Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: leapingbare on December 05, 2007, 03:16:41 am
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So last week i had a new bow on the tillering Bord checking the tiller for the 1st time.. and i was trying my best to get the string to the next slot and *SNAP!* The string broke sending the bow flying into my face!!
I ended up getin 5 stitches in my bottom lip and my gums were bruised for 3 days :-[
SO if you have done this please let me know because i feel like a big dumb dumb, and if your just getting started Don't hold your face over the bow when its on your tillering Bord :-\
Leapingbare...
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It's a first for me. That doesn't mean you're dumb. In fact it takes a certain talent to be the first to mess up. Dumb is when you've seen it happen before and still do it ;D
A quote I saw attributed to Will Rogers went something like " A genius will think about something and avoid mistakes the first time. A smart man learns from other's mistakes. Most of us just have to piss on the electric fence ourselves." Ron
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I have had them break and go flying and also had them flip on the tiller stick but
so far no injuries.Hope you heal up quick.I am always pretty careful when working
on a new bow while tillering and also while stringing.I have had them pop off the nock
and almost hit me in the eye so now I always turn my head and try and keep it out of
the way. :)
Pappy
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Calling Jawge........... ;D ;D
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I designed a tillering board that lies on the ground and has a fork in the end to hold the bow's handle securely and slightly recurved notches so the string can't slip out. I sit behind the bow's belly to pull the string back rather than pushing it down from in front of the bow. If you're worried about the bow breaking and limbs flying back towards you, you might want to put a heavy pillow or folded-up blanket on top of them when pulling the bow back so there's something to lessen their movement if a limb breaks. You can take the pillow or blanket off when taking measurements or studying tiller, once you're confident there's no risk of breakage.
I also radically "over-build" my tillering string, and serve the ends and the spot where the string will rest across the notches on my tillering board so that the string doesn't fray and break. All good insurance policies again accidents, I figure...
-Eric
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Calling Jawge........... ;D ;D
That is exactly what I was thinking. Tell them George. ;D ;D ;D Justin
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LOL, Hillbilly. Glad you are ok, leaping. I had a tillering board break. The bow conked me on the head. Must have knocked a tiny bit of sense in me because now I use a rope and pulley. Check my site. Jawge
http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/archer.html
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Hey, leapingbare
Where did the string break? At the nock end? What sort of tillering string are you using?
I use an 18 strand fastflight endless loop tillering string, with padded ends and middle serving. Overkill? Maybe, but it's NOT going to break!!
Get yourself a pully system on your tiller tree, so you can step back away from danger if something lets go. I also clamp my nonbending handle bows on the tree, so they don't come flying off.
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I like clothesline rope for a tillering string. Not gonna break.
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Man i Got Lazy and just used a string off a finished bow..
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That is why I use a tillering tree rather than a stick. I have had strings let go but I was safely outta the way when it happened. I thank Jawge for that advice
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Strings aren't the only thing that breaks. Bow splinters can be more dangerous. That is why George has been telling all of us for years to get a tree and get out of the way. Justin
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I've had a pine bow explode, there were pieces falling for a few minutes. I was going for a very lightweight tillering practice bow.
Sean
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Ah,yes pain is an excellent teacher. Hasnt happend to me,I use parachute cord for tillering. However I do have super glue handy,seem to get cut on occasion,like after putting a edge on a draw knife.Gotta respect this stuff at all times! Auggie.
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Yeah my tree encapsolates the handle area and has pulleys so I can opull it from 6-10ft back and get a good view of the tiller as well as be out of the line of fire. I read early on of the tiller stick dangers and I figured I would over build it because I'm the kind of guy that if something is sticking out for me to bang my head on, trust me the ole noggin will find it. Danny
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I had an incident with a tiller stick, I made it free standing like a coat rack, I was pulling the bow out on it when a limb broke
got clonked on the head and the other end swung and whacked me also. Now I have a tree, another thing I do on a regular basis is sand my fingertips on my belt sander ::)
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The ol' double whammy, Dana. No fun.
I build my tree when a little voice inside was saying "build me now." I trust my instincts. And making the tree was easier than making the tillering stick with all those notches.
Dane
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man.. I have always looken by the bow when tillering, having my head right next to or on top of the bow. I think I will stop now. Here is a link to a finnish forum where the topic is almost the same. in the pic where there are 2 pieces in the sealing, a guy was tillering a bow and boom! 2 about 8 inch pieces stuck to the wooden sealing. :o
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I use a tree, but it's not foolproof, either if something breaks or slips. The first one I made, I didn't use long enough woodscrews to put it together with. I had a bow pulled to about 26" when the faceplate pulled off the tillering tree, the bow shot across the shop and bounced off the ceiling and wall. At least with a tree, you're standing further away. I was lucky that the bow didn't come flying in my direction. I never realized until then just how much energy is stored in a drawn bow. I clamp my bow to the tree when I'm tillering now.
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That is a funny story Hillbilly. I had a bow break on the tree and half of the bow ended up sticking in the ceiling. I'm glad I was standing 8' away. Justin
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This thread is seriously good to read though. No one needs to feel dumb about a breaking or slipping bow, and a tree and some caution is always good insurance. One bow slipped off my tree, and I went the other way. Now I brace myself before pulling on the rope. And eye protection is not a bad idea either.
Anyone care to share a photo of how they clamp the bow to the tree? I think that is a great idea.
Dane