Tillering Process

[bow101]

Tillering a bow is definitely the most humbling experience for me when it comes to bow building.
Just basically finished tillering a board bow today "no Photos yet" ............................
One thing I have learned is when taking off material and tapering the limb tips, the last 10-12 inches of the limbs must have a "Whip Action to them" so to speak, Ah yes very light.
I noticed in a lot of Photographs that most guys have the tips down to the size of a pencil..!

And the other no brainer is when holding the bow it seems like the tips do not even exist, the only weight I feel is mostly in the riser. Hopefully this bow will work out, it's the 3rd. one I built.

[Carson (CMB)]

Using the term "whip" might raise some eyebrows, as it refers to a bow that has too much limb movement in the last 10-12".  Some say nothing wrong with a little whip-action, but I would say most prefer stiff outer tips.  But yes, your point about making the outer limb narrow is something a lot of new bowyers don't do in my opinion.  Mass at the tips not only relates to slower arrow speed, it also adds to handshock.  Make the last 10-12" narrow, but leave them thicker, to reduce mass and keep the tips slightly stiffer.

[Dictionary]

tillering is bow making. The key to bowmaking is

Take wood away from stiff spots, leave spots that bend too much alone while at the same time bringing the bow to the specific weight at the specific draw.


A lot of members here leave the last few inches stiff. I still dont understand the merit to it but i do it because it is convenient not to have to rasp where the string rests so close to the nocks.

[bow101]

DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND...................................The key to bowmaking is.......dum dum dum

[Dictionary]

DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND...................................The key to bowmaking is.......dum dum dum

I fixed it for you so you could understand my meaning.

[sharpend60]

You can leave the last 6" or so stiff. It helps to raise string tension and also to lessen the string angle at draw. Which in turn creates a smooth F/D curve.
The opposite of 'whipy'.

Most folk on this site do it because it makes for a nice shooting bow.

[George Tsoukalas]

There are some buildalongs on my  site. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/index.html

[Parnell]

Experience really does come into play with the tips of the bow.  I'm still making mine too thick for high performance, but they are getting smaller and smaller.  There is something to be said about durability leaving them thicker or with a "native style" bow, but when it comes to making a hot rod...

I'm continuously amazed at how thin tips are on bows that are made by seasoned veterans, while not being "whip" tillered.

[bow101]

As I quoted previously "Ah yes very light." is probably what I mean to say not the tips been like a "whip"