Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: raylbird on March 15, 2016, 08:15:51 pm

Title: One limb much weaker than the other
Post by: raylbird on March 15, 2016, 08:15:51 pm

For some reason with Hickory more than any other wood, for me, one limb will often be much weaker than the other for no apparent reason. I normally thin the stronger limb until it is a lot thinner than the weaker limb. I am curious how others handle this problem.

Title: Re: One limb much weaker than the other
Post by: Pat B on March 15, 2016, 09:21:40 pm

Don't worry about the thickness. Tiller each limb so both limbs bend evenly and together. Get them bending together early in the process so you can concentrate of even tiller and achieving the desired draw weight.

Title: Re: One limb much weaker than the other
Post by: PlanB on March 15, 2016, 10:10:45 pm

I think this happens most often on dense high stiffness white woods that need to be tillered thin and wide in the limb. I have noticed the same thing sometimes on black birch bows.

I think the necessary thinness can exaggerate differences in the wood, limb to limb because it isn't "averaged out" by more wood thickness.

Title: Re: One limb much weaker than the other
Post by: Pappy on March 16, 2016, 04:48:44 am

Growth rings get tighter as you move up the tree. :) A little denser wood. :)
 Pappy

Title: Re: One limb much weaker than the other
Post by: raylbird on March 16, 2016, 06:31:15 am

Thanks for the replies, I was beginning to think I was doing something wrong or there might be a better fix. Most of my bows tend to come  out with identical limb thickness but some of the Hickories will have one limb noticeably thinner and just appear wrong.

Title: Re: One limb much weaker than the other
Post by: Swampman on March 16, 2016, 07:29:03 am

I have had this same thing happen with white ash.  It causes some confusion.  I had a couple that got so thin that I had to take wood off the sides on 1 limb to get it tillerred properly.