the heck outta her!      

[Jomohr84]

Thanks Kenny!  Red oak seems to washboard on me easily, like you said because of the porous, softer early growth, it even washboarded worse while sanding I believe. So far no chrysals, frets, splinters or "ghost ticks". I teak oiled it last night, first time using teak oil. I didn't stain this bow at all, and the oil darkened it a bit and is looking real good. Gonna let it dry a few days, then finish it with poly. May take this one hunting this year, long as it doesn't develop any problems.

[kennym]

We used black locust in a bow riser on a glass bow once, it did the same thing. Never used it since except for lams under glass.

[Pat B]

When using a scraper, if you only hold the scraper straight across the belly you create these washboards. If you alternate straight,canted right then canted left with the scraper you take down the high points lessening the chance for the washboarding. The difference in grain hardness, like Kenny said will cause washboarding too.  Using a sanding block at final sanding helps too.

[Jomohr84]

Hmm i'll have to try canting the scraper on the next bow, I made this belly really flat, just rounding the corners, so it got pretty bumpy. Before sanding it wasn't very noticeable, just some horizontal lines across the belly which I figured would sand out because I start with 150 grit and get all tool marks out, but it actually made it worse! Another lesson learned, amazing how each bow teaches something new, which is great because then each bow  is an improvement on the previous one.

[Jomohr84]

Wondering if shooting in yesterday didn't exacerbate the washboarding, compressing the wood more in the "valleys" between the "hills" on the belly?

[Jomohr84]

Here's a shot of the tiller

 

[kennym]

That looks like the centerfold for Tiller Magazine!!  

[Dan Landis]

I do the same as Pat, cant the scraper.  I also use the fine side of a farrier's rasp held lengthwise and flat to smooth out any bumps felt during tillering, then use a sanding block for finish work and final sanding......Dan

[Roy from Pa]

That's what I call a great tillering job..

[Jomohr84]

Yeah got  Eric's gizmo to thank for the tiller,  I wouldn't bother tryin' to tiller without one!

[Roy from Pa]

Amen to that!