I started my second bow

[Toymaker]

I had planned on doing an Ash backed Cherry stave bow but I'm going to save that one for later. This is for my oldest son who is 12. So the target draw weight is going to be around 30 lbs. It's going to be an Ash back on an Ash belly. I bought a block of Walnut the other day so I'm going to use that for the handle, overlay, and tips. It should look pretty good hopefully it will survive tillering.
I'll be posting pics along the way so others with a better eye for tillering can help me out!
Here it is clamped up and drying overnight. I used TBIII to do the glue up.


Thanks for your input!
Gary

[Savage]

Can't go wrong with Walnut. Looking forward to seeing how things progress.

[1oldbowguy]

What Savage said, can't go wrong with Walnut.  Great combo,Walnut on Ash, should look super.  Please post pictures as you go.

[PEARL DRUMS]

How do you thin the backer down evenly after its all glued up?

[Toymaker]

Pearl..
Sorry for the optical illusion...
The back is about .125 Ash When I glued it up I used another Ash board to even out the load from the clamps. It's the same width as the backing so it looks like one board that needs a ton of thinning..

[Toymaker]

Here it is glued up!
Next I need to trim up the width then the thickness.  
 

[PEARL DRUMS]

Ahhhhh! I see now

[Toymaker]

Sides are cut and the brace height is about 1/4" with a draw weight of 150lbs at 1".    :D
Ash is some strong stuff!

[Toymaker]

This is the growth ring orientation of the back and the belly. I probably could have done a self bow with this board the growth rings are very straight and I could have chased a ring.
   

[KellyG]

Cant wait to see more

[Toymaker]

this is a closeup of the ash and walnut together.
I think this one is going to look cool! I'm going to leave the handle a block until I get though tillering so it sits tight in the tillering tree. I'll also be doing a Walnut overlay and tips.
 

[Toymaker]

How bendable do you want to get the bow to consider it floor tillered and ready for the tree?
I have band sawed and sanded the limb thickness it bends about 4" when I lean on it a bit. Is it ready or should I take it farther?

[Toymaker]

I'm being more careful during tillering. I havethe long string on and it's on the tillering tree. It's real heavy draw weight right now. I'm only pulling it to the intended 30 max. I've exercised it quite a bit 100 times between wood removal. I can only pull it back about 3" without hitting the limit.

Back to the basement... :p

[PEARL DRUMS]

Very nice grain on those slats. Subtract one inch from your target draw length. That way after finish sanding and shoot in occurs you will be right at your actual 1" longer draw lentgh and target weight.

[Toymaker]

Okay, I'll do that. I have a long way to go!
I'll start throwing some pics up as I get it a little closer.

[Toymaker]

I've exercised it no less than 50 times between wood removals. I'm still being pretty aggressive with that, I'm using a plane and a surform. I still need to do some more work before bracing it with a shorter string.
This pic shows about 1" of string follow. Before I started to flex it it had a 1/2".(next time I'll put it on a block style of form to get some reflex.
 
This picture shows 2" of draw at the tips at about 14 lbs. It's Bending !!!! Its Bending!      
 
This picture is at 4" of draw and 25 lbs.
 

What I see here is the tips from halfway on each limb are stiff and barely bending. I'll work on those now.

[Toymaker]

Tips are starting to bend now...
and it's time for a football break.
 

[Toymaker]

I did a little bit more scraping after work. It's now being drawn 13" at 28 lbs. I think it's ready for the short string. I just made up a gizmo tillering tool at work today. Looks like it's going to work great.

What do you think of the tiller so far?
 

[Blue EagleBum]

Looks like it going to be a good bow. Imo it looks a little stiff right limb, just out from fade to mid limb.

[NYArrow]

Nice start keep us posted!