Recurve help!!!!!

[Bearded bowyer]

Hi everyone.
Untill now I've just made longbows/flatbow/pyramid bows........but never a recurve!

So here we go, Ive got no Idea what to do really and lots of questions!

This is just some timber laminated together with the tips in reflex. Havnt got the faintest idea how to tiller it.
The bottom limb is the one with less flex when strung, should they be even? I've seen MANY bows of this type where the bottom limb looks just like this. Looks wrong to me.

Not sure what to do next.....

[PEARL DRUMS]

Scrape the entire right limb 12-15 times and it will even right out. Remember limbs are playing tug-o-war with each other when the bow is braced. The left looks to round but every stroke you take on the right limb will soften that left limb, just think tug-o-war.

[Bearded bowyer]

Thanks Pearl
Ok she's even now......
For the tiller, is it just a case of carefully getting the entire limb working, or is most of the movement in the fades?
How much should the tips flatten out?
And........what should the brace height generally be?

sorry for all the questions

Matt

[PEARL DRUMS]

5" is a good starting point to brace your bow. Yes, the entire limb needs to bend evenly, use a straight edge on the belly of the bow when its drawn out to 16-18" to see flat spots. Mark them and scrape those spots only until the gap is even from fade to tip. Leave the last 6" of each limb alone, you don't want your recurves uncurling and staying that way.

[blackhawk]

Pearlys giving ya good advice...if ya glued those up straight you def overstressed it..I can tell by how much set and where it took set...that one limbs fade area took a lil more there than anywhere else and more than it should've....you def pulled it to far before it was ready to pull and brace that far....tillering a recurve is no different than any other bow...don't overcomplicate it...

[Bearded bowyer]

Your right Balckhawk
I got a bit over excited as it was just scrap wood glued together, and didn't bother with a long string first  Just strung it to brace height and started to muck about with it.
Ok
so tiller the bow exactly the same as a normal bow, but just leaving the re-curves alone. and stiff handle section
I cant believe I didn't think of that....its so obvious.
Its a really rough build as I'm just experimenting on it, but I've got the limbs bending well. I will post a pic of it on the tiller tomorrow, but be warned it really isn't pretty, so no close ups 

Thanks again chaps

[blackhawk]

Glad ya learned something here just make sure to apply it next time

[Bearded bowyer]

Just for interest sake. Its too rough to spend any more time on, so this is it as far as I can be bothered to go with it.
Going to glue up some decent timber and start another one, without getting too exicted.
slow and steady.....
Feel free to say everything you think anything needs improving......about the bow 
Constructive criticism is always very welcome
Thanks
Matt

[half eye]

Nothing wrong with that full draw bend, the proof should be in the arrow speed and flight,
rich