Noob Bowyer looking for advice/aid/tips

[tgtmatt]

I have recently began creating my own red oak long bow out of a red oak board that is 1x2x6 from Lowes and although I have ran into a few trouble I've slowly made it through the process. I am now stuck on tillering my bow and I just cant seem to tell how much I actually have to take off of the bows thickness? I know this is probably a question every new bowyer asks but i'm just having trouble completing my bow even after reading up on many different threads, websites etc.

I will post a few pictures of how my bow looks for now and i'm just looking for a few tips on where the go next, or what I have done wrong. Etc. Thanks to everyone.

Matt

I'll try to post the best photos that I can get

[tgtmatt]

Stuck here.

[tgtmatt]

..

[aaron]

welcome!
we can help
do you have a scale like for weighing yourself?
shorten up that string as much as possible.

[tgtmatt]

I do have a scale. So should my string be just a little loose on the bow? I wasn't sure if i had to have a longer string to begin.

[aaron]

what tools have you got?
how long is the bow , still six feet?
how far do you want to draw it , or how tall are you?
What draw weight are you shooting for?
post photos showing a "front view"

[tgtmatt]

I have a portable belt sander, surform rasp, small rasps, all types of saws except a band saw.

The bow is still six feet in length. Knocks are about 1 inch in from the tips so its about 70" if you don't count the excess 2"

My draw length is about 27 to 28"

I am trying to get it to be at least usable to hunt, but it's not a big deal if i can't because I can always make another. But since it is my first i guess 40 -50 # would be good.

[aaron]

all you're gonna need for a while is a rasp
step away from the power tools
shorten the string so it's tight on the unbent bow
then put the tiller stick on the bathroom scale
pull till the scale reads 30 lbs
tell us how far you pulled to get 30

[tgtmatt]

is that the picture you needed?

[tgtmatt]

I drew it to about 11" and it came a little over 30.

[aaron]

everything looks fine so far
put it on the scale, pull to 30lbs and look at the bend. tell us how far you pulled to get 30 lbs
try to judge what parts are bending more or bending less
the handle will remain stiff and even the next 2 inches past the handle will be stiff
if everything seems about even, carefully and slowly remove about 1/32 nd of an inch from the entire limb with the rasp.
if everything is not even , remove 1/32 from the stiff parts only
after each time you remove a little, pull it to 30 lbs about 50 times
FOR NOW, NEVER PULL PAST 30 lbs

[tgtmatt]

Okay, so as of now the tiller looks pretty good? Keep removing wood until I read my draw length?

[aaron]

what is that string material you have? looks too weak
if it's looking even, you can increase your draw weght to 40 (or 50).
and yes, you continue this process until you reach 40 lbs at 28.
never pull past your intended draw weight
just go very slow it will seem to take forever

[tgtmatt]

Honestly, It is some really bad string. I have yet to get some dacron b-50 or even make my own bow string. I understand how I believe I just have to order the string.

I will keep the post updated on my slow progress.

[aaron]

for now use anything stronger - like some nylon rope.
braided POLY rope also will be better- less stretch.
i have used braided poly rope for a bowstring- a good substitute until you get a real strring