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Hazelnut bow build-a-long (fixed pictures)

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Shooter:
Very nice, Gordon.

Gordon:
It’s time to cut nocks. I mark the position of the nocks about 1” back from the tip end and then make a line at about 45 degrees. I do this on both sides of the tip to help ensure that my groves will line up nicely.



Using a small rattail file I file groves on both sides using the 45 degree line as a guide.



After the initial groves are cut I round the belly with a rasp and/or scraper.



I finish filing the groves stopping frequently to make sure they line up with each other.

Gordon:
I wrap 100 grit sandpaper around the file and sand the groves smooth. The shoulders are rounded a bit  so that the string loops won’t catch and split the wood.



Burnishing the forward edge of the groves also helps prevent string damage.



Here is what the tips looks like when I’m done. Note that the groves should be even and meet squarely in the middle. Now we’re ready to put on a string.

Gordon:
The longer the string, the harder it is to see flaws in the tiller so I use a string that’s just long enough to nock without bracing the bow. Left limb is a little stiff and right mid-limb is a little weak.



Time for a little wood removal - I’m careful not to take too much wood off at a time and I exercise the bow thoroughly between scraping sessions. It is important not to pull the bow more than your target weight so as to keep the stress on the limbs to a minimum thus reducing unnecessary set. The limbs are bending fairly evenly now.

Gordon:
The bow is a little narrow for hazel-nut so I’m going to temper the belly to help prevent excessive set. I put each limb into reflex and then use a heat gun until the belly is nicely browned, but not charred. I keep the heat gun about 4-5” away from the belly to allow the heat to penetrate the belly rather than just scorch it.





Tempering the belly will add weight and change the tiller so I scrape more to get the limbs bending evenly again. The bow is ready for the short string when the tips move about 16” at the target draw weight.

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