Flat or radius belly

[Mad Max]

BBI  66" NTN
Any gain in a flat belly?

I've used a radius belly on the FEW I have done.

[Pappy]

I like flat belly but that’s just me, but it does keep limb thickness the same from side to side so I think that makes a a good plus. Pappy

[sleek]

Flat bellies help reduce the likelihood of set because the stress of compression is spread out more evenly. Im sure there are exceptions but generally, its a good rule of thumb.

[Hamish]

 It depends on the type of wood you're using, and the other design elements like width and length. Ipe can handle pretty much any style of belly shape, and perform well, and not chrysal without good reason, like really bad tillering or a knot that hasn't been compensated for.

I find a radiused belly on a "flatbow" to be easier for the human hands and eye, to control tillering(Dean Torges facet tillering). For a truly flat bow I find it more troublesome to tiller by eye without constantly checking the depth of each side of the limb to make sure they are even. Still very doable and effective, just a little bit annoying for me personally.

[simk]

The rectangeld cross section is the most efficient regarding mass. So the only reason to round the belly, which basically is kinda reverse trapping, is to relieve stress from the back. That is also the only reason why you would round the belly of a yew longbow. Do you need to relieve stress from your boo? 😀

[Mad Max]

The rectangeld cross section is the most efficient regarding mass. So the only reason to round the belly, which basically is kinda reverse trapping, is to relieve stress from the back. That is also the only reason why you would round the belly of a yew longbow. Do you need to relieve stress from your boo? 😀

I would say No

[Pat B]

For me it depends on the belly wood. For Osage I like a slightly rounded belly but for most white woods I prefer a flat, rectangular cross section. I think ipe can handle a slightly rounded cross section but I think a flat belly works fine as well.

[mmattockx]

Flat belly is best from a stress point of view, but ipe can survive pretty much anything you throw at it, so you can do whatever appeals most from an aesthetic standpoint.


Mark