Dean T tiller and tip ?'s

[AkDan]

I noticed in Deans video he took his blank to brace after doing his facet work.   My last attempt I used a tree to try and get there and ended up with a really light bow (oops) LOL.   I assume its to keep weight?   I know he hit the tree after this step.

Or should I stick it on the tree and tiller it out that way from gound zero?

Also tip and movement...what side do I take it off if I need too.  I assume the side I want it to go?  

and I like petite tips...my last attempt looks like a spear head for wooly mammoths haha!   WHen do I take them down?  I left it stiff for the last 8"es or so, (no facets).  I am worried by taking them down width wise I am going to whip end the bow after the bow is tillered out.

[GREG IN MALAD]

I floor tiller the bow until I can BARELY string it to about a 4" brace then put it on the tree. I dont use a long string because it led to many whip ended bows early on.
As soon as I get the bow to 6" brace height I narrow the tips to center the string in the handle. If you're worried about the bow being whip ended, leave the tips a little thick. They can be thinned later without affecting draw weight or tiller.

[George Tsoukalas]

Dean uses a tree in his book, "Hunting the Osage Bow".  Whip ended bows and under weight bows are all (mostly   ) beginner issues. Those things tend to be less frequent as one gains experience. To blame those on long string tillering is begging the issue. My site has buildalongs.I don't know about bamboo backed bows. Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/

[Pat B]

I floor tiller until I get 4" of tip movement then on to a long string(just longer than the bow). At about 6" to 8" on the long string I check weight and on to a low(3" to 4") brace to check on string alignment and to see if both limbs are bending evenly and together. From this point I want as even a bend as I can get so I can begin reducing weight.
  If everything is lined up and bending evenly there is no reason to reduce the tips and/or the handle until the limbs are tillered. These are usually the last thing I do before getting to final sanding and finishing.