Need help with bowyers knot

[osage outlaw]

For the life of me, I can't make a good bowyers knot.  It looks like such a simple knot, but mine always loosen, or twist in the string grooves so the string isn't centered with the limb.  This is really aggravating me.  I feel I am a halfway smart individual.  I have been tying my own shoes for several years now.  I should be able to figure this out.  When I am tillering a bow, I tie loops in the string at one end.  When I am ready to shorten the string, it takes me forever to get the loop undone so I can tie it shorter.  I spend more time messing with the string than tillering the bow.  I have 4 bows ready to tiller so I want to figure this out.  Can someone please take some detailed pictures with directions.

[JW_Halverson]

Ditto!

[jham]

Im not sure right off which one it was but there is a video on youtube that shows very clearly how to tie it, will try to find it and post the link after the kids are asleep.

[MWirwicki]

Try these two pics.  Knot1 then Knot2.  These two steps work for me.  If they don't hold for you, then add Knot3.  What I also do is swing the tail end to the back of the bow so that it is pinched between the bow back and the first loop from Knot1.

[sharpend60]

Dress the knot around the nock.

Tie yer knot.
Then align it and pull tight. Not the tail, the working end.

Adjust, then pull er tight again.

That aught to do it.

[jham]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ooh-uT6GQ&feature=related

here is the video I mentioned earlier, hope it helps

[M-P]

I've had some strings tied on with a bowyer's knot work the first time and remain solid for years.   I've had others that seemed to slip, little  by little.   And, a few that start slipping right away.   I'm not sure what the difference is, but my observation is that linen has a more secure bowyer's knot than B50.   Thicker strings seem to slip less often than thinner ones and there can definitely be too much wax.
I've taken to using a different knot if there's any slipping.  I take two turns around the bight and then lay the tail along the loop.
Ron

[Grunt]

Google up Timber Hitch.

[crooketarrow]

  Along time ago I just started useing longer strings. I dosn't have to be any sertin lenth as long as it's long than the bow. Tiller until a brace string will fit(short string).

[osage outlaw]

Thanks for the help.  I'm going to watch the video and study the pics before I head out to do some tillering.  I have a family 4 pack of bows to work on.  One for my wife, daughter, son, and of course one for me

[osage outlaw]

I got it   Thanks for the help.  That makes tillering go much faster. 

[John K]

What Grunt said...i love the Timber Hitch/Bowyers knot it's all i use now 

[Pat B]

A bowyers knot on a B-50 string is all I've used for years. Sometimes it slips but usually once a string is broken in it holds fast. Too much wax can help it slip too. You need enough wax but not too much. 

[dwardo]

For long string tiller have started to use a loop at each end a double truckers knot in the middle. Sound complicated but its pretty simple. It keeps the long string tight and is much faster to undo/redo. Will post a pic if anyone wants to try.

[hillbilly61]

No mater how much I try, I too have the same problem. Gonna watch the video after while. Then try the truckers knot, which sounds like a good idea.