BBI build along, my first backed bow

[macbow]

It will be much better trimmed down. You can use your sander to,get them close.

Roy what technique do you use to get the limb tip prepped for the overlays. How do you get it flat?

[Roy from Pa]

Ya don't have to cut em off, just cut em down to the yellow line. For your next bow, I will send you a pair of buffalo horn tip overlays free of charge. Just like these below. And I'll send you an adjustable tillering string, and a piece of curly maple riser material. Just a show of thanks for your service to our country Mr. Navy Man.. Pm me your address

[Roy from Pa]

Mac, I first make my horn tip over lay from a 2.5 inch long by 1/2 wide by 5/8 thick piece of buffalo horn material. I get that material from Jantz knife supplies. They sell it in blocks about 2.5 wide by 5 inches long by 5/8th thick. They sell it for knife handles. I get two of those blocks for about $20.00 delivered to the house. I'll get enough material for about 10 bows at least. I cut 1/2 inch pieces off, then lay it with the 5/8th side up and draw a line from corner to corner and cut it out on the band saw. Then I sand that smooth on a belt sander, I end up with a tip overlay about 2 3/8th to 2 1/4 long that is perfectly flat on the angled side. Then I lay one on the side of the bow tip and leave about 1/8th of wood on the belly side and trace a line up along the side of the limb tip. I cut it off or grind it off leaving the line on. Then I clamp the bow in a vice and lay the overlay on it and use a rasp and sanding block to get a smooth gap free fit. I don't quite flatten it to the end of the overlay, I'll leave maybe 1/32nd of an inch of wood on the bow limb and after glue up I just sand the edges to a smooth edge. Ya gotta leave the overlay a tad higher and sand it down to meet the back of the bow. I sand the thin edge of the overlay to a knife edge before glue up.

[Echatham]

Roy thats awfully nice of ya. you better pm me your address too. just in case...  

[Roy from Pa]

I make this first and notice the knife edge on the thin end.



Then I lay that on the side of the limb tip and trace it out and cut or grind off almost to the line. Like this.



Then I make it match real nice and glue it up with smooth on and wrap with gum bands.

[Roy from Pa]

Oh and the Coors Light helps...  

[macbow]

Thanks Roy

[Echatham]

i guess if you like watery beer.    

[Roy from Pa]

Well ya just made the thumpin list ole thick tip Bowyer. LOL

[Echatham]

[Echatham]

ok hows this?

[Roy from Pa]

Much better:) Do you like it?

[Echatham]

and i will trim the bottom up something like this after tillering... and clean up and maybe deepen the grooves. i need a new chainsaw file, mine is real dull.

[Echatham]

yeah I actually like it better without the maple.

[Steve Kendrot]

I would need at least a six pack to get my glue lines looking like Roy's. How he gets it with only one is a mystery to me! Difference is mine would look lousy in the morning...

Tips are the hardest part of the whole bow to me. Good tips are the mark of a master for sure. I have a hard time blending them into the back without dishing out the back.

[Roy from Pa]

Good deal and they do look nice.

LOL Steve..

[bowhntineverythingnh03743]

Good Job! Definately look better thinned out. Once you round everything out it will look mint!

[Roy from Pa]

I guess they are OK...  

[Echatham]

oooohhhh...kaaaay..... started tillering. here we are at 1" brace. looked perfect at the time, although now in the picture i can see it.
 

here we are at 1" brace pulled 3 or 4 inches
 
see the design flaw in my tillering tree? oh well.

here is 1" brace, pulled about 9" and it hit 40#
 

here is 1" brace view of the belly. except for my timber hitch knot slightly off center on the tip, the string runs down the center.
 

and finally, here it is at 6" brace. I didn't pull any from there, and only left it braced long enough to get a picture, because here is where i decided i needed some expert advice before proceeding.
 

and... immediately after unstringing
 

[LittleBen]

Right limb looks good to me. Left limb is stiff.