Tillering when bow is strung

[Bob Barnes]

once I get the tiller pretty even, I leave the string on, mark any stiff spots, scrape the marks off, pull it 25 times on the tiller tree, and then repeat until within 5#...then I sand.... but... WATCH THE STRING.. 

[Pat B]

Bowyers knot aka timber hitch. 

[DC]

I have a scraper handle with a smooth back and once I'm low braced that's all I use.

[bow101]

I did a search thinking this question has probably been asked but didn't find anything, I was wondering if I can tiller with the string on??? It would save a little time of destring constantly. This is my first bow so I'm moving pretty slow with the tiller stage, taking only a tiny bit of wood each time. Of course I wouldn't keep strung for long periods of time, but it would expedite my excruciating slow process I'm on.

This would be for fine tuning, just getting the limbs to bend evenly not reducing large amounts of draw weight.

Thanks.

This is exactly what I did today.  Tiller check on the stick then clamp the bow and remove material, easy peasy.............

[simson]

Yes do this all the time. But tiller should be nearly o.k.

[Chad]

Bowyers knot aka timber hitch. 

got it, Thanks! I'm waiting for my Dacron to arrive!

[4dog]

I hate to be the guy to do this, but why shouldn't you tiller with the string on? I've only made a half dozen bows and all of them I've tillered with the string on from low brace to finished. They seem OK but what do I know. Other than accidentally cutting the string what problems can it cause?
Thanks
Don

noticed noone answered this.... .....bet everyone does it...more than they will say...might give ya a bit of set but not gonna kill the bow.

[Pappy]

Sometimes for final tweaks,but not normally early in the process, you said it will speed you up and I guess you are right but you need to remember ,it ant a race,slow and steady,removing the string gives you time to think and also gives the bow a little rest.
 Pappy

[kleinpm]

As soon as I can fit a scraper between the string and the bow I only un string to shorten the string or when I stop working on it of the day. I hold the scraper so my hand is between the top of the scraper and the string and only scrape from the tip to towards the belly. I haven't cut a string yet.

Patrick

[DavidV]

Make sure you excercise the bow a LOT, I do this but I've found if you don't excercise it you may end up with a hinge where you scraped too much.

[DC]

Remember that when you exercise the bow you are also exercising yourself. By the time you finish that 75# bow you might actually be able to pull it