Finally did it... I hope.

[YosemiteSam]

I finally managed to make a hunting weight board bow.  It's a paper-backed maple board, pyramid style.  Beeswax finish since I have a ton & I like the natural wood look.  

This was attempt #5.  I managed to break 2 and make 2 lighter-weight kid bows.   I'm still waiting for my shafts to get some arrows tuned in but playing around with these weaker shafts, I still managed to get a decent group out of it at 15 yards (with a little kentucky windage adjustment).  Came in at 42# at 27" -- just rounded to 40 in case she settles in a little weaker.  It's a shorter 61" NTN -- started at 66" but piked it twice.  Has about 2" of set so nothing glorious.  Flings a 400 gr arrow with some speed so that is fun to see.  Best of all, I managed to get an ambidextrous handle since I often switch hands as I shoot.

I'm no master bowyer.  But it's my own creation so I enjoy it.

 
   

[Wolftrail]

Congrats, I love maple thats mostly what I work with. Most of my bows end up with about 1/2" to 1 1/2" of set.  Just go slower when you are tillering. I spent 3-4 days tillering one bow and it took only 1/4" of set.  Thats is nursning it day after day.  Slow and steady.

[Roy from Pa]

I guess it's OK...
 

[BenBow]

Nice!

[YosemiteSam]

Originally posted by Wolftrail:
Congrats, I love maple thats mostly what I work with. Most of my bows end up with about 1/2" to 1 1/2" of set.  Just go slower when you are tillering. I spent 3-4 days tillering one bow and it took only 1/4" of set.  Thats is nursning it day after day.  Slow and steady.

How does tillering speed affect set?  Is it the amount of exercise the limbs are getting each time you check?

Admittedly, this is part of my problem.  I don't have large chunks of time to dedicate -- mostly small chunks of an hour or so sporadically on weekends and evenings.

[Wolftrail]

"Slow and steady."  You remove little bits of material then check it and exercise it, bit by bit by bit.

[BMorv]

Nice job!  I like the bird art work.

Full draw?

[mwosborn]

Looks nice - I like the nuthatch.

[Pago]

Looks good to me!

[mikkekeswick]

Great job.
Maple likes to be heat treated. If you try it on another i'm sure you will see less set.
The key to low set is not pulling it too far before it is ready and getting a perfect taper with no weak spots. If you have a good taper with no weak spots and the weight is goo,there is no reason to not pull to full draw. How fast you tiller has no impact, having no weak/stiff spots is the key.

[Buemaker]

Looking good, well done.

[YosemiteSam]

Originally posted by BMorv:
Nice job!  I like the bird art work.

Full draw?

Thanks.  My boys got me into bird watching so when I made bows for them, I drew some of their favorite birds on them with some sharpies.  It stuck.  Now they're disappointed if I don't draw something.

[takefive]

Congrats on your bow.  Looks nice  

[Adge23]

What does set mean?   And BTW I love the bow!!

[YosemiteSam]

Originally posted by Adge23:
What does set mean?   And BTW I love the bow!!

Thank you, Adge23.

Set, as I understand it, is how much the limbs are still bent when the bow is unstrung for a while.  I could be wrong.  But that's what I was trying to say.