Help with tiller and shelf, please.

[Don Armstrong]

I have made 3 bows so far. They are just self bows but I would like to learn enough to make some good shooters. When tillering the limbs, should I leave the bottom limb a little heavy or tiller both limbs even. I am cutting a shelf in my bows and so far, they are holding ok but I'm confused where I should put the shelf. I have been shooting the bow without a shelf and finding a spot where it seems to shoot well, then cut the shelf there. It seem about 1-1/2" to 1-3/4" above center works but this is just a SWAG so I could use some info. Also, if I reinforce the limb tips on a hickory self bow, would Dynaflight 97 be an option for a string, over Dacron, or would I be stressing the limbs to much. Thanks for any info as I'm just starting out building bows. Don

[John Scifres]

..."just self bows"...  for shame, for shame  

Tiller the bow to bend like it should at full draw.  Forget about brace tiller except to give you a starting point.

Hold the string at about midpoint and pull it on the tiller tree.  Make sure you have the handle set in the tiller tree at about midpoint.

Wait for the shelves until you build a few more.

Finding the sweet spot is a good way to determine where your arrow rest should be.

 http://residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/tiller101.html

[Pat B]

I agree with John on every point...especially about the "only a selfbow" thing.     Pat

[Don Armstrong]

Thanks John, I was not downing self bows but my skill level is not good enough to even think about a glass bow. So far, I've had good luck out of shelves. I have cut them to center but making sure I have good fade and no handle bend. I am probably looking at handle failure in the future but I like bows with a shelf. Old and set in my ways but a piece of hickory up side the head might change that. Don

[BMN]

It takes a lot more skill to make a self bow than it does to make a glass bow. I'll go get the popcorn.  :D

[Pat B]

BMN, I was going to say the same thing. I'll bring the beer!!!     Pat

[Pluck Yew]

That thought crossed my mind too! I'm thinking I'm going to be ready to make laminated bow soon...    

Shawn...

[BMN]

Popcorn, beer, and selfbows. Sounds like a great way to spend a Friday! - Bill

[Pat B]

Shawn, With a lam bow the tillering is figured out in the recipe by the thickness and taper of the lams and the glass before glue up. With a self bow the tiller is figured out as you remove wood. The end product of both is a bow but the routes you take are completely different.     Pat

[John Scifres]

Think of selfbows as creations or art.

Think of glass bows as assemblies or recipes.

[Don Armstrong]

I REALLY didn't intend to start a ##$% match. I ment by my comment about self bows that I don't have the tools or knowledge for a glass bow. I am only learning to make self bows and have a jig saw, skill saw, a couple of rasps,a couple of hand planes and 2 homemade scrapers. I would have to have a band saw, heat box, probably some tools I am not aware of and some help with tapers and the other things involved with a glass bow. There is just as much or more skill to making self bows but right now, I don't have the funds or room to build glass bows. I am going to get a band saw and make a wood vise in the near future. I have been making my bow almost completely with hand tools by the seat of my pants. Thanks for any help you are willing to give. Don

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Well we are all ball busters here, So don't take it to Heart.

My main hunting bow is a self bow from red oak that has a shelf cut in to it. I got it to 20" of tillering before I cut the arrow pass/shelf. That was me, Take from the ones that have been building bows for a lot longer then me about cutting shelves in to a bow.

The next bows I building won't have a cut in shelf.

[Pluck Yew]

Sal is right!! I have only made a few bows and I know that there a many here that have much more knowledge than I.. check out ferrets web page.. george toukslas web page..and there are more here.. that is why I love this web site..    

Shawn...

[Pat B]

A simple bulbous handle as per Torges makes a very comfortable and practical handle and if you prefer an arrow rest, that can easily be added without reducing the strength of the handle.     Pat

[Roy Steele]

For me when I get my selfbow down to the ruffed out stage.Now I cut it to leanth.Fine my center line.Then I cut handle and shelf in.My bows are center shot or really close.Depends on my stave.I'm not a fan off the hand or put on your rest after it's tillered.Or flip your bow over an shoot it.Nothing wrong with that I just build my bows different'ly.Though the years I tried it all.And just evolved to the style I like to build.