Finger Calipers Build (full draw pg3)

[bjrogg]

I had a stave 61” long. Lots of twists and crocks. Thin rings nothing special about this one.

I roughed it out and put it on my caul and gave it a lot of heat correction and a heat treatment while I was at it.

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Then I got it bending pretty decent in my vice.

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Then I finished tillering using only my finger calipers.

They have a attachment that fits on my rasp

And they also separate from the rasp to quickly give me information about the thickness of my limbs.

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Then I shaped the tips and made a string
Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Here’s first brace profile.

I don’t want to bend it anymore than brace right now. It really needs to reacclimatize a bit. I’m sure it is very dry yet.

Will see what it looks like at full draw in a couple days

Bjrogg

[bradsmith2010]

looks great,,,congrats,,

[PEARL DRUMS]

New bibs? Fancy pants BJ.

Looks good for a finger guess How much weight you think you have?

[Bob Barnes]

I wish I had finger calipers... maybe my bows would bend as nice as yours do.  It will be nice to see it once you have coached it to full draw.   

[bjrogg]

Thanks Brad. I think I could have gotten it a little closer but the one limb has a slightly narrow spot.

Yes sir brand spanking new drummer boy. First time they got any Osage dust on them.

I think getting the bend close might be predictable and repeatable. I think the draw weight is going to vary depending on the wood.

This wasn’t a very fancy piece and part of the reason I wanted to try this.

I’m going to guess about 36@ 26” if it doesn’t break first. Lol

Bjrogg

[bjrogg]

Bob we all have em. We just need to trust them.

Bjrogg

PS I’ve seen a couple really nice tillered bows you’ve done

[bjrogg]

I really am curious what the full draw will look like and how many lbs it will be.

So far I have only bent it a little in the vice. Then finger tillered to finish. Then bent it enough to string it.

To be continued

Bjrogg

[bentstick54]

Looks pretty darn good for finger calipers. Kind of the way I do it, but my calipers aren’t nearly as accurate as yours.

[bjrogg]

Bentstick this isn’t really how I normally tiller my bows. I do use my fingers constantly but I have never tillered one without confirming it on the tree along the way.

This wasn’t a primo stave and I just wanted to experiment

So far it looks pretty good.

Will be interesting to see how the full draw turns out

Arvin’s build by the numbers got me thinking

Bjrogg

PS I know my fingers know what a finished bow feels like

[superdav95]

If that is you just winging it then your fingers have a lot of experience behind them.  Looks darn good to me having just used finger calipers!  Nicely done sir.  I’m not quite there yet.  Sometimes I get lucky and mail it but not very often.  Hoping with more time on the fingers I’ll get there. 

[bentstick54]

Bjrogg, once I get it to low brace, I go to the tree and start using Eric’s gizmo when I can. Many of my staves have had enough character that my eyes and fingers are the best options.