>>285952I'm a beginner to bowmaking too. Made a short one out of hazel last year and it's the only wood I've ever gotten compression fractures with so be careful. I did sort of inadvertently make the working part of the limbs very short and it bent quite a bit to its like, 27 inch draw. Stupid, and I am not too happy with it. The black leather parts are there to cover up ugliness in the rawhide backing. Afterwards I smoothed down the belly and glued on two slats of juniper and retillered. It's better now, no fractures but I still don't like it. The unbending riser is not very aesthetically pleasing.
Currently working on a short yew bow, also rawhide backed, for a kid.
