New guy, need more experienced eyes

[jtbluefeather871]

Hello,
I'm new to bow building, and pretty new to archery. But hooked and having fun. This is my first laminate bow. Second that I've built. (The first was a red oak board bow that ended up #20@28") This one is hickory backed hickory with bloodwood in the riser and tips.

 

 

 

To me, it looks like the top limb is a little stiffer than the bottom, but it's 45#@28" now, and I'm not sure how evening them up would effect the bow. I think it shoots pretty good, but having little experience I'm not too sure. I'm going to take it to our local trad archery shop Monday and let them play with it a bit. Just wondering if I should try and tiller down that top limb more, or leave it as it is, and what the consequences would be for either option.  Thanks!

[Pat B]

Most of the work is being done by the inner 1/3 of each limb. Try to get the mid limb area bending more.  You did pick a difficult design to work with. R/D style bows can be a bear to tiller...at least for me.

[D]

I'm with Pat try to get the mid limb bending.  Other than that its a good looking bow.

[30coupe]

Originally posted by Pat B:
Most of the work is being done by the inner 1/3 of each limb. Try to get the mid limb area bending more.  You did pick a difficult design to work with. R/D style bows can be a bear to tiller...at least for me.

I agree with Pat. You will lose some draw weight, but I'm afraid you'll lose the bow if you don't fix the tiller. I learn something with every build. I am FAR from being an expert. There are guys here with many times more bows under their belts, but if I were you, I'd worry more about getting the tiller worked out than the final draw weight.

On an R/D bow like yours, the outer third can be on the stiff side, but the mid needs to work. Even though you may lose some draw weight, your bow will be more efficient that way. Right now the inner third is moving both the arrow and the outer two thirds of the limb. I you can get more of the limb doing work instead of going along for the ride, you'll put the energy into the arrow where it needs to be.

The strung and unstrung profile looks great, by the way. I haven't tried an R/D yet, but I'm getting better at tiller on the straight limbed variety.

[jtbluefeather871]

Thanks for the input! I'll work on it a bit and post more pictures.