tillering for 31" draw length?

[cryostallion]

hello everyone,
i have been asked to build a bow for a friend who has a draw of about 31".  i'll be making it about 45-50#.  does anybody have experience making bows for this long of a draw, and if so, do they have any tips (or warnings!)?
thanks
-pat

[George Tsoukalas]

Yes, I built an osage bow for a friend who has a 33" draw. Don't be afraid to make the bow long enough. Length depends on the wood. What wood will you be using? I made his bow about 72 in ntn from osage. Jawge

[cryostallion]

hi george
i plan on 72", and will make it from either a red oak board or a white ash stave.  i am a beginner and am wondering if i need to watch out for anything special when tillering for such a long draw.

[Stingray45]

I would try to use as much of the 72" as possible. If you're just starting out keep the limbs wider and make the handle short or you can have it bend through the handle. Just go slow with it, you should be fine. I don't think it will be as difficult as you think. I have a draw just a hair under 28" so I make all my bows for 28" but I tiller my bows out to 30" or 31" just so I have some extra leeway and feel safe that if for whatever reason I over draw that I'm confident that the bow has been drawn that far before.

[crooketarrow]

  From what I read thats long for a broad bow but I've never built a board bow maybe backed. I 've built a few a 30 and 31 but again these were osage. But like others have said keep it long say 66 to 72 you'll should be ok.

[Parnell]

Gotta young guy that built one with me that went to 34".  The bow was 72".  He's 6'11".  It was a hickory board that we heat treated and backed with silk, had a stiff handle.  Nothing different otherwise.

[cryostallion]

thanks for all the tips everyone. 

parnell- was the hickory board you used 3/4" thick to start with?

[toomanyknots]

"Yes, I built an osage bow for a friend who has a 33" draw. Don't be afraid to make the bow long enough. Length depends on the wood. What wood will you be using? I made his bow about 72 in ntn from osage. Jawge"

Woah. Thats a long drawing 72" bow. Hell ya George.

"Gotta young guy that built one with me that went to 34".  The bow was 72"."

MAN. You guys are killin me. That is a lonng drawin 72" bow! 

"From what I read thats long for a broad bow but I've never built a board bow maybe backed."

I made a red oak pyramid bow that pulled to 32". It weighted 60# @ 28". Don't know what it pulled at 32". It easily pulled to 32" though and would probably go farther, but it was 76" long and a perfect pyramid taper, 5/8" thick and 2 1/2" tapered to half an inch. 

[bubby]

this is a hickory board bow 70" ntn his draw was 30 1/2", tillered out to 33" for a little protection, he's a new shooter tiller is tiller, dont change just for a long draw, Bub