First BBO...how bad is it?

[takefive]

Thought I was about done with tillering it, but then I looked at the pictures.  It's at about even tiller braced at 6", but looks like the top limb (on the right) is stiff and the bottom one is weak at 20" on my tree.   I'm still a few pounds above the 45# I want to hit.  Should I go over it again with a gizmo to try to even them out?  I did shoot about a dozen arrows off my hand last night and love the way it shoots.  Seems very fast.  The handle is offset (still have 7/8" thickness at the narrowest part) because I like it that way and the way I shoot I need all the help I can get.  I learned 3 things from this build:  I love everything about osage, I can plane and flatten bamboo with the tools I have, and I still suck at tillering.  That clutter behind my bow is my work shop.

 

 

 

 

[Todd Cook]

It's not that far off. I would probably shoot it some and then look at it. Looks pretty good.

[Echatham]

left limb is stiff near fades and tips.  stay away from mid limb until you get the hinge out. then you will have to catch back up with the right limb. looks real pretty though    

[Echatham]

tillering gizmo... YES!

[Roy from Pa]

It looks 10 times better than ole Echatham's first bow did:)

[Echatham]

[Roy from Pa]

[Echatham]

[takefive]

Thanks for the replies!  Went over it with the gizmo and just refused to believe that there was a high spot at the mid limb on the top limb.  It looked exactly the same thickness, ran my finger over it, etc.  Man it takes some faith to trust the gizmo using it for the first time.  Well, after carefully scraping that spot 4 different times, the top limb is pretty close to where it should be.  Maybe the bamboo is a little thicker in that area?  Trusting the gizmo from now on.  My tiller still isn't perfect but I'm going to leave it for now and shoot it for awhile.  Also at 1/8" positive tiller now.  @ Echatham; really enjoyed your BB Ipe build along.  That's what made me want to try to build this bow.

 

 

 

[macbow]

I would run the gizmo along it at the 20 inch or more draw. Should be able to see where the differences are.

I don't see a hinge, hinges turn adult bows into kids bows.

[takefive]

Don't let Roy get to you Echatham.  I think he's just jealous :-)

[takefive]

Thanks, Macbow and also for your tillering advice when I first started it.  Gizmo says I'm pretty good on the mid limbs (as far as I understand it) but stiff 4-5" out from the fades and 7" from the tips.  I am at the weight I want right now and would like to quit while I'm ahead.

[Canadabowyer]

I am working on my first BBO too and yours looks real good.    Bob

[Echatham]

Thanks Greg, I do know for a fact that slightly thicker bamboo will screw with your tiller. mine was thicker on one limb, and it ended up being the bottom because it always wanted to be stiffer. the ipe is noticeably thinner (if you are looking for it) where the boo is thicker.... and that limb is still stiffer. thats one lesson i took away. also that limb also lost more of it's r/d after shooting in. bamboo is really strong.... and i think i read that it takes more set than any other wood

[Echatham]

next time i build a backed bow its going to be a BBO.

[takefive]

Thanks Bob!  These R/D bows supposedly are pretty easy to tiller.  Hah!  I think I spent more hours on that than on every other part of the process combined.  I bought the Dean Torges BB backed DVD and really liked it until he tillered his R/D bow.  I swear it took him all of 3 minutes to get it perfect.  A few scrapes here and there and bam!...all done.  All I can think of is that he's made so many bows that can just floor tiller them so close to final tiller.  Either that or I'm just not getting it, which is very likely, too.  Hope your ipe bow is still holding up Eric.  Man I was sorry to hear about the string slipping off on such a beautiful bow.  Hope to read about your osage stave soon.  I think you'll love osage.

[Echatham]

the BBI is fine... I wrapped the suspect area and sinew and coated with super glue... no problems...shot it all week