Cherokee, you can put a string on it anytime. All the long string is doing is basically showing floor tiller of both limbs at the same time. If they are bending you can string them. Just be aware of how far you are pulling and the current weight of the bow. I recently finished a yew bow that I took right from slight floor tiller to short string. Personally I go to short string as fast as possible without compromising tiller.
Carve the belly flat and the sides perpendicular. This will create sharp edges. Every time you want to pull on the string just relieve those edges with a several strokes of the scraper so that they are somewhat relieved, not necessarily rounded. When you are getting close to full tiller and desired draw weight round those edges more. And when you are sanding the belly use two thumbs just off of center of the limb, leaving the center untouched initially. this will curve the belly slightly to those now rounded edges. It will look better.
Run the sandpaper over the edge where the back drops over the side too, just don't round the back like you did the belly.
