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Tillering problems. I really think its the wood's fault, not the bowyer.

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Goose Fletch:
Hi everyone

I just started tillering a warbow. It measures 7' and my projected weight is 80# at 28 or 100# at 32".

The issue is that one limb is excessively stiff while the appears to be responding to scraping and filing. The stiff limb is showing little improvement and im not sure if its me or the wood. I try to scrape both sides and the belly equally on this hickory board warbow. Any one have any suggestions?

Newindian:
Keep scraping. I'd say Work on the right inner two thirds. Is this your first?

WillS:
If I may offer some info I've picked up recently while making the same mistake - forget being even at this stage.  If the wood is denser on one limb, you'll need less wood on that limb.  It really is that simple.  You might end up with one limb being a good few mm thinner than the other, but if that means both limbs are working the same, and the bow is balanced you've done your job.  Be aware of it getting TOO thin of course, but there's nothing wrong with the limbs being different thicknesses up to a point.

Is the stiff limb reflexed at all? If it is, you'll need to keep it stiffer in relation to the other because that's what the stave will want to do, but if both limbs are straight then basically keep working the stiff limb down until it balances out.  Make sure you're really exercising the bow as you work - often it takes a while for the changes to become obvious and they can suddenly show up at once causing a hinge.

Let somebody with more experience guide you through this but this is stuff I've been told and hopefully some of it helps a bit!

Goose Fletch:
New Indian, thanks for the advice, this is my 4th bow now. but ive been lurking here forever haha

Will, if I balance it, I  think I will have an unusually thin limb. I assume that if both limbs match in shape, then they should in theory match in weight, which supports what you are telling me. however, will this have unwelcome performance characteristics? wouldnt one limb be heavier in mass? after examining the growth rings on both ends, it looks like the stiffer limb has thicker latewood rings.

the blank had about 1 inch of reflex which i had tried to induce by leaving the hickory in a perry reflex for a little while, allowing time and ambient moisture to do its thing. this has been reduced to a little over 1/2" at the moment.

what about the handle area? i was hoping for a full compass tiller. do you think the bow will need more work done near the waves?

toomanyknots:
You just gotta bring the stiff limb along to meet the weaker limb is all. Just keep scraping. If the limb is getting thin, it is still better to have a well tillered bow with an oval / funky cross section than a bad tillered bow with an even cross section. My advice is to just worry about the tiller for now, don't worry about it being thin or thick, etc. Looking like a good bend on the left limb though, now to bring that right limb along,  ;D.

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