This stave was the small half split off a HHB 4-5" diameter tree. The stave wasn't quit big enough for two complete staves, so this became a bend through the handle design for lack of enough material in the center for a better handle.
I decided to use it and do some experimenting and learning
This stave had a hook that made the sting center outside the handle. I heat treated just the center section while drawing it back into form. I figured this would allow the string to be closer to the handle center (although not really centered) and would stiffen the handle section of the bow
Here is a walk through of my notes. I'm looking for any thoughts or guidance, especially around why it has such bad handshake.
I quickly roughed it out and had a good floor tiller when I got to the long string. I tillered normally and was working pretty quick. At 72" i figured I had room to pike if I made a mistake. I was shooting for 60#@28"
Being quick I hit 60#@28" before I expected and full draw looked like this:
Spec's at this point look like this
1 1/2" at widest to about mid limb then tapers to .5"
72" tip to tip
60#@28"
it has some fairly significant handshake
1 3/4" string follow (most of that is set, although some may be soft set)
I did some trapping to cut the weight and hoped to improve the fps. It didn't help the speed. I've also narrowed and lighten the tips hoping to improve the handshake. It hasn't helped much yet.
At this stage it's shooting at about 145fps
Then I Did some tillering with the gizmo. That helped the tillering but still has significant handshake.
Now 55# (i may pike it but waiting to improve the handshake)
After some testing i found if I shot the arrow of my knuckle at bow center I get 158fps. If I raise the arrow to 1 1/4" above center I loose 5 fps to 153fps (this is with 10 shots of arrows ave 650gr) if I shot the arrow of my knuckle at bow 1 1/4" below center 157fps
So the bow definitely wants the top limb to be longer(or I assume the lower limb stiffer)
Still a 1/8" positive tiller
I then narrowed the tips down to .38" atthe nock. This was tapered to about mid limb as before.
draw weight is still reading about 55.3#@28" Narrowing the tips brought the speed back up to 152fps. The handshake might be slightly better, but still uncomfortable.