Tiller advise and help with Osage bow

[Griffin027]

The bow is 60" t/t, 4" handle 1" wide, fades are 1 1/2" wide and carries that width 6" then tapers to 1/2" nocks. Fades are 1 1/2" long. I'm shooting for 50lbs at 28". This pic is 23". Outer left third seems stiff. Once I get it even at 24 should I reflex then get the handle slimmed down to bend through or vice versa?

[Del the cat]

I agree left mid to outer is a tad stiff... there seems to be a think patch, is this a knot? It doesn't take much extra thickness left round knots.
I would n't expect it to actually bend through the handle, but I think it could work a tad more towards the fades giving a longer working limb and more room to add reflex.
I'm assuming lower limb is to the left and thus a little extra stiffness in that limb is ok.
I don't do much reflex so I don't have any real advice on that other than, better to do too little at first and then add more if necessary, rather than going overboard on it.
Del

[SLIMBOB]

Get the limbs just outside the fades moving some.  Especially the left limb, right looks better.  That will give you less stress on the midlimb areas that are taking a pounding.  Then see if the outers need adjusting.  That's what I would do.

[Griffin027]

Del, thanks! Ya the left limb has several knots and right limb has none. Not sure what bottom limb will be yet.

Slimbob, I will get inner fades moving. Thanks for the tip. So what's your thoughts, is 60" bow capable of 50# @28 with stiff handle? Do I need to reflex the limbs?

[SLIMBOB]

1.  Yes on 28".  50lbs. You'll just have to see what you get, but it should work. 
2.  You dont "need" to reflex, but you can, and I would.  Not much.  Like Del said, I would flip them a bit and keep the last 4 inches or so stiff. Your on the edge length wise, but Osage can handle it.  It may take some set.  Get your tiller perfect.

I would get it bending right out of the fades.  Pretty much now.  That will give you some extra draw length.

[Griffin027]

Ok, thanks. I did as you said and rasped and scraped inner fades. And some scraping one that one outer third stiff limb. Here is the bow at 26". (Limbs are reversed from previous pic)

Should I stop here and reflex now or wait till I'm tillered to 28? Also how much reflex, how far from the tips should I start the reflex?

[SLIMBOB]

This is when you need to be precise.  Take your straight edge and run it along each limb and check the gap.  Scrape the flat areas lightly and leave the rest alone.  The right limb in this pic might be a tad stiff mid limb but let the straight edge tell you that.  Right fade could be loosened a bit as well.  Show an unbraced if you will.

I would get the tiller shape right and then reflex.  Have you tempered?  Are you planning to?  If so, temper and reflex would be my next step after you touch the tiller up.  Your tiller is really pretty close now.

[Griffin027]

Thanks so much. I hadn't planned on tempering and I don't have a heat gun either. At this point the bow prob gas roughly 1 3/4" to 2" of set, not so good, but it's my 1st with osage. I will tweak those spots this weekend. Where should my reflex begin in the limb and how far forward should I reflex. I will get pics of brace at this point.

[SLIMBOB]

A heat gun makes it easy, and they are pretty cheap.  I would temper, especially if it has taken 2 inches of set.  The tempering will allow you to remove the set and hardening the belly will keep at least some from returning. Your call, but It will make a difference.  You have another 2 inches to go before its at full draw and it will inevitably pick up more set by then.
Last 4 to 5 inches should be good on the tips.  Are you going to steam?  With a heat gun you can reflex, temper, remove the set and heat up your lunch all at the same time.

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks like you need to get ore of that near handle wood moving. I mark a nice dark pencil line at the end of the fades  and really look to get the wood beginning to bend there. Jawge

[Pappy]

Ant looking to bad right now, is your draw length really 28, I hear that all the time but most folks aren't even though they say it is, just asking. 28 for a 60inch non backed bow is asking about the limit to have a good low set reliable bow even with Osage. JMO.
 Pappy

[Griffin027]

Ya I knew it was pretty short but this stave wasn't long enough. My true draw length is 27 1/2" so I figured 28 will give me a little safety net.

[loon]

Is the right limb's outer limb in the last pic a bit stiff? and that limb stiffer overall than the left limb?
I haven't built any bows for real so be careful with what I say :p

[Griffin027]

Loon- ya that limb is stiff in the mid/outer third. It has knots all along it. This weekend I plan to fix that section and follow slimbobs advice with a straight edge. Prob get both sections right at the fades moving more too. Then aquire a heat gun and temper. How long after reflexing should I wait to resume tiller?

[bradsmith2010]

when you leave it pulled on the tree ,, it will take more set,, even 15 seconds is too long,, after you temper,, try setting up a pully so you dont have to leave it at full draw for more than a few seconds,,