Can I fix string follow?

[Jim Dahlberg]

Going to throw in my 2 cents worth here.  Never draw the bow past the desired weight.  It doesn't matter if there is a long tillering string or a short brace height string on the bow.  That is what the scale is used for.  Start "sweating" the bow as soon as it can be bent evenly on both limbs.  Pull the bow close to desired weight.  Mark on the tillering board where that weight is with a piece of masking tape.  Then pull 100 times to that mark.  Retest the weight with the scale.  If the limbs are still bending evenly and the weight has changed, mark where the new length at desired draw weight is and draw another 100 times.  When the draw weight stops changing after 100 pulls is the time to take more wood off.  I have done this with many bows of different woods over the past 3 years and have seen string follow reduced dramatically.
That being said, I am not convinced that string follow is a bad thing.  The mulberry bow I made spring of 2008 has shot well over a thousand arrows, killed numerous big game animals, has almost 3" of string follow and shoots just as hard if not harder than many I have made without string follow.  Go figure.
Sure have enjoyed being a "lurker" up until now.
Jim  "jimmy the sammi"

[Pat B]

Welcome Jim. Looking forward to more of your input.
 I usually don't pull my bows as much as you do after each wood removal but I do pull 20 to 30 times...and never over ultimate draw weight or length. What I do is after low brace height has been achieved I will let the bow rest at low brace for at least an hour at first and gradually longer and higher as tillering progresses until I hit the ultimate brace height(for me 5 1/2" to 6"; my fistmele). I believe we are achieving the same goal but with different routes. That's what I find so interesting about wood bow building. There is more than one way to skin a cat (as we used to say as kids).
   String follow is only bad if you are trying to get every bit of energy from a bow. If your goal is an effective, smooth shooting bow, string follow(within limits) doesn't matter. If you are trying to achieve zero string follow, wood bows are not for you. Wood is organic and as wood is stressed the cells on the belly side compress and on the back side stretch. You can not prevent this with wood bows but you can limit it. It is the nature of the wood. You can minimize string follow with proper tillering practices and patience. Even if you add 2" of backset and you end up with either a flat profile or slight reflex, you still have string follow, the cells have been compressed or stretched, it just isn't as apparent in the unbraced profile.