Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: mccaw69 on April 02, 2011, 12:16:22 am
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Last fall I started on my first selfbow.Hickory stave,well seasoned.It has all went very well until I started the tillering process.It seems that both limbs are trying hinge approx. 8" or so from the tips.Do I continue tillering,should I attempt to back it,or is it too late for that.I thinking the limbs are still too stiff towards the handle,and should prob do some more scraping.I need experienced advice.Don't want it to become kindling.
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If they look like they are hinging you need to get it working more in the mid and inner limb. Pics would help a bunch.
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What weight is the bow at right now? What weight are you shooting for? If you are under weight you might want to back it , a thin piece of hickory will work good.
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have'nt put a scale on it but it feels around 30-35#,was shooting for 45-50#
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have'nt put a scale on it but it feels around 30-35#,was shooting for 45-50#
What draw is that at? And what is your draw length. Most woods gain about 3# of weight per inch,roughly
But first and foremost you should get rid of those hinges Remove wood from the rest of the limb, and avoid the hinged area.
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Guess I should have given u more details,the bow is approx. 64" long,my normal draw is 29",it will give me that right now,I guess I'll thin the lower portions of the limbs,to see if I can get a more uniform arch.I'll try to add some pics this weekend to give you a better idea what's going on,I'm sure it will help you help me with my problem.
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A tillering gizmo will lead you out of the darkness to correct your hinged places.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=001047#000000
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Eric's advice (and tillering gizmo) are both gems! Before you build a bow, build a tillering gizmo! (That sounds likes a cheesy commercial rhyme :) )
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I've got a tillering gizmo,lol,here r some pics if they go through.
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gonna do some more shaving tody on it,hopefully I can correct the hinging.
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Areas that are bending too much should be left alone. Remove wood from above and below that spot, exercise the stave 20-30 very short pulls, check tiller and continue. Jawge
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have a look at the tillering videos on my website (click the globe symbol under my user name) It may help to give you a feel for the process.
Del
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Yes, that is some pretty bad hinging. You need to solve that if you don't want the bow to become kindling. Solving those hinges probably means you will come in grossly underweight. It's common for a first bow to come in very light. Don't worry about that - learn while you can, so the next bow will be much better.
You need to remove wood from the inner (closest to the handle) half of each limb. First, put a clear X-mark on the hinges, as to not touch those again. Then scrape wood from the inner half of both limbs, and check tiller again, using the tillering gizmo. It's a pity you haven't used that tillering gizmo earlier on in the process...that would have saved you some poundage... Remove wood from where the tillering gizmo tells you to remove wood. Check tiller again and repeat.
If the bow is made from a stave, it's very difficult to back it with wood since the back of the bow is not flat enough to just glue down a backing. You could back it with rawhide, linen of flax, but that will only only a few pounds. My advice: fix tiller on this bow, see whatever poundage you end up with, and start with your second bow! :)
By the way, you could try a rawhide or flax patch on the back of the bow at those two hinges, to stiffen them up a bit.
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Basically, that stave is doing all its bending in one spot located toward the tips in both limbs. That is pretty typical for some one starting out. Put a big "X" there on both limbs and leave that spot alone. Then remove wood from aboe and below that spot. My site may help you. Take a look. Then go to the Bow of the Month section and look at some of those tillers. That'll give you an idea as to how bows should bend. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/