Pikiing a longbow

[ricktrojanowski]

I'm helping a friend tiller a osage bow and it is coming in under weight.  It is about 53# at 27" but needs quite a bit of tillering and he is looking for about 60# at 27"   I figure I need to add about 15-20# to get enough weight on the bow to tiller it properly.  It is 68 " overall right now.  Does taking off about 2 1/4 inches from each limb sound about right.

Thanks for any advice.
Rick

[Easternarcher]

I'm helping a friend tiller a osage bow and it is coming in under weight.  It is about 53# at 27" but needs quite a bit of tillering and he is looking for about 60# at 27"   I figure I need to add about 15-20# to get enough weight on the bow to tiller it properly.  It is 68 " overall right now.  Does taking off about 2 1/4 inches from each limb sound about right.

Thanks for any advice.
Rick

I could be wrong, but I'd tiller it out to even up the limbs first, then see where you're at.  Piking won't help if the tiller is still toast!

[ricktrojanowski]

The tiller isn't toast, I  just need to get it bending more smoothly, but there isn't enough weight to do so.  So I thought if I shortened the limbs this would increase the potential draw weight. Then I would have enough "extra weight" , and that would allow me to clean up the tiller and still come in at the desired weight.

[Justin Snyder]

According to my math, cutting 1 3/4 inches off each limb tip will increase it 15# making it 68#. Cutting 2 1/4  off each limb would bring you in around 70-71#. Justin

[Dano]

I useually only get about 3-5 pounds per inch of each limb, but I never pike untill I'm satisfied with tiller, even then after pikeing, you still need to tweek the tiller.

[Justin Snyder]

I useually only get about 3-5 pounds per inch of each limb, but I never pike untill I'm satisfied with tiller, even then after pikeing, you still need to tweek the tiller.

Dano, that is pretty dang close on this one.  1 3/4 on each limb is 3 1/2 total yielding about 15# or 4 1/4# per inch.  It all depends on what percentage of the bow you are cutting off.  If it is a short bow it increases more than a long bow. 

I also think you should get the tiller as close as you can and only remove what is necessary.  Justin

[Pat B]

I'd also suggest tillering the bow out before piking it. If it still comes out light, he'll have to build another. I'm sure there is a kid in his neighborhood that needs a bow.       Pat

[Dano]

Justin, I get lucky sometimes 

I'm an aweful lot like Pat,  If it comes in light, make a kid happy.

[ricktrojanowski]

Thanks for the advice.  We'll give it a try today, and like you said maybey it's some kids lucky day.

[DanaM]

53# at 27" sounds perfect for me.

[jamie]

rick if it comes in too light even after you piked it you can flip the tips a bit. this will raise poundage and decrease the string angle youll get with the shorter bow. peace

[ricktrojanowski]

We tillered it to 47# @27"... the tiller was looking really good.  Both limbs were bending smoothly.  No flat spots, no hinges etc.. Then we cut off an inch and 3/4 from each end, strung it, drew it once to about 18-20" and... Do you think we can sinew it or possibly make it a takedown?

[attachment deleted by admin]

[DanaM]

There sure has been a rash of breakages lately, I think I will take abreak because it seems to be catchy.
Tough break eh

[Pat B]

Was this a stave or a board bow?  Looks like there was grain violations on the back and that is where it blew...or it was strung backwards.       Pat

[ricktrojanowski]

Dana M - I agree a break sound good.
Pat B- there wasn't any grain violations the pic shows mostly the belly, and it wasn't strung backwards (I asked)  I have no idea what happened.
I figure I can make a nice 30" D bow for my boy out of the intact limb.  He's only 14 months old so it should be about right.