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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: John Malone on December 25, 2017, 02:11:00 PM

Title: tillering a flatbow question
Post by: John Malone on December 25, 2017, 02:11:00 PM
Merry Christmas Guys. I have an oak flat bow laid out. 72 t2t 1 5/8 wide it tapers to .5 at the tips for now starting at mid limb. 10 inch riser area and its still a full 3/4 thick so my question is when I start tilering this thing will I end up with lots of belly taper? I'm looking at Sam Harpers build along and he basically has it 3/8 thickness the entire length to start. Doesn't say were most of the wood removal takes place though. His is also #45 I'm looking for something heavier say #50-55. Should I start by removing wood evenly down the entire length until it starts bending and go from there? Also if anyone has a pic of a properly tilled flat bow at full draw that would be lovely. Any idea how thick the average oak flat bow ends up in the 72 inch #55 pound range? Say 5/8 1/2 3/8? Just looking for an idea of how it will generally end up so ill know how best to start. Thanks Guys.
Title: Re: tillering a flatbow question
Post by: Pat B on December 25, 2017, 04:34:00 PM
What I will do is scribe a line down both sides of the limbs at about 5/8" from the back and taper the fades down to that line from the riser. This will place the riser above the plane of the limbs then I start tillering . It will probably be thinner than that but this will get you in the ball park.
  Merry Christmas to you too John.
Title: Re: tillering a flatbow question
Post by: John Malone on December 25, 2017, 04:39:00 PM
Thanks Pat Merry Christmas to you and yours as well. I remember you telling me that from the last one about risers and planes, I usually only make mistakes once. Usually?
Title: Re: tillering a flatbow question
Post by: Bow-n-Head on December 26, 2017, 10:04:00 AM
Make sure and use your "GIZMO".
Title: Re: tillering a flatbow question
Post by: John Malone on December 26, 2017, 10:06:00 AM
I made a pretty "GIZMO" from a scrap piece of cedar.
It has way better vision than i do.
 Thanks Guys.