Tillering strings?

[Broke another one]

Ok I have been following the famous "so you want to build a bow" build along (my very first bow and my family is so excited it hasn't blown up in my face yet). I seem to be confused in the tillering process, will a bow stringer do as a tillering string? Will I need to make a string for the 68" long bow? If so how long does the string need to be?
I made a tillering tree today with my father and used a bow stringer, it got to the 28" mark with almost no bend in the bow at all.

[Russell S.]

I am new to this as well, built 5 broke 3 (they were all wood experiments)....   I quickly found it necessary to make a tillering string.  I am making Flemish strings for my bows...  so i made a 72" Flemish 15 strand 3 bundle string.  one end has a big loop (20 turns) the other is just "cabled" with some severing on the end.  then i use a timber hitch to attach it to the upper nock.  it has really helped me to figure out what length string i need by tweaking the brace height with the tillering string until i like it (and i dont get popped in the wrist.) hope that helps!

[Dano]

There are two steps during tiller, long string and short string. For the long string I use parachute cord with two leather boots, it's adjustable, you want the string just slack enough to make it easy to put on the tips. You don't want the string too long, it will mislead you in the process. When it comes to short string, I cut temporary knocks and I made a long flemish string with a loop at one end and use a timber hitch at the other, like Russell does . I won't make a good string for the bow till it's done.

[Pat B]

I use a parachute cord with slip knots tied in each for my long tiller string and have a long Flemish string with a loop for one tip and a timber hitch for the other.

[Broke another one]

I see, thank you for all your help.

[4est trekker]

Travis:  So glad you're close to getting a successful bow!  I've pasted a picture below of a VERY simply tillering string made by bowyers Kunst-Griff.  It also will serve you well as a stringer when the bow is done.  I use this particular design for a tillering string, which is identical in function to Dano's string with leather boots.  That way I don't have to cut nocks until I know for sure that I won't have to pike (shorten) the bow.  (Piking is often done to increase the draw weight of the bow, reduce hand shock, etc.)  Good luck, and be sure to post some pictures of your new bow!

 

[George Tsoukalas]

I use sash cord for the long string and old bow strings for tillering. I don't string up the stave for the first time unless it is 10-15 over final target weight. More info on my site. Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/