First bow and I've run into a snag......

[krisopp]

Hello to all.. I've been lurking on this site for quite some time now, and this is the first time I've posted.  First I'd like to say thanks to everyone on here because all of you have got me interested into this world of bow making.  I started this board bow a year ago... I got it to the tillering stage and justed kind of stopped there.  Well, I'm back at it now and I believe I've got a case of the twist in the lower limb.  It's a red oak board, and I'm using Ferret's board bow design.  The board I chose had the best grains out of the bunch, but I believe it will definitely need a backing.  I've posted some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about.  Where do I remove wood to straighten it out?  Thanks, -KRIS-
 
 

[ChristopherO]

Kris,
That twist isn't bad and you really don't have to do anything with it for the bow to work normally.  I know it can be disconcerting to see your work not look exactly like you think it should but with wood these small anomalies are actually normal.  
If you really want to remove it you would have to heat it, steam works well with oak, and twist it in the opposite direction a little farther than straight.  Once cool it will settle in about right.

[krisopp]

So I can keep going on with tillering?  It does suck that it's not exactly what I had pictured, but like you said these things happen with wood.  I guess I'll keep going on and just keep my eye on it while I tiller.  Thanks for your help. -KRIS-

[razorback]

It may also be that one edge is stronger than the  other on that limb. Could be from uneven wood removal or anomily in the wood. If you remove wood from the edge that is not bending as far (which is the stronger side0 you may correct the twist. I just had to do the same thing with a board bow I am working on. I have seen it suggested that this can be done while the bow is strung, using sand paper. As with everything in the tillering stage go slooooow and exercise the limbs after each removal.

[Pat B]

Kris, being that your bow is from a board you have probably removed more wood from one side of that limb than the other. If so even out the limb thickness. You can also remove twist by removing wood from the strong side while tillering. Heat is not the only way to deal with a twist. Is the twist there when unbraced?
  In your first pic it looks like that limb is bending a bit more(almost a hinge) where the pencil line on the wall comes into the limb(about mid limb) and the area near the fades and the outer portion near the tip are stiff. I would mark the "almost hinge" and not remove any more wood from that spot until you have the inner limb and the outer limb bending more. I usually keep the last 6" of the tips stiff but the wood coming out to the tip should bend a little more.
   You are doing well so far. Keep it up!  Pat

[krisopp]

When unbraced the twist is not there.  It only shows it's ugly face when I pull it to where it is in the pictures.  I will try to get the parts closer to the handle to bend a little further before I go on to the outer limbs.  Then I'll see if maybe removing some wood from the strong side of the twist will fix it.  Thanks Pat and Razor for your input. -KRIS-

[Pat B]

That is a common problem that plagues me sometimes too when I use a bench vise instead of my bow horse. I tend to remove more wood from the side away from my bench and not enough from the side closest to my bench.
  You did probably remove more from one side than the other If the twist is not there when relaxed. Place your thumb on top of the stave and your pointer finger under it and feel the thickness. Slide your fingers up and down the stave and you will feel the difference in the thickness better than you can see it sometimes. You can also do this from one side to the other of the limb to feel the differences there also. When going from side to side, I usually check from both sides because just doing it from one side can be deceptive.

[John Scifres]

I think you are worrying too much.  Make that thing bend.  Take your time and proceed with caution.  But by all means, proceed.

You are bending a bit overmuch in the outer half of the limb with the twist.

[Roy Steele]

PAT's likely right you've taken to much wood off one side.Or one sides a little bit stronger than the other.Wood is wood and this heppens all the time.If you don't think it will hidge or end up with to light a bow you could take some wood off the other side.
   But you could just leave it.Keep going but remember it with your nextbow and don't make tht mistake again.And yes a board bow should aways be backed.I know some of you are saying #%@&# but 10 out of 10 times if you want them to last at all for your bows sake back it.

[krisopp]

UPDATE!  That twist does not look good... What do you guys think?
 
 

[krisopp]

TTT

[John Scifres]

Unless your string comes off, I wouldn't worry about it.  Tiller looks OK.

You have a hole in your wall.

[krisopp]

Thanks John....Actually it's two holes.  Handle bar and brake lever.