Main Discussion Area > HowTo's and Build-a-longs
Winter project - Yew Recurve bow
hedgeapple:
Gordon, I love the rounded belly on this bow and the hazelnut build a-long. My question is when and why should one round the belly of a bow?
Gordon:
Thank you Cameroo, you seem to understand.
Hedgeapple, one reason that I will round a belly is because it creates visually pleasing lines when done correctly. That said, some woods will tolerate a rounded belly more than others. Compression strong woods such as yew and osage lend themselves very well to a rounded belly. Other woods such as ash and serviceberry should generally be left flat. A practical reason for a rounded belly is to direct compression forces away from the edges which is useful if there are knots along the edges that might otherwise be a problem. Another is that it is easier to reduce weight without changing the tiller when the belly is rounded by scraping along the outer edges. But in the end, the main reason that I do it is because I can.
mikekeswick:
--- Quote from: hedgeapple on March 22, 2012, 02:52:46 am ---Gordon, I love the rounded belly on this bow and the hazelnut build a-long. My question is when and why should one round the belly of a bow?
--- End quote ---
With heavily ring porous woods like osage a rounded belly means you don't end up with those weak spots in a limb where the latewood ends and the next softer earlywood ring shows. If an earlywood ring occupies too much of the limb width it's a perfect place for a hinge to start. If you round the belly then instead of occuping virtually the entire width of the limb the earlywood rings will feather out to a point. Also some woods just like to be rounded somewhat, like yew,labernum etc. It's a good idea with most woods to employ a rouneded (slightly) belly when coming out of the fades then 'morph' into a flat belly for the rest of the limb. As Gordon says it's also much more pleasing on the eye. When things look right they normally are :)
hedgeapple:
Thanks Gordon and Mike. You guys answered my question and them some question that I didn't know I had.
Hunter Van Winkle:
Wondrous artistry, so beautiful to behold, I can only wonder how marvelous is must be to shoot.
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