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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Bryan Adolphe on January 08, 2023, 01:50:21 PM

Title: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on January 08, 2023, 01:50:21 PM
  Thank you,Roy OK this time I measured tiller at the end of the fades  :banghead:
6-5/8 left…… 6-1/2 right. So it’s 1/8 negative right side .
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@ 28” of draw.
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So I guess my question is, do I leave it where it is pick the right side for the lower limb, i shoot split. Or should I have even tiller and then would that move them tips to be balanced at full draw? Cheers B
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Buggs on January 08, 2023, 03:15:21 PM
Looks like a KennyM design.

Now I'm curious too. Are the limbs the same length and how far from bow center will the shelf be located?

Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on January 08, 2023, 03:53:48 PM
Limbs are the same, 1-1/8 from center , yes for Kennys design.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Mad Max on January 08, 2023, 06:15:31 PM
Go shoot it and see how it feels with 1/8 neg
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Kirkll on January 08, 2023, 09:33:24 PM
Yup.... Listen to Max...

You start getting that close and it's a feel thing. If ya have any buzz to it, or vibration, do a bit more sanding till it smoothes out. The measurement can easily go positive or negative a bit at the balanced point......  Pull the string back an inch or so and drop it.... When ya get a dull thud, instead of a buzz
you are getting there....  Oh....Another thing.... when you get that close too, try different brace heights.

 BTW.... Tillering for 3 under vs split finger is an old wives tale.... Balance the limbs and it makes no difference.  The only time it really makes a difference is for string walkers , or for guys using a fixed crawl.
This is most commonly see in indoor target league shooting.

Kirk
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Longcruise on January 08, 2023, 09:47:20 PM
Be careful saying "String Walker".  You might be misunderstood.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Bowjunkie on January 09, 2023, 06:59:56 AM
If you're not supporting the bow handle and drawing the string from your actual fulcrum points, how you're seeing it act on the tillering tree is not how it will act in your hands.

You can't predictably create the tiller/limb balance best for you unless the tillering tree mimics your fulcrum locations. Once that's done, there'll be no guessing what tiller measurements might mean for you in actual use, guessing where the nock point should be set, ballparking by feel, by how it shoots, or 'fixing' it by adjusting your grip pressure or moving the nock point up or down after its built. If you build it balanced to your fulcrums, it will behave as a balanced bow should from the outset because that's what you created.   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 09, 2023, 07:48:29 AM
Yup, just like this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf7CnshkW7I
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Bryan Adolphe on January 09, 2023, 08:11:38 AM
Thanks guys, I will make those necessary adjustments to my tree and have a look at it again. Then I can glue up the belly side of the riser and cut in my shelf . 👍
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Longcruise on January 09, 2023, 10:04:00 AM
Roy and Jeff,

I see in Roy's video that beautiful tracking of the nocking point but I have a difficult time understanding how this can all  be reconciled with the probable differences of the location of the pressure point of the tillering tree and the shooters hand. ??
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Kirkll on January 09, 2023, 12:12:38 PM
Roy and Jeff,

I see in Roy's video that beautiful tracking of the nocking point but I have a difficult time understanding how this can all  be reconciled with the probable differences of the location of the pressure point of the tillering tree and the shooters hand. ??

If the limbs are balanced properly, when you drop the string the limbs travel forward the same, and stop the same. You would have to really be heeling down on the grip, or string walking to make a difference.

 In case some are not familiar with the term string walking, That is when your string knock is adjusted for arrow flight at the rest, and you slide your fingers down the string below the string knock. It's used for a point on aiming system very common with line shooters. An elevated rest is quite common with a string walking set up to help center the finger location on the bow closer. You also see quite a few ILF rigs on the line, and the limbs are adjusted according to the finger placement.... BUT.... Both limbs are still bending the same.

 Of course all bows require a little string knock adjustment for arrow flight. And in some cases an elevated rest is incorporated.  But getting those limbs bending in the same location evenly top and bottom is really important.  Your actual tiller measurement,  positive or negative can change a bit from bow to bow....

