Tillering advice: This thing is kinkier than...

[WhistlingBadger]

...I won't finish the title because this is a family friendly forum and all.

Same bow in this thread, if you want to see the early work:
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,73411.msg1029915.html#msg1029915

Got it almost to full draw. 
Unbraced:


25"



Thoughts?

Also:  It's going to come in about 5-6# underweight for elk hunting.  What would adding another layer of sinew do to the draw weight, do you think? 
I'd really like to go whack an elk with this thing.

Thanks!
Thomas

[Pat B]

What's the length, t/t? What is the draw length and draw weight now? How much sinew have you added to this bow?

[sleek]

Kinkier than a garden hose wrapped around a lawnmower.

That tiller looks good considering the limbs each leave the handle at a different angle.

[WhistlingBadger]

What's the length, t/t? What is the draw length and draw weight now? How much sinew have you added to this bow?

It's 60" ntn, another inch or so tip to tip.  It has four layers of sinew.  Currently pulling about 43# @ 25".

Kinkier than a garden hose wrapped around a lawnmower.

That tiller looks good considering the limbs each leave the handle at a different angle.

Good one.  Mrs. Badger said it's kinkier than a presidential mistress.  I'm actually fairly tickled with how good the tiller looks, given where it started.  The right limb looks stiffer at full draw, but it's got more reflex unbraced, so I think it's working about as hard as the left.  And some of the spots on the left limb that look like they aren't bending are either knots that I left stiff on purpose, or little reflex kinks that straighten out rather than bending into deflex. 

Just wish I hadn't had to remove so much weight to get there.  I might try to get it to full draw  27" tonight and see what the weight is looking like.  I'd like it to be at least 50# to hunt elk; 55 would be better.  I'm guessing it'll be fairly close but a little under.

[WhistlingBadger]

Came out 45# @ 27".  Looking forward to putting some arrows through it once this wind dies down.

[Hamish]

Is that one of those new trans or somethink bows ie  Identifies as straight but is really crooked?

[Del the cat]

I made a Yew stick bow that looks very much like that for one of my field archer chums. He enjoys the quizzical looks and comments he gets from fellow archers.
Del

[WhistlingBadger]

Is that one of those new trans or somethink bows ie  Identifies as straight but is really crooked?

I think it's a bonsai tree that identifies as a bow.      

I made a Yew stick bow that looks very much like that for one of my field archer chums. He enjoys the quizzical looks and comments he gets from fellow archers.
Del

Yeah, I'm looking forward to that at the next shoot.  I'll try to post a back picture tonight.  The only places the string aligns with the limbs are at tips and the handle.  It'll be interesting to see how it shoots.

Last night I wrapped the biggest knot with sinew and hide glue, since that's the most likely place for it to come apart.  I plan to put a few arrows through it tonight if the weather is decent.  Stay tuned...

[Pat B]

At 60" I don't think you can shorten it at least not much. Maybe you can take an inch off of each tip then narrow the tips to reduce tip weight. With 4 layers of sinew any more would be counter productive but it the sinew hasn't been on for long maybe it will pick up a little weight as it dries more., that is if you used hide glue for the sinew. With it at 45# now you might just make a 50# bow, or close if all the above mentioned changes are successful.

[WhistlingBadger]

At 60" I don't think you can shorten it at least not much. Maybe you can take an inch off of each tip then narrow the tips to reduce tip weight. With 4 layers of sinew any more would be counter productive but it the sinew hasn't been on for long maybe it will pick up a little weight as it dries more., that is if you used hide glue for the sinew. With it at 45# now you might just make a 50# bow, or close if all the above mentioned changes are successful.

Thanks, Pat.  I think I'll just leave it be.  I'm hoping the juniper-sinew combo will shoot hard enough to hunt with even though it's a little light.  If not, it was a good learning experience.

[Pat B]

Yeah, it's like trimming sideburns, you just have to know when to stop. 
Looking forward to seeing your elk on the ground next fall.