Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Julian on October 19, 2017, 03:03:11 am

Title: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Julian on October 19, 2017, 03:03:11 am
Hey, so this is my second attempt at a spotted gum board bow. already going much better than last time.
Anyway I've got the bow to low brace at the moment, and it hasn't taken any set.

I'm looking for advice on the tiller, hopefully these photos are ok. I don't have a tillering tree (I use a bucket of bricks to approximate the draw weight I want)

(https://i.imgur.com/gXvXFpL.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LYIGwi3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3yWwRnf.jpg)

Thanks!
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Julian on October 19, 2017, 03:07:35 am
Oh and I trapped the belly a small amount. The bow is backed with linen.
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Pappy on October 19, 2017, 03:49:10 am
That is looking pretty good to me.
 Pappy
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 19, 2017, 04:52:16 am
Looks good. Looks like a circular tiller is about emerge. That's what you want with a pyramid bow. Jawge
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: colin1991 on October 19, 2017, 06:44:56 am
Looks nice so far mate! What weight are you chasing and how long is the bow nock to nock?  Might need to take a bit off the tips as you get further out.

Good luck, look forward to seeing it all done!
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Julian on October 19, 2017, 07:13:59 am
Looks nice so far mate! What weight are you chasing and how long is the bow nock to nock?  Might need to take a bit off the tips as you get further out.

Good luck, look forward to seeing it all done!

Hey again :~)

I'm shooting for 40 - 45, but if it turns out 30 I won't be upset. At the moment it's about 70" ntn. I think.

I've heard that slightly stiff tips are desirable for a longbow so I deliberately left that thickness. I think when I'm approaching full draw, I'll thin them down until they just start to bend. Cheers for checking in.


Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Julian on October 19, 2017, 07:15:57 am
Feels pretty heavy to me, but I've never shot a heavy bow so I don't know. I filled my bucket with bricks until it felt like a comfortable weight to shoot with haha.

I should find a scale on gumtree or something.
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: k-hat on October 19, 2017, 08:19:45 am
You can get a cheap but effective fish scale at a box store for about 5 bucks.  Exercise the bow plenty as you go, and you'll start getting more comfy with the weight as it increases(don't just yank it back, take advantage of the opportunity to use good form, use your back not your arms, etc).  The main thing at this point is make sure it is not too heavy for you, which you don't really need a scale for. 
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: colin1991 on October 19, 2017, 03:16:03 pm
Quick question mate. What did you glue your handle on with?
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Jim Davis on October 19, 2017, 06:29:44 pm
Julian, don't trap the belly any more. Never a good plan on a wood bow.
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: willie on October 19, 2017, 06:59:10 pm
Nice looking bow Julian. Keep your eye on the inner/mid lower limb as you draw it out more. Looks like it is wanting to bend easier than the rest of the bow.
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: upstatenybowyer on October 19, 2017, 08:06:49 pm
Nice looking bow Julian. Keep your eye on the inner/mid lower limb as you draw it out more. Looks like it is wanting to bend easier than the rest of the bow.

+1
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: burchett.donald on October 19, 2017, 08:24:19 pm
   Julian,
                Jump on those outers, mid limb out...Make sure you exercise heavily between scrapes... :BB
                                                                                                                                                Don
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: cadet on October 19, 2017, 09:31:12 pm
Bucket of bricks?!  You're doing that the hard way!  Get to bunnings or wherever and get a piece of 2x4, or 1x3, or even a fence picket.  If that's stretching the budget, look for scrap, or pull a pallet apart.  Cut a saddle of sorts in the top to sit the bow in, cut notches along it's length to put the string.  Get a fish scale from BCF or wherever to measure weight.
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Julian on October 19, 2017, 11:56:56 pm
Julian, don't trap the belly any more. Never a good plan on a wood bow.


Oh, whoops. Thanks.
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Julian on October 19, 2017, 11:58:25 pm
Quick question mate. What did you glue your handle on with?

Selley's PVA, just what I had lying around. seems to be holding up.
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Julian on October 20, 2017, 02:18:04 am
UPDATE:

Taken the bow to 20" on the tiller stick.


(https://i.imgur.com/d6r0OB2.jpg)
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: mikekeswick on October 20, 2017, 02:42:59 am
Do a search for Eric Krewson's (?) tillering gizmo. Once you figure out how to use it you will be onto a winner! They are flat out perfect for tillering pyramid board bows :)
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Hamish on October 20, 2017, 02:46:31 am
What brace height do you have it at the moment?
Selleys PVA, pretty basic so I hope it holds for you. keep an eye on the fades for lifts. Try and get hold of some Techniglue epoxy from Carba tec. That stuff is bulletproof.
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Julian on October 20, 2017, 03:09:56 am
Brace height is 5 1/2 "
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: upstatenybowyer on October 20, 2017, 06:33:05 pm
That bend looks really good to me  :OK
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: Julian on October 21, 2017, 02:32:31 am
It's all finished up!!

I'm really happy with how it shoots. I'll take some nice photos with my wife's camera (she's the photographer so I'll wait for her to get home.)

Ended up hitting my goal weight right on the dot. Took about 1" of set, mostly on the bottom limb, (which is the short one. Should I be making sure they take set evenly? (if they do))
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: George Tsoukalas on October 22, 2017, 07:39:44 am
Looks good. Congratulations! Jawge
Title: Re: Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.
Post by: colin1991 on October 22, 2017, 05:24:38 pm
Did well mate! Nice job there.