I have always used i simple board with nails as a tiller tree, thinking i should switch to pulley as I start to use more exotic staves.

Does leaving a wood board bow drawn on a tiller tree cause any damage to the belly of the bow ie induce set, reduce cast, etc.

Pulling it a few inches at low weight probably doesn't hurt anything.  But IMO the further it is pulled under greater weight and the longer it is held, the more damage done.

QuoteOriginally posted by mwosborn:
Pulling it a few inches at low weight probably doesn't hurt anything.  But IMO the further it is pulled under greater weight and the longer it is held, the more damage done.

yep

Yep

Yes, sir.
Jawge

So how long is too long to hold a wooden bow drawn on the tree? And how much weight might a bow lose if held drawn that long?

I shoot all my bows with a pretty long hold at anchor, maybe 1-3seconds typically. I haven't really noticed that doing anything terrible.

I also commonly leave a bow drawn on the tree for long enough to quickly step back and look, then mark the belly side with a pencil where I need to scrape. Maybe 10 seconds.

I try to reduce how much I need to do that, but at the end of the day a well tillered bow will last longer, and you got to do what you got to do to make a well tillered bow.

I try not to hold any selfbow for longer that 2 or 3 seconds. When I shoot I release as soon as I hit my anchor. If I find myself getting sloppy or short drawing I will hold for a second or 2 before releasing.
Remember wood in a natural material and too much stress can shorten it's life or at least add more set.

Yeah during tiller it should be quick as others have suggested, but also always have a scale on it and never pull it over the intended draw weight.

During tillering a bow should be treated like you plan on shooting it. Any more draw weight pulled or unnecessary time held is going to be extra damage to the wood cells

I once had the T stick break. The bow gave me a nice bump on my head. I burned the t stick and made a nice portable top and pulley.

Nails driven into a board can work their way out.

Y'all are much braver than I am. I have no desire to get my head near a bow under construction while at full draw.

Jawge

Ah come on, Jawge...

Where is your sense of adventure? LOL

I shoot a video with my camera and pull to full draw.
Then I use  Windows live movie maker and get a snap shot at full draw to post for you guy's.

You could do the same at any part of the draw.

Been  8 hours now.. Lose the camera?

Look in the sock drawer.            
Dave.

A tiller stick and even a tiller tree holds the bow statically. Have someone take a full draw pic with you drawing the bow by hand. That will give you a more accurate depiction of the state of your bow than a static hold.

Good one, Pat.
I call it digi tillering.  
Jawge