Working on a HBO recurve

[takefive]

A couple of months ago I made a hickory backed osage with an elm core recurve that I really like.  So I decided to try another one.  Instead of making a full length tapered core, I went with a 46" elm lam 3/16" thick to just past the fades and then an even taper to zero.  Like a really long power lam, I guess.
It's 63" NTN, 1 1/2" at the fades to 7/16" tips and just under 50# @ 27".  My 60 year old shoulders prefer 45#, but trying to get the last 3 inches tillered to that weight has been a bear.  I've shot around 40 arrows thru it and will probably do a little more careful scraping on it tomorrow.  Hope to have it all finished up next weekend and post a few more pictures.  

[Pheonixarcher]

Wow! That thing looks great. I'm no selfbow or tri-lam pro, but judging from your full draw pic, I'd concentrate on scraping the top limb to get just a bit more overall bend to it. The tiller looks great, but if you can weaken the whole top limb a smidge, you just might take that three pounds off, and have a bit more even tiller. Of course, pics can be deceiving, and if it shoots great, then just evenly sand and round the edges a bit more, and you should be good. Either way, that is some very fine work, and I'm sure much better than I could achieve. Nicely done.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Better keep an eye on that handle. With no build up or power lam there is a good chance it pops on you. Tiller looks nice.

[takefive]

Thanks Phoenix and Pearl!  I think you're right about the top limb.  At a 5 1/2" brace it's just a hair stronger than the bottom limb, but it looks like it should open up more at full draw.  I sure can't see that when it's on the tillering tree, but it's much more apparent in the picture.  I'm into the belly a little bit at the handle fades, Pearl, about 1/16".  Hope that's enough to keep it from popping off.  We'll see.    :rolleyes:
Thanks again for your insight, guys.  

[Crittergetter]

Dang, that's a sweet lookin bow! Good job!

[Ice Mike]

Nice job takefive!!


Very nice looking bow man!!

[takefive]

Thanks guys!  Did more scraping on the top limb and hope to have it finished next weekend.