Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Badger on January 06, 2016, 11:20:02 am
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The other day I was tillering out a 100# longbow. My tiller tree was blocked in so I set up a temporary tree on my workbench where it was just laying flat about waste high. I would use a winch to crank it back and then mark the bow where I needed to remove wood. I did most of the tillering at about 85# draw, I was nervous as hell standing in front of the drawn bow and realized I have no idea where the pieces fly when the bow breaks. I have broken countless bows on my tiller tree and the pieces just seem to go every direction. Now I am wondering if I should stand in front of the bow or behind it when I mark it. It all went well and didn't break but I am sure it will come up again soon.
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The ones that broke on me seemed like the outer limbs came back,(once the string was laying over my shoulder with just 4" of the limb tip in it), and the pieces handier to the break sprung forward.
I think it depends some on why and where it fails.
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I never really give it much thought when I am using my regular tiller tree
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Just quit breaking Steve :)
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Who knows, Badger?
I've broken enough to know I don't stand anywhere near a drawn bow under construction.
The one I remember going at full draw hit me in the head.
As for the tillering tree...
I stopped using that years ago when I had a t tree break.
I use a rope and pulley exclusively.
Jawge
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Jawge, a rope and pulley is what I call a tillering tree. I usually stand back abut 8 feet or so and pull the rope.
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Just quit breaking Steve :)
Friggin funny pearls
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If it breaks(clean) in two, one piece is in your hand(if you're holding it) the other(the tip) gets pulled by the string over your shoulder. If it breaks(clean) into three pieces, the additional piece is a shard that is propelled forward and is usually smaller than the other two. The third piece will be bow back on one side and the fragmented bow center on the other. If you refit the handle and tip section, the third piece would fit roughly centered over that break. I've only had this happen a couple times, usually with really unfit stave like dry rotted for example. I was really good at collecting bad staves and breaking them when I first started.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdTK26j3WdM
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The video was cool, I will stand in front.
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That one almost shot a piece forward. Nice break 8)
High speed video was made for archery. It's amazing the forces moving around every time you let one fly.
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if you are standing 8 ft,, maybe go to 10 or 12 ,,, margin of safety :)
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I used to have the radio playing in the shed while I was tillering.I soon stopped that.I need to hear the instant a little warning tick goes off on that wood.I stand 12' back since working with red cedar.
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If you're not break in' you're not makin'
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The last time a bow blew up on me the top limb hit me in the noggin and the bottom limb was behind me
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Here is another bow I sacrified for science:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Keta_nRnI
If there is separated splinters, they will fly forward. You can see from this video, at 2:00 (not slow motion):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBP-nv5hewQ
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And from this you can see that there is huge forward energy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cypA1F15D5M
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All of my bows ive broken have blown outwards ( or upwards off my tiller stick),. This makes sense to me as the back of the bow is the area under tension. That said, pieces would likely blow outwards in an arc like fashion. I dont have a rope when tillering but after my first few learning experiences, I always wear a face shield when final tillering and I try to stay under the belly of the bow when I wam up close.
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Once I had a break while shooting a bow out of a shoddy bowwood (some sort of thuja).
The bow shot super the first 20 arrows or so and gave up suddenly. It explodede with a loud bang and broke in several pieces and a cloud of dust. Most of the pieces flew away from me, but one hit me serious in the face, just 1/2 " away from the right eye. I assume this was because the string was still hanging on that piece.