Long string-short string

[Canerod]

I've got bow #2 bending nicely on the longstring    But when do I go to the short string? One more question for you, what kind of poundage can I expect out of red oak backed with linen? So far, I've been taking it to 40#, bow that's probably because that's about the weight #1 blew up at. I'd like to get 50-55# out of this one. Is that a reasonable expectation?

[El Destructo]

50 Pounds is reasonable out of Red Oak...just don't make it too skinny....1 1/2" wide or so.... I normally don't take it to a Short String until I get about 16-18 inches on the Long String...but everybody is different

[Lost Arra]

I go to a short string a little quicker than yankeetejas but like he said, everyone is different.

How far is "bending nicely" on a your long string?

[Canerod]

With the longstring shortened up as much as possible without bracing the bow, it's drawing to 16" and showing 42#. It's 71" ntn right now, so am I correct in assuming it'll take a 68" string?  And what amount of set is acceptable? As soon as I unstring it, each tip has 1" of follow.

[Lost Arra]

Don't worry about "draw" length right now. The bow is going to look different when strung and its limbs are going to bend differently.

When using a long string I look to get about 10" of tip movement primarily from inner limb bending at my draw weight or up to 10# over.

With a long string I am focusing on the inner limb movement and stiff outer limbs. The outer limbs are going to look much different when it's braced with a short string.

The more bows I make the less I use the long string.

[Canerod]

OK, I think I understand what you're saying. I'll check it and see how much movement I'm getting at the limb tip. Right now, the limbs are bending in a smooth arc. So I should focus on leaving the tips stiff and try to get the inner limbs bending more? As opposed to having the whole limb bend at this point in the tillering process. I'm going to read the chapter on tillering in TBB v.1 before I go any further tomorrow. Plus, I need to look in town for a set of scrapers.

Thanks for all of the help, I appreciate it immensely.

[sailordad]

you dont have to buy scrapers. look around you probably already own a bunch. pocket knives work well,old piece of steel will work just put an edge on it,piece of glass just watch your skin. or you can live on the dangerous side and use one of the wifes good butcher knives

or you can keep it cheap, i use a wallpaper scraper blade, i think a 4 pack cost me like 2 bucks or something and ive scraped alot of wood with them ( and i'm only on my second blade after 4 staves ) got them at home depot,they are flat and about 4 inches long and maybe 3/4 inches wide.


                                                                                       peace,
                                                                                            tim

[Pat B]

When I hit about 6" to 8" of tip movement with a long string I go to a short string and a 4" or so brace height. At this point I can see if the string is tracking properly and get a look at each and both limbs. From this point on, unless desperate measures are needed, I use only a scraper to tiller the bow. I still use a #49 rasp to true up the sides, etc but everything else is scraper work, exercise after wood removal and evaluation for the next move.
   I've made 2 hickory backed red oak bows(Home Depot). The first was a 1x2 made into an overbuilt(after Comstock) 68" bow, 2" wide most of the way out and tapering to 3/8" tips. This was an OK bow but nothing special. The second one is a 63 1/2",53#@28" hickory backed red oak pyramid style bow...2 1/2" at the fades with a straight taper to 3/8" tips. This bow is a screamer. I added about 3" of Perry reflex at glue up and it still holds about 1" relaxed. This bow has been shot by lots of folks with different shooting styles and draw lengths and is still keeping on. "Cinco de Mayo" is her name. I can't remember if I was drinking a Carona at the time or if it was May the 5th of both.     Pat

[Canerod]

Dang, I forgot about wallpaper/paint scrapers, Sailordad. I'll get one of those, but I'd still like to get a set of nice cabinet scrapers. Can't have too many tools, and I want to start making hexagonal rod cases, so they'd get used.

Pat B, I like the sound of that second bow. I've got a feeling that this first one won't be anything great, but it'll be my first    Did you get the backing lam at HD also, or someplace else?

Thanks guys!

[Pat B]

Kevin, I bought a hickory board elsewhere and cut my own backing strips.     Pat

[Pappy]

I'm with Pat on the long string,I get it to short brace as soon as I can,don't pull it just short brace to check everything and make sure it is all lined up,then go to the tiller tree an Inch at a time taking
care of any problems as I go.Slow and easy in the word. Keep us posted on how it is going. 
    Pappy

[Canerod]

OK Pappy, I got it, I think. I need to get a string made, since that's beyond me at this point. But I get it braced and then just take my time with it. Using a string the length of the bow (72"), It pulls 50# at 26", with a nice smooth, even curve. I've been leaving the last 8" of each tip alone, since they were bending a bit more than the rest of the limbs, and just focusing on the fades and middle sections. I remember a tillering gizmo someone posted somewhere, basically a 4" block of wood with a hole drilled for a pencil. Running it up and down the limb belly shows flat spots to be scraped down. Seems to work pretty good, at this point. I can see how addictive this is going to be   

[lowell]

  It's 71" ntn right now, so am I correct in assuming it'll take a 68" string?  

  Is this a good rule of thumb for string length on a longbow??....3" less than NTN??

[George Tsoukalas]

I go for ten inches of string movement and target weight. Then I string it. There is more on my site. Jawge
http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/directions.html

[El Destructo]

50 Pounds is reasonable out of Red Oak...just don't make it too skinny....1 1/2" wide or so.... I normally don't take it to a Short String until I get about 16-18 inches on the Long String...but everybody is different

Now this has been take wrong...this is 16-18 inches on the tree...not Limb Movement....I am looking at about 6-8 inches of Tip Movement...not 16 - 18 at the Tips....my Long String is about 9-10 inches longer than my Bows