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Grain orientation on stave

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Ruddy Darter:
Just started my very first yew stave (Oregon), and discovered a kink in the end grain of the bottom limb, (had to saw off 9" due to a central split in the sapwood and now left with 77").
I reckon this kink runs throughout most of the bottom limb as I run off down the side chasing what I thought was the central grain, which was rather confusing. The top limb's end grain is more regular looking and didn't have a problem chasing the centre.
Just wondering if I should follow this grain for the belly profile to avoid set and for better limb action, or not bother about it.
Here's a pic, one with normal profile and one I'm contemplating which I think might work better.
Thanks for any advice,
 
 R.D.

Del the cat:
Simply ignore it... :)
It's irrelevant on the belly, and on the back it would mere;y leave you maybe a long thin island along the length of the bow worst case.
Not a problem, it may simply give you a cool looking slightly concave back... sweet  :)
E.G.
A stave with a bit of sideways waggle can just be laid out straight as long as you watch out for edge tools digging in and following the grain.
If it's really worrying you, just jog the bow towards one edge of the stave. The thin off cut from the other side may even make a kids bow or a miniature  :) As per pic... excuse wobbly cross sections  :-[ , but I'm sure you get the idea.
Don't fall into the trap of trying to cut 2 staves... Treat it as one good one plus an offcut that may or may not be useful.
Del

Ruddy Darter:
Right you are Del, OK, I may keep it central then and  I may go for the right hand side that you circled, a little bit closer to the centre though. Thanks, that's really helpful 8). I'll only be going for one bow, ain't got a bandsaw to try for it anyway, and I've taken off 3 sides a fair bit at the handle. I'll be steaming in recurve too after mostly tillered, it has a fair amount of d-flex.
Pic 2 is a rough and exaggerated idea for steam heat bending, a shallow but sharp bend at the centre first, then recurve the limb tips. Seem reasonable? (it will only be drawing to 31")

 
Many thanks again,
 R.D.

Del the cat:
Remember the old addage, keep it simple, a bit of natural deflex is your friend duting early tillering. Then like you say once it's looking reasonable put in some gentle recurve.
I wouldn't try to put any bend in the centre 'cos the bow is thickest and stiffest there... much easy to bend the tips. (Seriously trust me trying to put much bend in the middle can take a lot of effort)
Just recurve the tips to get 'em back in line with the back of the grip plus maybe an extra inch (that may pull out after).
If your steam bends pull out, switch to dry heat and take plenty of time so it sets the bend in and heat treats it a tad.
Del

Ruddy Darter:
Cool beans Del, that makes good sense and shall do,  8)
Taken some more wood off chasing the belly ring down and glad I did as I'm getting a lot better picture of the growth direction and what will be dead centre, a lot was deceiving by being sawn clean, the growth rings are pretty tight so got me a little confused but I've hollowed out the ring/rings I'm chasing with my curved carving gouges which are making light work of it.  :), glad I decided to give them a try.
 
 R.D.

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