And I diverge .............

[mdeland]

I wish I knew enough about puters to help Glen cause I really want to see your bows and arrows. My son showed me how to do it once set up but I have no clue as to how to advise you. Perhaps a kid or grand kid could set you up for pictures. I take mine with a digital camera which records it on a SD card then transfer it to the puter via an adapter which plugs into the side of the puter and down loads to the forum.

[Kurt]

I can't figure out how to post a picture...I use Tung oil also but for authentic looking bows I use fat...Bacon fat does a good job...Bear grease would probably be better.

Well Bear and hogs are in the same family string........

[mdeland]

This is the chute line (550) cord, tillering string. I exercised the limbs 25-30 times before drawing to 20 inches and took the photo. It looks perfect to me but I don't really have much experience at this. What do you fellas think? So far I cannot detect any set.
I guess I'll need more bend to tell much unless you can see something I'm missing.

[mdeland]

I'm thinking I see some stiffness in about 8-10 inches from the left tip.

[Kurt]

If you have room make square horizontal lines from the plumb vertical. It's hard to see with the naked eye if you want it precise.
What is the draw weight?

[mdeland]

Great Idea, I'll make a back board with the grids behind! I haven't put the scale on it yet for draw weight until I get some of the tiller worked out.

[Kurt]

I would run a string across the bow nocks with it drawn like you have it I'm the photo and use a framing square if you don't nave one of those clamp on T gauge squares for putting on brass nocking points. I like using the clamp on T squares.

[mdeland]

Well, I think I have her tillered about as well as a beginner can. I took off a fair amount of wood and learned that tiller not only involves arch but twist. Never read or saw this before on any of my research. When the bow was strung I noticed the tips twisting off to one side a bit on both ends then got to looking at the cross section profile and could see it was thicker back to belly on one side more than was the other. Ever eager to learn something new I began to scrape on the thick side of the cross section profile while also working on the arch and sure enough it flattened out laterally as well as smoothing the bend in a stiff area of the arch.
I think this was a result of not having a plainer to make the lamination's perfectly uniform at the glue up. I just used my table saw to make them.
I haven't taken it to full draw yet but it reads about 38 lbs of draw weight at 26 inches. My draw length is 27-28 inches so it will probably wind up at about 42 lbs at full draw which should make it a good back yard target bow. I like about 45 lbs for a hunting bow weight.
It is showing some set when the string first comes off but seems to recover some after a bit on it's own.
I'm still a long ways from being a Bowyer but it's still fascinating to learn a new skill. And the best part is it didn't blow up on me...............................yet!

[Kurt]

That gets to be a problem even in a flat bow when you put a reflex in it. I had one when I draw it it would twist. I cured that by clamping it in a vise and clamped a pipe wrench on the weak spot and let the weight of the handle bring it back over night. The twist in the wood grain I think causes this.

[Kurt]

Mike,
What direction did you place your broth rings? Vertical, flat or diagonal ?

All this bow making made me drag mine back out I only have one now a Browning recurve I have had about 45-50 years It's a 47# at 26". and a cross bow I got just after shoulder reconstruction for Deer hunting because of the pain drawing the bow or a very loud pop from the shoulder drawing the bow.
I have had several compounds up to a 80# pull but they never really appealed to me. I made long bows from round Bamboo, Maple, Red Oak and Lemon wood and in time they all broke or got weak.
I haven't shot a bow in many years now and I shot instinctive with out sights and I was able to pretty much keep it in a cigarette pack size at 20 yards just bring it up while drawing and let it fly. I looked out in the shed and found some aluminum arrows still in a 4" PVC pipe stand out most of the veins are shot off
The next trip to the lumber yard I will pick up some dowels and make some new once. It's a lot faster using them then straightening and scraping branches

[mdeland]

What are broth rings! I'm a newby remember? Glad to see your getting your stuff out again. Pictures please!

[Aviator]

Growth rings, maybe?

[mdeland]

Oh duh, thanks Aviator, I'm kind of slow on the up take at times. The growth rings on the hickory are quarter sawed (correct lay out) but on the Ipe all I could get is plank sawed so the belly wood in vertical grain run which so far seems to be working. I was worried that it might split out where the grain runs out to the edge on the Pyramid taper. I am wondering about how this will effect set in the bow. I was thinking it might be an advantage in this regard but will have to see how it works out over time and use.

[mdeland]

I'll final sand to 320 grit probably tomorrow , seal it twice with the polyurethane and top it off with several rubbed in coats of Tru-oil. Should be finished and ready to shoot by next week.
I've got to get busy on a bullet nose die for a friend but when that is done I'm going to get going on a Comanche style horse bow I want to try and then another Pyramid Hickory/Ipe laminated bow for my grand daughter.
Got to get going on arrow making as well,probably next winter with that.
I still have that 44 Stevens on the hook in the shop window begging to be rebuilt so there is plenty to keep occupied with in the near future.

[Glen Ring]

I had built a dozen or so really nice bows from Osage staves and given them as gifts. Horn or bone tip reinforcements, cane wrapped handles and most had snake skin on the back. As most of us know...tree to stave to bow takes MONTHS of drying, planning, Planeing , sanding and pure love.

Then folks started coming up to me saying " I think I'll let you make me a bow'..and " If I buy some wood will you make me a bow?". They all wanted this done for free of course..so I started retorting. " sure, sounds great and I'll buy you a hammer and let you build me a house!"