when you say 20" do you mean 20" of string travel, or pulling the long string to your 20" mark?  looking pretty good. right limb still stiff at midlimb but you will get there

Pulling to 20" mark

Is that What I'm supposed to be doing?

Yep - you are measuring draw length.  Looking good so far!

Is that What I'm supposed to be doing?

Sorry, double post

I brace it when I get to desired draw weight at 24" and leave it braced until I am done with a tillering session.  I have a 12" stick that I put between the handle and the string to get it out of the way.

John do you mean you scrape the belly while braced? with the 12" stick effectively drawing the bow to 12"? certainly not questioning your method, just need some clarification.  that would certainly be easier than bracing and un-bracing a hundred times, but seems like it might contribute to set.

John

Just so I'm understanding. Once you brace it at 24", do you leave it strung from then on?  Do you ever un-string it?

John

Just so I'm understanding. Once you brace it at 24", do you leave it strung from then on?  Do you ever un-string it?

Here is my bow drawn to 50# at 24".

 

It's not bad but needs some work midlimb.  I am gonna leave it stiff where the big knot is because it has a couple cracks radiating from the center of it.  I am sure it wll be OK but better safe than sorry.  I marked that with "NO".  Also the near handle on the right limb is bending a touch too much.  Another "NO" there.

Here's how I keep the string from getting damaged.
   

20 rasps in the areas without "NO" and then 10 scrapes to clean up the whole thing.  I won't use the rasp any more.

Here she is after that round.  She's now pulling 50# at 25".

 

Still needs more midlimb on both sides and a touch near the handle on the left.
   

Right limb looks good.  Left needs another go.
 

That's not bad.  Time to she what she looks like in the hand.

 

nice!!!!!

John, I haven't done any shaping of the handle. Should I hold off on that?

Yes.  I don't do anything with the handle until I am done tillering.

John I never seen that with the stick before. good idea.

I can't claim credit for that.  I think it was Mickey Lotz that suggested it to me years ago but lots of people use it.

I have my bow bending at my desired draw weight (50#) at 24".  In the process I've created some bending issues, at least in my eyes.

What should I do next?

 

You're doing fine.

Here's a useful visual.  The right limb is overlaid on the left for reference.

 

Here's what I would do.  Give it 5-10 scrapes at the areas marked green.  Leave the red areas alone.
 

Thanks John, I will get on it sometime tonight. Between work and kids, my time is taken up. I appreciate your help.

So when I get the limbs looking the same, should I brace it up?  

If so, should I go for a full brace or a low brace?  If full, how much shorter string should I use??  Thank You!!