Tillering A Laminated Longbow

He makes very high performing laminated bows.

Tillering a laminated longbow.

Basically the bottom limb is drawn a bit farther than the top limb each shot and the top limb gets a head start on the bottom limb upon release. Successfully tillering a bow takes time and is difficult to teach even in person so there is only so much that you can learn from reading without just going and doing it. Perfect tiller hinged tiller flat spot. You can see how he traps the limbs.

Our tillering stick is made from solid wood and is notched every two inches from 4 to 28. Tillering stick every bowyer needs a tillering stick. Tillering is the adjustment of tiller by removing material from a bow limb or limbs. The dimensions of the belly laminate should be about 75 by 1 1 2 by 1 and the dimensions of the back laminate 75 by 1 1 2 by 3 16.

But before a persons gets to the point that the benefits of laminating are outweighing the extra troubles a laminated bow creates you have to do some serious experimenting and to expect some failed bows. A laminated bow offers more options as far as wood combinations and design goes. Time to tiller the bow. I tiller my bows even for a 3 under shooter.

Never pull the bow past your desired weight. The design includes a flat base which makes it easier to use. The grain of the back laminate must run straight down the length of the board and be uncut. Cut the laminates using a circular saw or a band saw.

That said be prepared to break a few bows. I ve never made a laminated bow but i d expect that how much you come in on each limb depends on how wide the limb is and what materials are in the limb. Most bows are tillered to approximately 1 8 1 4 positive measurement on the upper limb when the bow is to be shot split fingered. The pine hollow longbows tillering stick reveals how your stave is reacting to the corrections you re making during the tillering process.