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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: ozy clint on July 14, 2012, 11:16:00 PM

Title: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: ozy clint on July 14, 2012, 11:16:00 PM
gday guys, i have a brigalow selfbow in the making. it is 62" NTN with pyramid limbs, fades are 1 1/2" wide and tips are 1/2" wide. i have put pin nocks on it. the top limb is longer than the bottom limb. the top limb is on the right.

just seeking oppinions on the tiller so far.
i really want this one to work so i thought i'd post pics now and see what you all think.

this is at 5" brace. what do you use for a brace height on you selfbows?
 (http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_4860.jpg)

target weight is 60#@28"
this is it at 16". weight is 50#
 (http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_4861.jpg)

here it is again at 19". it was 60# at this draw.
 (http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_4862.jpg)

tell me what you see. cheers guys.

to me it's a bit stiff mid limb on the top limb.
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: Stiks-n-Strings on July 15, 2012, 12:02:00 AM
I think your right on the top limb being stiff mid limb. Is your handle glued on and if so is it one piece or laminated?

Also looks like you need to stay away from the outer third or you will end up whip tillered.

Never heard of brigalow before.
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: ozy clint on July 15, 2012, 12:29:00 AM
it is a single piece of wood. no glued handle.

what is whip tillered?

thanks for the input.

brigalow is a native australian tree.
Acacia harpophylla
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: WestTexan on July 15, 2012, 01:18:00 AM
Clint whip tillered is when your tips are weaker than the limbs and bend more than the rest of the limb if that makes since. It looks to me that you have a weak spot about 1/3 up from the tip on your left limb. It also looks a bit stiff out of the fades but you might wait for a few more folks to look at it. That top limb looks a bit stronger also by being longer it might be messing with my eyes.
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: ozy clint on July 15, 2012, 03:46:00 AM
cheers guys,
ok after a little more tillering i have it at 24". it pulls 60# at this length.
(http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd349/ozyclint/IMG_4884.jpg)
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: Stiks-n-Strings on July 15, 2012, 11:57:00 AM
Looking good Clint. Texan gave a good expalnation of whip tillered.

I would get the fades moving some more at this point and go for a nice rounded out tiller. It looked to me like the handle was glued on in the pics but now that I know it's solid I would get htem fades bending some and start shooting it in. The rest of the tiller will be determined as much by the way it feels on the shot as it will appear on the tree. Just remember to start shooting at a lower draw and work it in in never going over intended draw weight.

I would say once you get them fades bending some more you will be done tillering and it will be a matter of removing weight which at this point will likely drop during shoot in and finish sanding. Looks like it's gonna be a fine bow.
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: Jomohr84 on July 15, 2012, 12:44:00 PM
What stiks said, I see a nice even tiller there, just a little elliptical. Scrape a bit at the fades and I think it will be perfect!  Nice looking bow,  fun to see a selfbow from some different wood, the Brigalow appears to have a very nice dark color to it. Nice work!
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: ozy clint on July 17, 2012, 04:10:00 AM
thanks guys.
this is my 2nd selfbow and i'm learning heaps.

i'll get some close up pics for you when i get it done
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: John Scifres on July 17, 2012, 09:49:00 AM
If you look at the angle formed by the string and the limbs, you will see it is approaching 90 degrees.  Since it is only bending at 24" in the pic above, this means it will likely be over 90 degrees at full draw.  As that angle approaches 90 degrees, a bow starts to stack really bad.  You lose the leverage needed for a smooth draw.
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: beetlebailey1977 on July 21, 2012, 12:15:00 PM
I agree with John......I am no expert but it should start to stack a lot.  String angle is very near to 90 degrees.
Title: Re: brigalow selfbow. tillering progress pics
Post by: Roy from Pa on July 21, 2012, 01:12:00 PM
Like said above, your limb tips are bending too much. Your drawn profile should look like the eclipse.

 (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/ROY-CHRIS/clint.jpg)