I've started to till my first bow...could use some suggestions

[Dave Bowers]

Hiya fellas,
Some of my remember my recent post where I needed some help repairing the handle area of my bow I'm building. Well I tackled that  and confident its good.
So I kept goin and made it to the tillering process. Here's what she look like so far using a long rope drawn to 28 inches.

Opinions and suggestions are welcomed
 
Thanks
 

[Pat B]

First off your bow is not drawn to 28"...thank goodness! Looks like you have about 6" of tip movement. Seems that both are bending pretty good but mostly in the center of each. The right limb looks stiffer to me but the stave isn't level so its hard to tell for sure.
  Shorten up your tiller string a bit. The shorter the better at this point without putting tension on the stave at rest and don't pull it any farther until you make some corrections.

[Dave Bowers]

Thanks Pat, I'll try to get things level for the next set of pics.

[bowmaker07]

It looks like you need to get the left limb bending closer to the handle.the right one is already bending right out of the fade and if you don't get them evened out this limb will take set right there which adds up to excessive string follow.For 6" of tip movement it looks like you have a nice bend going,just take your time and use the "gizmo" often.

[Dave Bowers]

Ok did a bit more shaving and tried to level the pics. Heres what I got; I think it looks better. But should  now leave the tip area along and work toward the fade area? To get more of the limb bending?

 

[John Scifres]

Red means stop, green means go.  Least that's how I see it.  

[Dave Bowers]

John thanks the visual of the stiff areas really helps. Much appreciated!!  

[Pat B]

Have you tried one of Eric's tillering gizmos. This is where that thing shines. It will tell you where your limbs are too stiff and where they are bending. Another method is with a 6" ruler or straight scrap of wood. Run it along the belly and look at the gap in the center between the limb and the ruler. As you move out the limb, when the gap get wider, the limb is bending more there. Where it gets narrower the limb is stiff there. Give it a try and see how well you can see the differences.

[Dave Bowers]

Well back to the drawing board :'( The bow broke while I was working on the tiller process. I was working on the first 1/3rd of the limbs trying to get them to bend. While working the limb a bit after doing some shaving, I guess I went a touch too far or shave a bit too much off?

 

[No-sage]

Well now your first bow is done and you can start your next.  

[razorback]

Same thing happened to my first board bow. Mine left me enough that I can still make a kids bow out of it. I did use the broken tip to splint a broom that had an adjustable head that needed help.  :cool:  Even the busted bits can be useful and you get to learn a lot from them. Not much consolation but its something. this is why we staet with boards, a lot cheaper than staves.

[Dave Bowers]

Thanks guys, I am not too worried about it. Its all part of the learning imo; I'm headin out tomorrow to get some more wood and start my next bow.