First Time Board Bow

[FootPad]

Hi Tradgang Gang!

This is my first post and my first bow     , after about 3 or so years of reading the forum. A great forum with real down to earth people.  
I have had this bow knocking around in the workshop since November 2012. I was my first attempt at a Trad bow, any bow actually, following 4est trekker's Build along.

I think I skipped a few steps     , but I eventually got to build a tillering tree and first checked with a long string and then a short string while scraping to get the bend right. Please can I get some advise as to how close I am to having a bow?
The bow is built from Pink Beech with African Rose wood grip and Static re-curve limb tips. I think I skipped a step as I have not rounded the edges of the bow before tillering, well it didn't explode    

[FootPad]

Here it is with the short string on
   
and at 14in of draw
     
and at 27in (finished draw lenght will be 27 1/2in to max 28in for me)
   

[Roy from Pa]

Left limb looks ok. Right limb has a hinge right at the fade, then is flat in mid limb area. Looks like you made the right limb fade area a little thinner compared to the left limb fade. Stay completely away from that right limb fade area and remove wood from the mid limb area. Anymore wood removed from the right limb fade could mean disaster.

 

[FootPad]

Aaaaah! As I thought.

Thanks Roy. The hinge was caused by a dip in the limb (cant remember how it happened) that I battled to get out. This limb is much thinner than the lift limb (in the image).

Now the kicker, what would you suggest my best approach to getting rid of the hinge is? Apart from staying the hell away from it     .  The flat I think I can handle.

Also given the stiffness of the left limb, as it is now (for future reference only) would that be too much for a split finger hold? Also what sort of difference say in fractions of an inch am I looking for in the lower limb for split finger hold?

Many thanks for your reply.

[Roy from Pa]

The hinged area is already weakened, only thing you can do is weaken the mid limb area to take a little stress off the hinge. But it may never go away now.

I don't tiller a bow for a certain positive tiller anymore. That's an old theory that many guys still adhere to. I tiller for equal limb timing now. My tree is setup to simulate where I hold the bow string when shooting, and I have a pulley system on my tree. Watch the video and take notice of the tree's pull rope traveling straight down the black vertical line on the wall. That means both limbs are bending an equal distance, even though one limb tip may be coming down farther.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTU0h5LDNwU&list=UUBMjR2l-xfFufcLpkUpYYBQ

[FootPad]

Great Vid, I get the idea. Will look at how I can change the setup of the tree, or find a new wall  

Thanks

[FootPad]

PS with the hinge, should I back the bow?

[Roy from Pa]

I would weaken the right limb and shoot it, if it seems safe. But it could blow up there on down the road. Or hang it on the wall and start another one.

Bottom of tree pulley setup.

 

[fujimo]

As Roy says, the wood is already damaged, mitigate the situation as much as possible, then shoot it till it dies, but start building a new one now   :D  
Cheers
Wayne

[FootPad]

Live and learn    

I can do that at the bottom of my tree Roy, and I can "simulate" the hold point on the tree I made, may just need to trim the Shelf that the bow rests on.

Way ahead of you Wayne     , I joined the sleepless nights club!!! Working on a few in my head as I type too.

Thanks for the help Guys, I will aim for a lower draw weight and she how it goes.

Cheers

[fujimo]

Good man
Keep on keep'n on.      
To my ol 1 eye, see how most of that set is due to the hinge.

[Zradix]

I'd say the left fade is bending a little much too...kinda the same thing going on as the right side..just not as severe.

Good luck!

[Roy from Pa]

Yer right, John..    

[Zradix]

whew..I feel better now.  

[Roy from Pa]

Was just messen wif ya, it's fine..      

Warrick, make one of these gizmo tools and use it..

  http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000075

[Zradix]

lol  

[Roy from Pa]

But yes the left limb could use some work..  

[ColonelSandersLite]

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=012442;p=1  

This thread goes into detail about what roy is talking about. With the timing.

[FootPad]

Thanks Roy, I did make a gizmo, Just don't think I was using it at the right draw length!!

Thanks for all the advise guys. I will apply it and either report back how the bow does or does not throw arrows or if its exploded.