HopHornbeam 66in Flat bow 55lbs@28″

[Don W]

This has been sitting in my shop for a few days waiting on my wrist to heal. It’s been killing me not to be able to shoot it. Today it felt good enough to get a couple shots in.
I posted more info here https://www.diy.timetestedtools.net/hophornbeam-66in-flat-bow-55lbs28/

[Pat B]

Don, a foot above and below the handle is way stiff and the tips are a bit whippy.

[Deerhunter21]

+1 with pat

i would tiller it down to 50# or 45# to try to get the the fades and outside fades bending

other than that, if you like it and it shoots well, its a nice bow! 

hope your wrist gets better!

[Don W]

yep, I knew i wasn't done tillering. I wanted to shot it a few time (always seems to change on me when i do)

Thanks for the help!

[Digital Caveman]

HHB is easily the most elastic wood I have tried yet, it takes tempering well too.

[Pat B]

Don, by getting the inner limbs bending it should take some of the strain off the outer limbs.

[Eric Krewson]

You need a tillering gizmo, it will help you out a lot. I would heat treat the heck out of that bow on a form that reflexes the tips then start the tilling process over using a gizmo.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,61422.0.html

[Don W]

I have a gizmo. I just have not learned to use it.

[Digital Caveman]

I though the gizmo was only good for perfectly straight wood and circular tillers.

[Eric Krewson]

It is not much good on limbs that have a lot of roller coaster in them, it works on everything else.

[Eric Krewson]

The instructions for its use are in the how to link I posted.

[Don W]

I worked on the dade and got it down to 50#. I really like the way it shoots. It's probably not perfect but I wrapped the handle and shot probably 59-69 arrows through it.

[bradsmith2010]

mine are never perfect ,, but I love shooting them,,

[bownarra]

Always aim for perfection....or else you won't be shooting them for long
Yes get those inner/mid limbs moving some. Gizmos aren't much use on staves, fine for lam bows but you do need something FLAT for them to work. If you only ever made laminated pyramid bows they would be the best tillering guide out there

[Deerhunter21]

I agree with bownarra. the only advise i would add to this is that i took this advise too literally. I beat myself up about every little thing and it really stunted my bow making growth. I would say, aim for perfection, but know when something is good enough and when its time to move onto the next one.

also, gizmos are great for beginners. I use mine a lot, mostly for initial tiller and as a straight edge. The only thing about gizmos is that they only guide you to a perfectly circular tiller, which is not normally a perfectly balanced tiller. so, for rhyming sake, "A gizmo is a tool, not the rule"