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Tillering horn bow?

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lauderw55:
Hi I am new to horn bows and was interested in making my first one but have a few questions. I have made self bows and wooden bows and know how to tiller those but not real sure how to tiller horn bows. Everywhere I look (Internet/traditional bowyers bible) it says it is done by heat and pressure and not by removing the horn on the belly. So I guess my question is is there a more detailed description on how to tiller the horn now? Or there any videos on the Internet that show this process? Any info would be appreciated thanks!

loon:
From what I've read online: sometimes you do have to scrape horn in the belly to help tiller it, or to balance it. An even tiller isn't as necessary with horn bows because it can take a lot more stress than wood.

ChristopherHwll:
It depends on the construction of the horn bow itself.  Horn bows are not all alike, so the way they are built determines the number of options one has to tiller.  You can tiller by heat and pressure in order to not remove any material which is usually ideal as the horn is the most work and least available material.  You can add or remove sinew on the back as well, or you can remove horn on the belly. Most horn bows are pre-tillered in some fashion before the main sinew application in order to minimize the final necessary tillering after sinew is added. If this is the case it is useful to add a single layer of sinew in order to protect the back and not risk breaking the bow during this step.  If the bow's core/belly is a uniform thickness or very thin as with Korean horn bows then you want to try not to remove from the belly at all.  If you are building a solid horn (no wood core) and sinew bow then it is possible to use all three methods of tillering to your liking.  I would say choose a style that you would like to build and that should help you with what options you have.

lauderw55:
Ok thanks for the help. But when you say heat and pressure are u mean you just hear it up and bend it the way you want?

ChristopherHwll:
Yes but go slow and do not try to get all of it at once.  Too much heat can cook the glue and sinew weakening it. Only just enough heat to help it along is needed.  Most horn bows are "worked" up to their draw lengths with numerous small increasing pulls.  Some of the middle eastern bows use forms for their limbs to be bent over while stringing.  If you pre-tiller your limbs, before you evenly sinew back, you should already be close to an even tiller.  So the amount of heating would be minimal.  Heat tillering is uniquely different for every horn bow but that is the basic idea. 

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