Vine Maple Tillering help

[Flashman]

I've been here before.  I just strung the bow for the first time and the upper limber (longer limb) is stiffer than the lower.  The area just up from the handle is flat but the corresponding part on the lower limb has a very nice slight bend.  In fact the tiller on the lower limb is pretty good right now.  In the past,  I usually keep playing with the upper limb using a tillering tree and stick to gauge the bend but end up with an unrepairable hinge or mess up the parallel relationship between the handle and the string.

This is vine maple.  It isn't straight and has bumps and dips which makes a real nice looking bow but it also for me is more difficult to make a bow.  The key factor for me is price--it is free.  Someone told me the tiller at full draw is more important than strung or partially drawn as long as the limbs are balanced.  My concern however I can't pull the bow to full draw because it is much too heavy, maybe 75 to 85 #'(thank goodness), and I don't want to pull beyond the target weight of 57 to 60 #'s.  Is full draw tiller the real measure of proper tiller?  Any suggestions on how to get there without over pulling the bow? 

Thanks.

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, full draw is the key. I'm not sure I understand your other question. But...begin reducing the limbs. If you feel the tiller is good scrape from both limbs the whole way and check tiller. Keep checking.  I don't hit target weight until about 24-25 in. I draw 26 in. The easiest thing for a beginner to do is pull to target weight and stop But the tiller must be good. Remove wood and continue. Mpre on my site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/

[Flashman]

At rest, in a normal braced condition with 5.5 inch brace height, the top limb is stiffer, ie, is straighter.  The distance between the belly and the string at corresponding locations on both limbs finds most of the distance shorter for the upper limb.  Should I ignore this and focus on the (eventual) full draw tiller?

[Gordon]

No you should not ignore it. Try to even the limbs up a bit or you will strain one limb more than the other during tillering which may result in more set.

[El Destructo]

Yeah...what Gordon said....work on that now...before it harms things down the Road...Slow and Steady......JMO

[Flashman]

Gordon,

thanks for the input.  I have been very slowly playing with it since early this morning and the upper limb is coming into shape.  What is different this time for me is that I have a lot more weight (wood) to play with.  I usually get the bow down to the weight I want, then start final tillering and have a too light of bow or mistakes I can't correct.

[George Tsoukalas]

Can you show some photos? Jawge