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Building the Vine Maple Bow - Finished

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Dan K:
Very helpful Gordon.  I now have the confidence to tiller my 4 1/2" reflex yew stave.  VM is pretty forgiving wood so is it safe to assume that following this process should work on yew? 

IsaacC:
Hello Gordon,

May you please explain to me the reason that the bow will start to set as you tiller it if you haven't taken enough off the belly? If this has to do with the thickness of the limb and the characteristics of the wood, it seems like this would limit the draw weight of the bow. How can you increase draw weight possibilities and avoid set in the limbs? Increase limb length is my thought...

Thank you, I am thoroughly impressed by the intricacy and efficiency of your work.

Isaac C.

Gordon:
Vine maple is unusual in that it has a tendency to curl into reflex when a stave is split and dried. My theory is that the wood cells on the tension side are actually contracting as they dry and by working the bow you are reducing reflex by stretching the tension cells as opposed to compressing the cells on the belly. Of course, at some point, the cells are stretched as far as they will go and if you are not careful the bow will begin to take set.

IsaacC:

--- Quote from: Gordon on April 22, 2016, 03:41:23 pm ---Vine maple is unusual in that it has a tendency to curl into reflex when a stave is split and dried. My theory is that the wood cells on the tension side are actually contracting as they dry and by working the bow you are reducing reflex by stretching the tension cells as opposed to compressing the cells on the belly. Of course, at some point, the cells are stretched as far as they will go and if you are not careful the bow will begin to take set.

--- End quote ---

Thank you, that makes sense. If stretched too far the fibers would yield. When the thickness is decreased, the moment is lessened on the outer fibers.

Do you have a rule of thumb for draw weight vs limb length (or width)? It seems like the only way to go higher in draw weight would be to go longer (less stress on the limb).

Gordon:
Isaac, I have made a lot of vine maple bows and I generally have a pretty good feel for the proper proportions when I start a bow. But I haven't tried to work out a formula. What kind of bow are you trying to make?

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