This bow is from a tricky maple stave. I'm pretty sure its big leaf maple, it was a small tree (4inch diameter) that was being removed from under the
power lines.
The naturual curvature of the stave presents some problems for tillering.
Last year when I cut the stave, I worked it down, and scrapped off what I though was too much --to the point that it was going to be a light weight bow. I was frustrated, and I left it for a year. I picked it up again recently and decided that even if it is going to be a light bow, it will be an excellent lesson in tillering.
I decided to try and steam out the convex bend in the upper limb (in the above picture). My steaming system is pretty crude (a big pot and some tin foil- when the wife is not around).
My clamping system is even more crude.
But all in all it worked pretty well. I will get a side profile up ASAP.
What I'm having trouble with (as far as tillering) is that since there is some reflex at mid limb in both limbs, the bow SEEMS to bend much more right near the handle when first drawn, so that it SEEMS like more wood needs to be removed at mid limb.
BUT when the bow is drawn farther it starts to evens out. Unfortunatly I figured that out the hard way. Now the tiller is all over the place, with flat spots and overly bendy spots.
Looks to me like I need to take more wood off just before mid limb on the left side. BUT I have removed a lot of woof from that spot, and it is definitely thinner then the corresponding spot on the right limb, but it is still bending less. Yes, I know that makes no sense, but there you have it folks.
Well, I'm taking a break for the night, if anyone has any sage advice about this type of problem I'm all ears.
The naturual curvature of the stave presents some problems for tillering.
Last year when I cut the stave, I worked it down, and scrapped off what I though was too much --to the point that it was going to be a light weight bow. I was frustrated, and I left it for a year. I picked it up again recently and decided that even if it is going to be a light bow, it will be an excellent lesson in tillering.
I decided to try and steam out the convex bend in the upper limb (in the above picture). My steaming system is pretty crude (a big pot and some tin foil- when the wife is not around).
My clamping system is even more crude.
But all in all it worked pretty well. I will get a side profile up ASAP.
What I'm having trouble with (as far as tillering) is that since there is some reflex at mid limb in both limbs, the bow SEEMS to bend much more right near the handle when first drawn, so that it SEEMS like more wood needs to be removed at mid limb.
BUT when the bow is drawn farther it starts to evens out. Unfortunatly I figured that out the hard way. Now the tiller is all over the place, with flat spots and overly bendy spots.
Looks to me like I need to take more wood off just before mid limb on the left side. BUT I have removed a lot of woof from that spot, and it is definitely thinner then the corresponding spot on the right limb, but it is still bending less. Yes, I know that makes no sense, but there you have it folks.
Well, I'm taking a break for the night, if anyone has any sage advice about this type of problem I'm all ears.