Listen to the string talking to you, & map your limbs if needed. Play with brace height a bit too. After while you can just see what needs to happen to get things balanced, and feel the difference.      Kirk
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 09, 2023, 01:34:44 PM
Roy and Jeff,

I see in Roy's video that beautiful tracking of the nocking point but I have a difficult time understanding how this can all  be reconciled with the probable differences of the location of the pressure point of the tillering tree and the shooters hand. ??

Mike the bow placement on the tillering tree cradle is setup to duplicate the hand grip on the bow and in conjunction with the pull rope position is setup to the bow string position when shooting. It is setup so that the trees pull rope is placed at the center of where our string grip will be when shooting.

If one limb is stronger than the other, the trees pull rope will drift off that line on the wall towards the stronger limb. Notice that bow is only held in place by a spring clamp is case some dumb a$$ bumps it and knocks it onto the floor:) And the bow does not pivot at all when I pull the rope down. Those limbs are bending in harmony together, prefect balance. I do not care if one tip travels a little farther than the other tip, don't mean squat.

Ask Crooked stic how smooth the bow I made him shoots.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Longcruise on January 09, 2023, 05:28:10 PM
"Ask Crooked stic how smooth the bow I made him shoots."

I don't doubt your results one bit.  Trying to understand your process perfectly.  So, it appears that you do this before shaping the grp?
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 09, 2023, 05:42:48 PM
So, it appears that you do this before shaping the grp?

Yes...
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Mad Max on January 09, 2023, 07:52:38 PM


 I do not care if one tip travels a little farther than the other tip, don't mean squat.
[/quote]

I have never heard you say this.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 10, 2023, 06:12:11 AM
Ya never asked:)
When tillering for equal limb timing you are just concerned about the pull rope tracking the line on the wall.

What if when tillering a bow and the guy wants to make both limb tips come down to the same point on the tree to make the bow look even. And one bow limb just happens to be a little stronger than the other bow limb. What's going to happen to the tiller when he tillers it so the limb tips match and how's the bow going to shoot with one limb stronger than the other?? Then the same guy shoots the bow and he is pulling it from a different point than where the trees pull rope was? So then he has to raise the nocking point up or down to get the bow shooting well and quiet. So then what happens to the tiller when he keeps moving the nocking point up or down and pulls different on the string?

This is just how I tiller. I assume my grip on the bow string and assume my nocking point on the string will be set at 5/8th high and set the tree up to simulate that. And when all done I make my nocking point 5/8th high and the bow shoots like a dream. There are many guys who tiller a different way and make decent bows. It's all in how the bowyer does his thing.

I don't like tillering threads cause everyone has their own way of doing bows:)

 :wavey: :laughing:
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Mad Max on January 10, 2023, 09:44:59 AM
You showed us a Billion times HOW TO but never said dat :knothead:
 :tongue:
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 10, 2023, 09:53:16 AM
Ah go back to bed ya old crab:)

 :laughing:
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Buggs on January 10, 2023, 10:47:05 AM
You guys are funny, getting all huffy about tillering symetrical limbs. Try tillering one with asymmetrical limbs and asymmetrical riser. That will mess with your head, real good :biglaugh:
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 10, 2023, 10:55:27 AM
No difference with equal limb timing there Buggy Boy:)
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Buggs on January 10, 2023, 11:03:35 AM
Thats true Roy, it's just a little more complicated getting there.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Mad Max on January 10, 2023, 08:51:07 PM
 :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 10, 2023, 09:28:29 PM
Done it many times Buggs:)
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Bowjunkie on January 11, 2023, 06:32:25 AM
All of my personal bows are asymmetrical. I prefer how they balance in the hand to carry, and how they balance during the draw.

It's actually easier to dynamiclally balance their limb strengths during the draw than it is to balance a symmetrical bow because the asymmetrical bow's critical factors regarding dynamic balance are generally more closely aligned to begin with... bow center/static balance point, and the fulcrums under our hands. Their closer proximity to one another means less movement of the dynamic/sliding fulcrum under the bow hand as the draw transpires... which makes it easier to navigate during tillering(if tillering for dynamic balance) and feels better in the finished bow.

If I was making a bow for someone who was string walking or had a low fixed crawl I'd reassess bow center location and maybe then a symmetrical design would get those things better aligned, for them. Depends.

Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Buggs on January 11, 2023, 11:06:12 AM
All of my personal bows are asymmetrical. I prefer how they balance in the hand to carry, and how they balance during the draw.

It's actually easier to dynamiclally balance their limb strengths during the draw than it is to balance a symmetrical bow because the asymmetrical bow's critical factors regarding dynamic balance are generally more closely aligned to begin with... bow center/static balance point, and the fulcrums under our hands. Their closer proximity to one another means less movement of the dynamic/sliding fulcrum under the bow hand as the draw transpires... which makes it easier to navigate during tillering(if tillering for dynamic balance) and feels better in the finished bow.

If I was making a bow for someone who was string walking or had a low fixed crawl I'd reassess bow center location and maybe then a symmetrical design would get those things better aligned, for them. Depends.




Cant argue with that. But for someone who is learning to build laminated bows, the process of determining the layout and final profile for a bow with multiple points of asymmetry and then timing the limbs, would be more complicated than one with identical limbs, profiled from a center point.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: mmattockx on January 11, 2023, 11:20:22 AM
All of my personal bows are asymmetrical. I prefer how they balance in the hand to carry, and how they balance during the draw.

Can you quantify how much asymmetry you use? Longer top limb? Asymmetrical riser as well?


Thanks,
Mark
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Buggs on January 11, 2023, 12:19:07 PM
I cant speak for BJ, but I make my straight end longbows with 2" longer upper limb and 1" shorter lower fadeout.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 11, 2023, 02:21:04 PM
Buggs, do you actually shorten one limb or are you saying by sliding the arrow shelf up more gives you the asymmetrical bow?
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Buggs on January 11, 2023, 02:57:51 PM
Actually a little of both. I tweak the stack slightly and shift the center point down. Also have simply moved the asymmetrical riser down an inch to achieve the same effect with a symmetrical layup.Both end up with a shorter working lower limb, but the shelf is closer to actual center. I honestly can't say if it really makes limb timing more difficult because its been so long since I have laminated a bow with a different technique.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 11, 2023, 03:56:10 PM
but the shelf is closer to actual center

Yes that is what bowjunkie and I like to achieve.

Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Bowjunkie on January 11, 2023, 04:50:51 PM
My riser is symmetrical. Center of handle/riser is at the apex of deflex. Top limb is usually longer by 1 1/2" to 1 3/4". So top limb is designated coming off the form... glass bows and bamboo backed. Same same.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Buggs on January 11, 2023, 05:07:06 PM
You guys are old school ;) 

Thats what I learned in the pre-internet days, when unless you had a mentor, you were at the mercy of ancient  library books and dusty old used book stores for any coveted bow building info. All the old books I collected and learned from, shorty bottom bows were the norm.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Roy from Pa on January 11, 2023, 05:38:48 PM
All my bows have had a shorter lower limb.
Title: Re: Tiller measurement's and limb balance
Post by: Kirkll on January 13, 2023, 09:46:11 PM
All of my personal bows are asymmetrical. I prefer how they balance in the hand to carry, and how they balance during the draw.

It's actually easier to dynamiclally balance their limb strengths during the draw than it is to balance a symmetrical bow because the asymmetrical bow's critical factors regarding dynamic balance are generally more closely aligned to begin with... bow center/static balance point, and the fulcrums under our hands. Their closer proximity to one another means less movement of the dynamic/sliding fulcrum under the bow hand as the draw transpires... which makes it easier to navigate during tillering(if tillering for dynamic balance) and feels better in the finished bow.

If I was making a bow for someone who was string walking or had a low fixed crawl I'd reassess bow center location and maybe then a symmetrical design would get those things better aligned, for them. Depends.




Cant argue with that. But for someone who is learning to build laminated bows, the process of determining the layout and final profile for a bow with multiple points of asymmetry and then timing the limbs, would be more complicated than one with identical limbs, profiled from a center point.

This is dead on Buggs .... I know some damn good bowyers that obsessed with Asymmetrical vs symmetrical balancing and i'm sorry.... but i'm not seeing the the extra time and effort paying any dividends at all myself.    just my opinion...  Kirk