Which design would you recommend To someone that wanted to make their first selfbow? Which design is the better performer?

Probably not enough difference in performance to matter. Tillering is much easier with a pyramid.

Why is tillering easier on the pyramid Jim?

Does the pyramid bow have a stiff or bendy handle?

Good to see your still posting Jim. I know you were on here when I first came on the leather wall. Thanks for sharing your self bow knowledge.

The limbs of a pyramid style bow are the same thickness from the fade to the tips. The thickness tapers on others in an unpredictable parabolic curve, requiring a long scrape-and-check process. The handle is usually stiff on both types.

Would this be considered pyramid style?

What’s the shortest I can make a pyramid style bow and still get around 45# out of hickory?

At what draw length ?

28” Frank

Hickory is tough stuff so you could probably go shorter, but to maximize performance and durability I would keep it around 62".

That will work Frank. The stave is 72” long now. I’d like to cut it down to at least 66”.

I need to pick up a heat gun first before I go any farther. Need to straighten a limb out.

Id suggest a minimum of 65" groove to groove.

Thanks for the suggestion Chris. I was thinking 66”. And maybe leave it long. That way if I don’t make weight of 45 pounds, I can always shorten the tips an inch or two to gain more draw weight.

Shortening a tillered bow comes with its own set of issues. Whatever you may gain in draw weight you lose in performance because of the incurred set. In the end you draw more weight to launch an arrow the same speed as the initial bow gave you. In my mind the length of the bow isn't what it will handle. It's what it needs to be to be a happy, healthy self bow.

Chris I didn’t realize by shortening an already tillered bow that I would lose in performance. Thanks for yet another tip.

Well, if the bow recipe matches the draw length then shortening it is stressing it and undue stress equals set and set equals lower performance. Here is something to consider. Would you rather have a bow start with 5" of heat induced reflex and end up with 1" of reflex. Or, a bow that starts straight and has 2" of set behind the handle? I know which one will shoot better and I also know which one my eyes would prefer to see. Its not the same answer :)

Well from what I have read on here over the years. Some long bows shoot sweet with a little set. But preferably you don’t want any set on an unstrung bow.

I will take the bow that took the least amount of set, regardless of its unbraced profile.

All good points. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us Chris thanks.

All good points. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge with us Chris thanks.

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