Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: DC on March 10, 2015, 07:36:51 pm
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When I started tillering I had 3 7/8" reflex. It held for a bit of tillering and now I noticed it's lost 1/16" of reflex. Now I know that 1/16" is nothing to worry about but it does mean that it's taking a bit of set somewhere. How do I tell where the set is coming from? I don't see any hinging. I'm not even to brace yet. I would like to keep it to a minimum.
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Draw the unbraced full profile onto something. Now just check against it.
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And if the set keeps increasing but I can't pin it down to one spot then I'm probably OK? Like I said I'm OK with some set. :)
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It just gets distributed throughout the working portions if your tillering is even.
One thing that never seems to be mentioned is whether the reflex is real or dried in. People always say that loss of dried in reflex is set but it doesn't really reflect the true nature of the wood.
It's just the wood going back to the way it was in tree form.
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Don't worry about 1/16". Jawge
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I was going to say 1/16?
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1/16 is too small to even start looking. You can get that much just floor tillering.
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It just gets distributed throughout the working portions if your tillering is even.
One thing that never seems to be mentioned is whether the reflex is real or dried in. People always say that loss of dried in reflex is set but it doesn't really reflect the true nature of the wood.
It's just the wood going back to the way it was in tree form.
I've wondered about this. OS, like VineMaple seems to pull itself into reflex as it dries. The back shrinking I guess. So I should expect some or all of that "reflex" to go away as I bend it?
For everyone that was wondering about the 1/16". I said in the original post that I knew it was nothing to worry about but it was an indication that something was happening. It's taken an inch of "set" since then. My OS seems to do this. I'll have to let it dry longer even though it's found equilibrium for over a month.
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Never seen a wood bow that didn't take set, just a matter of keeping it to a minimum. ;)
Pappy
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I have always been under the impression that anything less than 1.5" is a success.
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I have always been under the impression that anything less than 1.5" is a success.
Sounds a good rule of thumb to me...
Del
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yes but depending on where you live,, the moisture content might be high in the stave,,
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DC, how far in the tillering are you?
Jawge
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IMO, the best way to see where the set is coming from is to look in a mirror. ;)
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IMO, the best way to see where the set is coming from is to look in a mirror. ;)
Nail on it's proverbial head! ;D
I always draw the bows side profile onto my tillering board before even starting tillering. It really, really helps in pinning down where the set is.
I agree 1/16th ain't much but it's an indicator of what will happen further on down the process for certain.
I agree that just because the wood is at equilibrium doesn't mean it's ready to make a bow.
EMC is determined by a combination of temperature and relative humidity. For me, at the moment EMC is about 18%..... = not good! Lot's of set!
Try hotboxing it for a few days. Weigh it accurately before it goes into the box then keep weighing it evry day or so to see whats going on.
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3 Things cause set. Same will cause string follow.
YOUR SAVES NOT SEASON ENOUGH. OR IT'S PICKING UP RELITIVE HUMMITY. BEWTEEN THE TIMES YOU WORK IT.
YOUR DESIGNS WRONG FOR THE WOOD. OR TYPE BOW YOUR BUILDING.
THE TILLERINGS OFF.
I can keep osage 0 to 1/2" SETby doing a couple things. Where your at relates to the climites relitive hummity. No matter the type wood. When I get to wher I start beening the limbs. I put the bow in a hot box 20 min's. 1/2 hour. This gets rid of any relitive hummity the outer surface wood picked up. EXSPECIALLY WHITE WOODS.
To tell where the sets coming from eliminate each of the 3 steps. You so find out where your sets coming from.
But in the real world a 1 1/2 makes a good smooth,hard shooter. When I started building bows I trived to keep in to a inch. Throught the years the amounts just naturallys gotten littler.
It's a must to use the right design to type of bow and type of wood.
Your tillering only gets better with doing it by tillering bows. There was years I could be in my shop every night.
I give you the advice I got when I started buliding bows SLOW DOWNNNNNNNNNNN WHEN IT COMES TO TILLERING.
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"Set happens!" :)
Jawge
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Take a picture before you start tillering. On a flat bow, if you do your tillering job right the set will occur from mid limb out where the width taper starts, it has to.
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Here are a few pics showing what Im talking about, kind of. The pic on our countertop is hot off the caul, the pic on my shop wall is after being shot several dozen times. You can see that the first 16" looks the same and the wee bit of set that occurred happened beyond that point. Maybe this doesn't help at all.
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Hey Pearlie... that huge set! You should be ashamed and quit making bows immediately ;) >:D
But seriously, that's a perfect illustration of what to expect :)
Del
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About 1" from mid limb to the tips is what I lost. Im sure over the next 500 shots it may give up another 1/2-3/4". Ill accept that at this length, weight and draw.