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The Mechanics of Limb Twisting Explained - An Experiment
loon:
hopefully i can be helpful this time. edited the quote w/ imgur links
--- Quote from: 4est Trekker on July 27, 2011, 01:07:24 am ---I've been noticing several folks posting questions about how to correct limb twist. It seems like a simple concept, but it's deceiving. As such, I've photographed a little experiment to help illustrate the mechanics at work when the limbs are twisted, and thus how to correct it.
I took a simple pine slat and planed one face (the belly of the "bow") at an angle, thus creating a obvious weak strong side to the limbs.
I then strung up the "bow" and clamped it flat to the workbench. Because the back was left true, any limb twist would be easily seen.
I placed a square at the far end of the picture for easy reference.
The weak side of the limb has been marked with X's.
As you can see, the limbs are twisted TOWARD the weak side. Therefore, to correct the twist one must remove wood from the strong side, which is OPPOSITE the direction of the twist.
For me, at least, this is counterintuitive. As such, I have a diagram that hangs in my shop just to remind me of the mechanics at work. Although it might seem that the strong limb would pull the weak limb (creating a twist in the direction of the strong limb), the opposite is true. The weak limb doesn't have the strength to resist the strong limb, and thus twists under the load.
I hope this helps :)
--- End quote ---
--- Quote from: Cameroo on July 28, 2011, 02:11:58 am ---This is a good topic. It got me wondering if maybe there was something in TBB that could explain this whole process better, and I was surprised that I couldn't find anything in any of the 4 volumes. The tillering chapter in volume one basically says just live with it :)
I think some of the confusion about which side to remove wood from is due to the fact that you actually CAN remove wood from either side. Let me try to explain my understanding, with some crude Homer Simpson type drawings I scanned.
Here's an example. When strung, this limb is twisting to the right of the imaginary center line. This means that the right half of the limb is the weak side, the left half is the strong side.
Problem (Before Fix)
Now, if you have extra width on the tips, you can do like George suggested, and remove wood from the right side, which will in effect move the string to the left, closer to the centerline. This moves the tip closer to center, at the cost of narrowing it (potentially causing a whip tiller) and not doing much to move the rest of the limb towards the center. Notice here you are removing wood from the weak side of the limb:
Solution #1 - Remove wood from the side of tip
If you can't afford to narrow your tips, you can actually bring the majority of the limb back to the center by removing wood from the belly on the strong half of the limb, further away from the tip, as shown below. All you have to remember is that the wood will bend toward the weak side, and to correct it you have to scrape the belly on the strong side. I realize this is just a drawing and not actually proof, but for those who are skeptical, just try it next time and you'll see for yourself :)
Solution #2 - Remove wood from the belly, midlimb on the strong side
--- End quote ---
DC:
Good one, thanks
gfugal:
Thank you loon! saved this post, since the images are now deleted.
gfugal:
I did the same experiment and got the same results http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,61383.0.html. I also show how the back raises on the strong side (or belly raises depending if you're looking at the back (string down) or belly (string up). So remember, if you're looking at the belly during tillering, DON'T take wood off the side that raises up, no matter how tempting it is to "try and flatten it down".
Taxus brevifolia:
I'd love to see the pics, Photobucket has choked the feed
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