Adam Karpowicz has published some work on this subject.  Our bonus issue of PA this year had what I think was a reprint of his article.  It got me thinking about this project I've left aside for so long.

I've experimented with natural deflex before.  One made a nice bow and the other blew up on the tree.  R/D puts a lot of load on midlimb.  This piece is mostly natural like you see it.  I adjusted upper limb just a bit to catch it up to the lower.  Some of you who know me have probably seen this bow before.  I've been "working" on it for several years.

I got a string on it today and finally got it tracking center.  It still has some twist and wobble but is improved enough to proceed.  It's kinda short for my tastes, just 62" NTN.  I'd like a bow of 50#-53# @ 29".  If I'm lucky I can get almost 28" of working limb.  I left generous width at 1 1/2" but it has so much crown I may give up a little during tillering.  

I figure I'll get it up to 40# @ 20" or so and see how much reflex it gives up.  I wouldn't mind if the limbs finished nearly straight (to the deflex) but I'm prepared to sinew the bow if necessary.  The handle is deflexed where the tree grew past a dead limb.  It's still in there, mostly, being split and partly fallen out.  I filled the area with super glue and I'll hope for the best.  It did a bit of creaking and cracking at first but seems to have settled down.  I've had it up to 40# several times on the tree, before I glued it.

Theres a little other character with a couple of small thru holes.  Each limb has a little hickey where I dodged past a knot.

Reckon I'll make it without sinew?  When you reckon that knot in the handle is gonna pop?

http://home.midsouth.rr.com/ddmims/ss1.JPG

http://home.midsouth.rr.com/ddmims/ss2.JPG

http://home.midsouth.rr.com/ddmims/ss3.JPG

Wow David, I just thought I'd seen character before      :D  I just lost one due to a big knot, I thought it had done all the crakin and popin it was going to do then POW!!!I bet you got enough wood around it so it holds.

Now that looks like a challenge!!My guess is the handle is relatively stiff and the limbs do all the flexing? If so, wouldn't the knot in the handle be safe? The side profile looks great but then when you see the back & belly with the wild curve to that one limb...... I'm just gonna sit back and watch this one as it developes. Keep the pictures coming and Good Luck!

I remember that thing David. Cool little "soon to be bow" ! The top of that handle/knot area, would be a worry for sure! The grain does alot of swirling in there looks like? Always a worry.

29"? I'll be watching.Should be a screamer!

Nice colors!

I'm  boggled, yu da man!

when I was 17 my first "real" girlfriend kinda looked like that.    (she broke ME)

good luck David. I hope your experience is better than mine was.  

Mmmmm!  Like candy.

 I like it!  I wouldn't want to try and work on it, but I still like it.    :D

Looks like a real challenge. Better get out the motorcycle helmet and jacket the first pull to 29". Kinda looks like a Shrew if you squint just a little. Good luck.

Very Cool!!!!

LOVE the side profile, scared to death of the frontal view.....

How big of a worry is limb twist during draw with that prominent of a curve in the one limb?

Also, refresh me, which side of that curve do you need to thin to keep it tracking straight?  Outside????

WOW!! Looks like alot of fun.     Can't wait to see ya finish it.

Looks like you're making good headway on that beauty.  

Unique piece of wood David. I don't remember seeing that one before. I hope you can get her done. The string angle will give you good early draw weight and the bow should prove to be fast. Might be a good idea to leave it a bit stiff near the handle.

That's one of the coolest things I've ever seen.  I hope it works out for ya.

Clint

I think you'll wind up with a pretty thin limb when you are through, so try not to narrow it any. Looks like clean wood in the working areas. Can you shorten your draw?  

WILDTHING foe sure!!!     Cool very cool <><

sheesh. that will be a looker for sure!
lots of bends and twistys .lol
i like the natural deflex. nice lookin snakey twig!  

Well I've got it up to full brace height.  Luckily this is no great chore when you start out with 2"+ of deflex.  I've had it up to about 40# @ 19" but only briefly.  

I couldn't ask for better string alignment and the twist is well under control.  You can see one limb twisted away from you and one to you in the pic.  It balances dead center straight (side to side).

To be honest I don't know if it's in tiller or not.  How does one judge a straight limb?  
Actually the lower limb (left) has a little hickey I've been smoothing along on but other then that I think they are even.  I've got the nocks and width near final shape and rough sanding done.  It's just fine tuning from here.

I left it soak in super glue over night.  It creaked and popped on the first bracing, right in that knot.  I'm afraid to pull it any more so I left it braced.  Maybe it will be more friendly with a low impact workout.  ;-)

http://home.midsouth.rr.com/ddmims/ss4.JPG

Here's picture of the kill joy.

http://home.midsouth.rr.com/ddmims/ss5.JPG

David, STOP!!!!      

Please don't stress that knott area any more!     :(  

No kiddin' man, that's one kool looking bow-to-be.  If you've got sinew I wouldn't do any more bending on it 'till I had it sinewed REAL good!  I'd put a thick sinew 'patch' over that knott and then get the rest of the bow.  No need takin' a chance of bustin' it.  It's really got a nice shape to it now and sinew is only gonna help.  (jmho)