Author Topic: How did "primitives" tiller? (Read 11745 times)

DuBois · « **on:** December 11, 2013, 02:10:42 am »

I recently tillered my kids bows over my knee and it got me wondering how it was done before all the pulleys and trees and such.
Anybody still doing it purely aboriginal or primitive on here?
Thanks in advance, M. Doob

DuBois · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2013, 02:40:20 am »

And also, do you think it effected the designs due to things like no vice or scraper of steel, or do you just think it slowed them down some and maybe made them better bowyers in having time to think more with the slower process?

sleek · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2013, 05:22:42 am »

Im willing to bet that they just had an experienced dude to the side as they went full draw with a bit of charcoal from the fire pit to show where it was bending too much... Or, as I like to do, have an assistant pull it back while I look.

Pappy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2013, 05:40:00 am »

By eye and feel I am sure.

Pappy

Badger · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2013, 06:19:12 am »

Most of them proably lived in tribes like twin oaks and had old experienced guys like Pappy showing them how to do it.

dwardo · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2013, 06:48:15 am »

By eye and feel as Pappy says. To draw the bow so the master could check tiller would be the apprentices job I rekon

PEARL DRUMS · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2013, 07:56:31 am »

The same way me and my friends do when we gather. The builder pulls the bow to a draw length and all his buddy's look at it and a decision is made based on what we all see. That is 10x more effective than any tree or single set of eyes and my best tillered bows came from our gatherings.

Gsulfridge · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2013, 08:09:05 am »

Why don't we just ask Pappy and see?

Pappy · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2013, 08:30:32 am »

we do it by eye and feel now,after it is getting fairly close.

Pappy

blackhawk · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2013, 08:35:30 am »

Gee....sounds like I'm gonna have to wait till beginning of may when I see pappy next to build a bow so I can get his approval of my bend

burchett.donald · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2013, 09:15:48 am »

halfeye (Rich) bends his over his knee during the whole process, even heat bends over his knee. You would probably be surprised at how they tillered . They may in fact have used what we call floor tiller and came very close to a finished bow. And probably as sleek mentioned there were probably a few that excelled and done many bows for people.

Del the cat · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2013, 09:30:13 am »

Same as us... by eye and feel. All the rest (photos, video 'MS paint' etc), is just stuff to aid the eye...
Del

NeolithicMan · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2013, 09:45:06 am »

I would guess with a knowledgable friend at first, maybe watching shadows of the curve, could have made a real primitive leverage system. tree branches to rest the bow on and an antler tine wedged near the base and thats your "pully" system... I have no basis for this what so ever

Pappy · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2013, 09:52:59 am »

Might be a good idea Chris.

$:-\$

Pappy

NeolithicMan · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2013, 09:55:47 am »

Didnt most tribal societies have a specialist system. a bowyer, a fletcher, a material gatherer etc. I would bet there was a master bowyer and others learned basics. Ishi made his own bows and arrows but I would think that was out of necessity being there were about 5 people in his group (not sure how many were found with him). maybe the hunters/warriors need to learn more techniques to be able to fix any issues while out on a hunt or during a long excursion of some sort... again no basis except speculation, correct me as needed!

Primitive Archer