Starting a recurve

[TheBronzeAge]

A while ago a friend of mine gave me a half-finished recurve to work with.  I've never done a recurve and unlike him I don't have the setup to do laminate bows.  Today I put the recurve on the tillering tree, pulled it a bit to see where I needed to scrape wood, and realized I don't really have a clue how to tiller a recurve.  What do I look for?  Symmetry, I assume, but are the rules about which parts of the limb do the most bending the same as for a non-recurved bow (adjusted for the initial bend, of course)?

[Art B]

How 'bout a little more info please.

What materials was used in the construction of the bow? Back (pyramid or retangular) and side profile (straight/reflexed/deflexed)?

It would also help to know how long your bow is. And your intended draw length/weight.......Art

[Pat B]

Pics are very helpful in a situation like this plus answering Art's questions.

[TheBronzeAge]

The back is bamboo and the design is rectangular.  It's 68" inches and I'd like it to draw 45# at 28".
Pictures below.
Without any pull on the tillering rope:
   
Slight pull:
     
More pull:
   

[Art B]

That's a R/D design rather than a recurve design. Is it light enough to get a regular string on yet? Left limb looks like it could do with a bit of catching up with the right limb first though. Appears the section out from the right tip is getting a little light with the long string. It'll become more pronounced when you change strings.

Remember, when using a long tillering string like you're using now, near handle will appear bending more than it should and the tips stiffer than normal. That'll change when you go to a short string because of the differences in the string angles. In other words, less bend near handle and more bend outer limb.

I think what you're looking for as far as a finished drawn profile (with a regular string) is a circular center to mid-limbs and straight from there to the tips.

Just work it slow and easy and put up plently of pics and I'm sure the R/D specialist can work you through it. Good luck.....Art