What does set mean?

[bicyclemonkey]

I'm reading the Traditional Bowyer's Bible vol. 1 and keep seeing the word 'set' being mentioned but unfortunately there's no glossary in the book.  So what exactly is set?

[Pat B]

Set refers to a wood bow bending towards the belly when unbraced. It is caused by the wood cells compressing on the belly side of the bow and stretching on the back side due to stress. Set is natural in wood bows. The degree of set depends on how gingerly the bowyer finds tiller.

[bicyclemonkey]

Thanks, now I know what they're referring to lol!

[Shaun]

Its when the wood does not return all the way to its pre stressed shape. If your wood is too green (wet) or you pull it past draw weight or draw length or past where you can see a flaw during tillering, it will set. You cannot fix set, once its there, its there.

[Roy Steele]

Set is the amount your wood bow dose not flex back unbraced.To its form it had it was when built.
  String follow is when your bows been unbraced after shooting and it flexs back to the set in the bows form.

[UnderControl16]

How much set is a bad amount of set? Does it just lower the poundage?

[Pat B]

One to two inches isn't bad and is about average. The more set you have the less cast you will have for the particular weight you are shooting. If you have a 100# bow with 6" of set it will still cast an arrow pretty good but if you have a 50# bow with 6" of set your cast will be lousy.
   The more set you have the more damage you have done to the wood cells in the belly.

[Shaun]

Gotta disagree with Roy on "string follow". I believe describes a shape of the unbraced bow. That is, it is not a straight or reflexed but curves towards the archer. This can be the result of set or design as in a glass bow that is made this shape in the form. A bow with 1/2" of string follow is may favorite for shootability.

I generally rough out an osage bow to floor tiller stage and then heat shape it on a cull before continuing to tiller. If I put about 1" of backset in the cull shape, the finished bow will be about straight if tillered carefully. It is almost impossible to tiller an osage bow without putting some set in the wood as it learns to bend.

[Roy Steele]

SORRY but I think you misunderstand me.When you build a self bow and it's tillered and shot.You unbrace your bow leave it alone go back later.Likely your bows tips will be towards you if it is this the set in your bow.I tillered right each limb should have the same amount or close.But remember these ar'nt lam bows and wood is wood.SET   I a sence this is string follow this is why most people call it string follow.
    But string follow really is when you finished shooting your selfbow you unstring it.At the time it will have an inch or so or what ever is past the set in your bow.And with a little time your bow will flex back that inch or so to your bows set posision.
  SORRY SHAUN but Im not a writer so if you misunderstood sorry but this how it was told to me.Hope this helps.It really dos'nt matter to most peiple it's the same thing.
  A lam bow could'nt have eighter.

[Eastern Hunter 14701]

String follow - when the bow takes on an appearance of being strung and does not return to the "unstrung position" when the string is removed.
Set- permanent bend a wooden bow takes on wiether by design or string follow.

[Shaun]

A laminated glass bow can have "string follow" if you use the term to mean an unstrung profile. This would be a shape intentionally built into the form. Some unstrung profile names are; reflex/deflex, straight, or string follow (meaning a shape that is curved towards the string side). This shape could also be called deflexed. Craig at Northern Mist Longbows builds a great string follow glass Hill style bow.

String follow can also mean the temporary set that a self bow takes when it is strung and shot. This is often noted when describing a bow as its profile after working and then the recovered or rested shape with less string follow is usually noted as well.

Some also use the term to mean permanent set (which is by definition always towards the string) in a bow that is obviously set into a almost braced shape. This is often seen in very old wood bows especially if they have been mistreated or left braced.