Since the big one is still working and the base material quite cheap, I decided to experiment.
This one is made with one bed slate, from ash wood, I simply filed 2 nocks at each end (and sandpapered the sides) :
There is still work to do to bring it up a decent band (I don't even know if it will be possible... ) ^^
I think I will need to make it almost "center shot".
For now, it's a really heavy bow, I think it will stay so if I don't have to butcher it too much
I used
Asemery's 3-plies cords tutorial to make the cord. To "dress" the loop, I undid the knot, enlarge the loop and wound the free end around the loop (adding more string after a few turns)
For this first loop, I didn't take care and wrapped it in the wame direction the cord was twisted, so the loop want to continue twisting. For the other, I wrapped "counterdirection" and the loop stayed straighter
The other one is from white poplar.
The slate was shorter but wider, so I decided to cut it to form.
Then I took my rasp and tried to reduce the branch thickness.
Soon, a nice pattern appeared :
Well, not so soon, I had to take out 3 layers out of the sides ^^
Maybe it's because my GF helped me, but doesn't the handle look like some pad ?
This last one is called "Ulysse", 'cause once it get its cord, it was still undrawable, like Ulysses' famous bow...
Next project, make a reflex bow out of 2 slates...