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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: snag on August 17, 2011, 02:28:00 PM

Title: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: snag on August 17, 2011, 02:28:00 PM
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/bow6.jpg)

This bow is tillered to 24" at 50lbs. I'm trying for 50#-55#@28". As you can see the right limb is bending more and in the outer 1/3 there is a slight problem area. I got some advice that really helped. But I was wondering if there is more I could do to try and even out the bending of that limb? Should I just continue pulling an inch at a time and watching the form of the limbs?

Here's another picture with an eliptical form to show the form of the limbs.
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/Tillered.jpg)
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 17, 2011, 04:05:00 PM
50# @ 24" is almost done in my book. By the time you sand and shoot the bow in it will end up close to 55# @ 28". Thats a tough call Dave. Im a big fan of properly tillered underweight bows as opposed to target weight poorly tillered bows. I dont mind that right limb really, its the left fade area that would get scraped if I was building it. Thats jssut one guys opinion though.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: snag on August 17, 2011, 04:17:00 PM
So you'd try and get that left fade thinned a little? I think I'll scrape it a little tonight and then start sanding and see where that leads me. Thanks, David
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 17, 2011, 04:19:00 PM
Thats exactly what I would do. Maybe 10-15 good scrapes and then shoot 50 or so arrows from it and check the weight and tiller again. I bet it ends up close to what you want.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: 2treks on August 17, 2011, 04:28:00 PM
David, Pick you draw weight and go for it. Right now you should be about 60+ at 28"
Like Chris said You are close,if you want 55#
MAKE SURE TO EXERCISE THE LIMBS AFTER EACH SCRAPING. About 40-50 short pulls should do it.
Just keep going an inch further in draw and watch your weight and tiller, Scrape/sand/file as needed and once you are happy with the 28" tiller,go shoot it a 100 times or more. Checking it all the while.
Your left limb (in the picture) looks like it will get most of the work from here,not as round as the right. Whats top and whats bottom?
Looks pretty good overall, have fun.
Chuck
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: snag on August 17, 2011, 04:37:00 PM
Thanks Chuck. The right is upper limb and left is lower. I'll take it slow from here on. It is amazing to me how just a little wood taken off makes such a difference...just learning as I go.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: broketooth on August 17, 2011, 08:43:00 PM
dave , i told you on the phone you are so close. go ahead and shape your tips. sand paper from here on. a little on the heavy side aint gonna hurt ya in the long run. its better than being under wieght. at the very least it will be legal to hunt with. a suggestion upsize your pics some so we can get a better look at your bow there is a 640 limit. if you hit that we can get a better look. rv
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: snag on August 18, 2011, 10:11:00 AM
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/bow6003.jpg)

Well, I did some light scraping and sanded the belly and edges. Got it to 58#@27". I'll shoot it a bunch and see where it ends up. It has about 1/8" positive tiller. It will be hunting weight! I don't know what I'll do with the handle yet.  In this picture the right limb is the upper limb. It has about 1" of string follow. Must have been from bracing it too high, too early....?
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: broketooth on August 18, 2011, 10:58:00 AM
if you have an upholstry shop in the town you live, they may have a scrap piece of distressed furniture leather. its soft and supple and already has an aged look. they my have several pieces to choose from. use some lighter grade artificial sinew to stitch it on.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: KellyG on August 18, 2011, 06:14:00 PM
that is a nice strung profile
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: Stiks-n-Strings on August 18, 2011, 06:57:00 PM
Snag,

Your final tiller will be done in hand. If you got some one to take some pics of you with the bow at full draw you can look at those and do your tweaking while shooting it in. You'll a few pounds during shooting in and final sanding.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: red hill on August 18, 2011, 07:03:00 PM
Nice bow, Snag.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: snag on August 18, 2011, 07:05:00 PM
Stik, I was going to have my wife take a few pictures of me drawing it tonight. Interested to see it at full draw.
thanks, David
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: Stiks-n-Strings on August 18, 2011, 11:01:00 PM
I always have to look at full draw pics David. It never looks quite right to me on the tree for those last few inches and I can't never get a good look in the mirror.

I always do the little trick with the ellipse like you did to. Seems to work pretty good.

Great looking bow by the way.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: 2treks on August 19, 2011, 07:03:00 AM
Looks good David, I have some black or brown split leather if you would like to use that for a grip. Shoot me a pm if so.
Well done on the bow.

Chuck
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: snag on August 19, 2011, 10:01:00 AM
(http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u31/snag23/bow6005.jpg)

Here's a picture at full draw. Still need to do some sanding before applying the finish and handle wrap. I'll take you up on that Chuck, thanks.
It is 65#@28" right now. I kind of like it this heavy. Not having a problem being able to shoot it. Just heavier than I thought it would be at 28". I need to make some arrows with the proper spine for it also. But the 70#-75#'s come off it real quiet and quick.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: broketooth on August 19, 2011, 10:11:00 AM
when i sanded the 2 piece, i started with 150 grit, then went to 200 grit. after that i used 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper which put a really slick feel, almost like burnishing the wood. then i finished off with 6 coats of tru-oil gunstock finish. your full draw pic looks great. oh nice lawn too. rv
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: joekeith on August 22, 2011, 05:50:00 PM
:clapper:  She's lookin' real good.  You've done a fine job on that one, congrats.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: fujimo on August 22, 2011, 09:40:00 PM
see how that tiller "changes" so much when done by hand and not on the tree.
that was a real big revelation for me in my slow learning process.
- thats still acknowledging the fact that snag worked it to get it better too.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: snag on August 23, 2011, 09:56:00 AM
There is so much to learn Fujimo. Without guys on here and another site I'd really be stumbling around in the dark!  Pretty cool stuff.
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on August 24, 2011, 07:38:00 AM
Looks great. Nice job. Jawge
Title: Re: Tiller question on osage selfbow
Post by: snag on August 24, 2011, 10:06:00 AM
Thanks George. Still fine tuning it before putting a finish on. I carved the arrow rest area out a little to get better clearance around the handle.