Help from the pros....

[Balding Kansan]

I followed 4est's red oak build-along and ended up with something "similar." Now, I hear the lower limb needs to be a little stronger but I believe this one is too strong. What do you guys think? Thanks! By the way, this is the first bow i've made so far that hasn't broke....yet, so take it easy on me!

 

[Balding Kansan]

The pic looks huge, I thought i resized it correctly. My apologies if its beyond the tolerances.

[Keenan]

To start with it looks like the brace is fairly high. I would lessen the brace highth a little usually 6-7.5" for self bows.  As far as tiller most shoot for 0-1/8 positive(strong) on the bottom limb, when braced. Is your handle centered or is one limb shorter?

[eman614]

i think your right. the left limb in the pic looks quite a bit stiffer than the other. i'm no expert, but it looks like the middle third of the limb is where it could use some work. if i were you though, i'd wait for someone with more knowledge than me to comment before i removed any wood. looks good, and good luck.

eric

[Balding Kansan]

Keenan, the handle is centered.

[Keenan]

Balding, Check your measurements to the string each side of the handle at the fades. Then for another confirmation,you might try to trace the outline on a board or concrete and flip the bow and lay on the outline. sometimes that will help you see the difrence limb to limb.
 I sometimes do that in my shop on the floor or table with soapstone or chalk. This will show profile difrences but you also need to check that against what it is actually doing in a real draw simply because of hand placement variables

[Art B]

Your bow's tiller should reflect and compensate for the way you grip and shoot your bow. If you're using a medium to low wrist then your braced profile looks right on the money.

As Keenan mentioned, you should lower your brace height. A brace heigth of 5 1/2" to 6" is more acceptable for wooden bows IMO though.

[John Scifres]

Try this:

Get the bow in your hand and find where it feels comfortable to hold it at the handle and draw it at the string.

Mark the center of the pressure your bow hand places on the handle.

Mark where your middle finger on your string hand falls on the string.

Have your tiller tree cradle a bit convex.  A rolled up piece of thin leather works great for this.  Put the vcenter of the convex cradle right on the mark you placed on the handle of your bow.

Put the hook of your tiller tree rope right on the mark on the string.

Tiller until the limbs bend evenly at full draw.

[Balding Kansan]

Thank you guys!