When to back your bow

[Schmidtster]

Just wondering when your supposed to put backings on your bow. should you tiller it first or just to a floor tiller? i did a red oak board bow and backed it very last, it worked but i'm just not sure if thats the proper procedure.

[Dave Bowers]

Some folks say once you floor tiller and some say after the long string. I guess its up to you? One of the guru's will chime in so just stand by.

[Pat B]

If you are backing for protection(rawhide or cloth) do it right away. Less chance of lifting a splinter while you tiller. For performance backings like sinew, wood or boo I like to pretiller the belly so it has a nice even bend to it for glue up.

[Art B]

Just use a temporay backing with nylon strapping tape. Apply once you have your bow to floor tiller, finish your bow out to your draw length, shoot it in, then remove the tape and apply your permanent backing. If you want a durable, no frills backing just leave it on. Probably the best backing few have heard of. One layer is all you need. But more layers will cost you bow weight if removed later. I've noticed as much as 5# loss after using and then removing three layers.........Art

[George Tsoukalas]

I almost always grudgingly back after long string tillering. Beore the first stringing with the short string.  Jawge