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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: b.glass on November 03, 2008, 08:20:00 PM

Title: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on November 03, 2008, 08:20:00 PM
I'm not done with this bow but wondered what ya'll think of the tiller so far.
  (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/BearsandBows222.jpg)
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on November 03, 2008, 08:22:00 PM
Oh ya. The upper limb is on the right and it is longer by an inch which is too long. I believe it should be more like 1/2 or 3/4 of an inch longer.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: Shaun on November 04, 2008, 08:21:00 AM
Looks real good so far. If the right is upper, it looks like it is bending a little less than the other. 1" length difference is fine. Try measuring at the deepest point near the fade on both sides. This should be about 3/16" more on top for a split finger grip, nearly even for 3 under.

I use an arrow or stick to check this measurement. Grab the stick and hold your thumb nail to mark the outside of the string finding the deepest point by running the tip along the belly. Then switch to the bottom limb and do the same. Try it on a finished bow to get the idea of the difference in gap.

Sometimes I check at a point about a foot in from each tip as well, these should be the same.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on November 04, 2008, 09:01:00 AM
Thanks Shaun!
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: Tom Leemans on November 04, 2008, 12:31:00 PM
The RH limb in the pic looks like it could bend a tiny bit more past mid limb to me. Might just be the angle. Not much though. Looks pretty good! (and 1" longer upper limb is just fine. Makes the arrow pass closer to center.) Use a tiller gizmo to help.  gizmo (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000075)
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: Steve Kendrot on November 04, 2008, 04:11:00 PM
I think an inch longer is fine. As I recall. Dean make his 64" bow 1.5" longer. I concur with the others that the right limb looks like it bends most in the 1/3 closest the riser.

Are you using the walky talky/tiller gizmo? They are very handy. I think Eric Krewson has a post in the how to.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: JEFF B on November 04, 2008, 08:48:00 PM
it looks good Bona but what would i know iam just a newbie at this bow making game.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: Eric Krewson on November 04, 2008, 10:08:00 PM
There is a little more info about the gizmo in this link.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=033419
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on November 05, 2008, 12:51:00 AM
Thanks all. I remember seeing the "gizmo" now.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on November 05, 2008, 03:39:00 AM
Jeff, when are you going to build another bow?
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: DCM on November 06, 2008, 09:15:00 AM
Braced picture looks good, but it's just a small piece of the whole puzzle.  If the bow shoots good, has taken even set along each limb, and a relatively small amount, if it makes good cast, doesn't handshock, rotate or twist in the hand or even not meeting these criteria if it is an improvement in any area over your last project then you've done well.  Looks like you've done well.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: JEFF B on November 06, 2008, 10:26:00 PM
i have one on the go now Bona but taking it real slow and i  mean slow  :biglaugh:   (http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh305/jeffburg/434.gif)
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on November 17, 2008, 02:58:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/BearsandBows226.jpg)

I feel like I have the tiller pretty good on this bow now. If anything maybe it should bend more at the fade outs. What do you all think?

It has 3/16 in. more bend in the upper limb which is again on the left. It is braced at 6 in. It was 55 lbs at 24 in. the last I checked.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: George Tsoukalas on November 17, 2008, 05:46:00 PM
Is this a selfbow? You have to at least do a picture of a partial draw. Jawge
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on November 17, 2008, 08:32:00 PM
Jawge, this is bamboo backed osage. I tried to get a pic of it at part draw but not able to yet.
When my daughter gets home I will post one.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: George Tsoukalas on November 18, 2008, 09:13:00 AM
b.blass, ok.  Jawge
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on November 26, 2008, 04:23:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/BearsandBows228.jpg)

Finally got this bow to where I could draw it. Is the picture good enough to see the tiller?
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: Pat B on November 26, 2008, 04:40:00 PM
Your bottom limb looks very good. The top limb looks like it is a bit stiff just above the handle and from about 1/2 way out to just below the tip. A few scrapes should take care of both spots.     Pat
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: Mike Mecredy on November 26, 2008, 04:53:00 PM
I'd give the upper limb a few more scrapes in the midsection of the limb.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on November 27, 2008, 03:43:00 PM
I see it now guys. Thank you.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on December 10, 2008, 10:30:00 PM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/BearsandBows231.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/BearsandBows241.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/BearsandBows240.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/BearsandBows232.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/BearsandBows248.jpg)
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: DCM on December 11, 2008, 08:32:00 AM
Did it finish 55#?

Looks like an admirable job.  Would be interested in overal lenght, width at the fades, how much set it took start to finish, pic of finished profile.

Nicely done.  Congradulations.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: Pat B on December 11, 2008, 09:07:00 AM
Nice job Bona. Like David, I'd like to see other pics.     Pat
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on December 11, 2008, 11:21:00 AM
It finished out at 52# @ 26".

60.5" nock to nock.

Width at fades is 3/4".

It is braced at nearly 6 1/2" with a brand new B50 14 strand string so I expect the brace height to drop a bit.

Will get finished profile pic.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on December 11, 2008, 11:51:00 AM
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v210/BonaGlass/BearsandBows256.jpg)

It's hard to say exactly what set the limbs have taken with the antler tip overlays and the built up grip. Measured right behind the antler with the bow between two counters, it appears the lower limb has a 5/8" set and the upper a 7/8" set.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on December 11, 2008, 12:23:00 PM
Do you think a 14 yo kid drawing 25" can grow with a bow like this, pulling a little farther as he grows without damaging the bow?
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: Pat B on December 11, 2008, 12:59:00 PM
Bona, your unbraced pic looks very good. It shows that you didn't over stress the limbs as you stalked tiller.
 For my 26" draw I always tiller my bows out to 28" just for insurance. Pull yours to 27" then 28" if everything looks good. This bow ought to be a fine for a youngster to grow in to.  
Well done!    Pat
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: George Tsoukalas on December 11, 2008, 05:17:00 PM
Well done! Jawge
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on December 11, 2008, 08:16:00 PM
Thanks guys!  :)
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: Pat B on December 12, 2008, 12:18:00 AM
Now you are a BONA fide bowyer!!!   d;^)
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on December 12, 2008, 08:35:00 AM
LOL! Funny Pat! Veeery funny!
  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: DCM on December 12, 2008, 08:36:00 AM
That's a lot of bow for 3/4" of width.  That's the max width, or the width at the arrow pass?

I'd let the set it takes from being draw progressively farther determine the max draw lenght.  Were one to tiller it down a few pounds as the draw lenght approaches 28", I would expect it to do fine out to that draw lenght.  With just 3/4" of working limb, you may get a little set at 28"

Very nice job.
Title: Re: Critic my tiller. Finished!!
Post by: b.glass on December 13, 2008, 08:19:00 PM
It is 3/4" at the arrow pass. I was thinking that was the question earlier. The widest part of the working limb is 1 3/16".