Reading a gizmo?

[John Malone]

Hello Guys. I got some marks from my gizmo by moving it side to side. I'm assuming I should only remove wood from the sides the gizmo marked. Cant see any twist but this should be a sign of one, even if its not noticeable yet.

[TradBowyer]

i wouldn't use it in that way.im not sure you could really get an accurate reading like that. it's made to travel down the limb from fade to tip not side to side. I use mine by finding the weakest point of the limb or where it's bending most. raise the pencil till it's just not touching and then run it down and up the limb. best way to check for twist is to look down the limbs once strung or with a contour gauge

[Wolftrail]

"I'm assuming I should only remove wood from the sides the gizmo marked."    I'm sure others will chime in and help you out on that.   I check for twist when the bow is on the tiller stick and lock in the string at say 16-18" or whatever and site down the limbs from the tips, I will always notice twist if any at this stage.   I clamp the tiller stick in the vice, that way I can have a good look at it rather than using a pulley system having the bow flat against a wall or plywood.

  I dont use a gizmo,  I use a tape measure for final tiller when its at full brace works only on laminate bows not selfies with bumps and dips..  Works for me.

[Wolftrail]

oooooopps double post

[Roy from Pa]

Go to trad gang main topic page home page. Scroll down to How To Section, then look for Tillering Gizmo thread by Eric Krewson. Instructions there.

[John Malone]

Thanks guys. Wolftrail I use My tree the same way. I use a yard stick think I like it better. to many variables with the gizmo.

[Roy from Pa]

No No No.
The gizmo used correctly will give you a perfect bend.

Glass bows and wood bows are two different animals.

Pay attention rebel boy...  

[KellyG]

They way I understood it and how I use it. is to run the bow from fade to tip. That is after you set your pencil by finding the largest gap and adjusting the pencil so it barley touches. then run it down the middle then each side of the limb. remove wood only were the pencil marks are. I if you are getting more on one side of a limb then the other scrap that side. you can tiller in twist by shaving to much off one side. Don't ask me how I know. if you measure the limb thickness on both sides one will be think most likely.

[BMorv]

"I dont use a gizmo, I use a tape measure for final tiller when its at full brace works only on laminate bows not selfies with bumps and dips"

Wolf, can you explain how you use a tape measure for final tiller?  Do you mean just positive or negative tiller measurements from the fade to the string or something else?

[John Malone]

BMorv, I put mine on the tree and pull it to different lengths then use the marks I put on the sides  of the bow limbs to measure distance between limb and string. That worked great on my first 3 bows. Started using the gizmo started having problems. Most likely due to not using it properly but what do I know. I have a better understanding now, I think i was asking it to do things it wasn't designed for.

[BMorv]

Gotcha John.  Don't see why that wouldn't work, but never seen it done that way.
 
The gizmo is a simple but ingenious device that simply measures how much the wood is bending between the ends.  It is incapable of lying.  Match the gap between the ends of the gizmo along the length of the limb and you'll have a nice even bend.  Do like Kelly suggest and you'll get side to side differences too.  I can't imagine an easier method, unless you are experienced enough to see those small differences by just looking at it.  

I even use it on R/D bows.  The gap from the transition between deflex and reflex will get smaller, but it should be a smooth transition and both limbs should transition the same.

[Wolftrail]

Originally posted by BMorv:
"I dont use a gizmo, I use a tape measure for final tiller when its at full brace works only on laminate bows not selfies with bumps and dips"

Wolf, can you explain how you use a tape measure for final tiller?  Do you mean just positive or negative tiller measurements from the fade to the string or something else?

This is how I do it..
 http://myarchery.byethost18.com/bows.html

[BMorv]

I guess you learn something new every day....More than one way to achieve a nice bend.

[John Malone]

I like the gizmo, however I'm constantly wondering if the pencil moved is the lead getting shorter blah blah blah..... with a yard stick i know its constant. But then again I'm weird. I'm the hillbilly that shows up to an Appalachian pot luck supper with gumbo.    

[Pat B]

I use a Gizmo mostly for difficult cases. Most everything else I do by eye. The Gizmo is a great tool but it is not a crutch.

[John Malone]

Good point Pat.

[Roy from Pa]

Gizmos are easy. Yardsticks warp...  

[John Malone]

Roy if an ole coot like you can do it..... well ya know were I'm going with this right?
Were did that post ya made go to?

[Roy from Pa]

No?

I didn't think it was right so I edited it...

[John Malone]

Go sit by the fire with Jack and think about it.