need to lose some weight

[robA72]

Hey guys.
So after finally getting a well tillered hickory board bow made, I realized this thing is a beast. It's pulling 60-65lbs at 24".
I didn't think it was this heavy while using the tillering stick but when I tried to start shooting it in, I realized it would be a bit much for me.
So what is the best way to start taking off the pounds without losing the even tiller? Or is there even a way?    
Thank you in advance!

[Echatham]

how wide is it?  you either have to take wood off the thickness or the width, just do it evenly a little bit at a time, 10 scrapes off one limb, 10 scrapes off the other and keep checking tiller. if one limb gets ahead of the other catch the other one up. remember to exercise the limbs after scraping to register the change

[robA72]

Originally posted by Echatham:
how wide is it?  you either have to take wood off the thickness or the width, just do it evenly a little bit at a time, 10 scrapes off one limb, 10 scrapes off the other and keep checking tiller. if one limb gets ahead of the other catch the other one up. remember to exercise the limbs after scraping to register the change

Okay, this makes sense to me. It is 1.5" wide at the fades and tapers down to 5/8" at the tips.
I figured I needed to just use my scraper slowly but can you guess how many scrapes until I get 10-15lbs off?

[Echatham]

quite a few.  depends on how much pressure and how sharp the scraper, but it will take a bit, just go slow and keep checking tiller, don't get impatient and switch to a rasp or power sander,  slower is better, much less chance to end up with a kids bow.
I don't think you want to go any narrower than 1.5" with hickory, so just worry about the thickness.

[Echatham]

pictures?

[robA72]

Here are some pics. What do you think?
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[Echatham]

tiller looks pretty good braced, how about full draw?  at the bottom of the middle picture it looks like the grain is starting to run out?  that could be a concern if it does.  how much set did it take?  also... and don't worry about it til you get down to weight, and are ready to start cleaning it up and finishing, but those tips could probably be reduced down to have less mass, and that would decrease handshock.

[Roy from Pa]

The edges of the limbs look pretty square on the pictures. I would rasp facets into the back and belly of the limbs, then round off the edges from doing that. That will drop it a good 5 pounds anyway.

[robA72]

It took about 1 1/2" of set and that grain run off has me nervous too. That is the only part of the board that has it though. Do you think that it will haunt me? Also, when I reduce the tips, do I sand them down from the belly side?
Roy,
Thanks. I will round the edges now. Getting 5lbs off is a great start. I wanted to put a linen backing on this. Should I do that before I go on or wait until I get to draw weight?

[Roy from Pa]

When you rasp in the facets, that will leave you two edges on each edge of the belly and back of the bow, just round those edges off and make the side of the bow an oval shape. I would sand off any rasp marks before tiller.

If you are suspect of the run out, it wouldn't hurt to put the linen backing on now, could help, certainly won't hurt.

[robA72]

thanks Roy. That sounds easy enough. I think I should be able to handle that.