Tiller advice please! Spotted gum pyramid longbow.

[Julian]

Hey, so this is my second attempt at a spotted gum board bow. already going much better than last time.
Anyway I've got the bow to low brace at the moment, and it hasn't taken any set.

I'm looking for advice on the tiller, hopefully these photos are ok. I don't have a tillering tree (I use a bucket of bricks to approximate the draw weight I want)







Thanks!

[Julian]

Oh and I trapped the belly a small amount. The bow is backed with linen.

[Pappy]

That is looking pretty good to me.
 Pappy

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks good. Looks like a circular tiller is about emerge. That's what you want with a pyramid bow. Jawge

[colin1991]

Looks nice so far mate! What weight are you chasing and how long is the bow nock to nock?  Might need to take a bit off the tips as you get further out.

Good luck, look forward to seeing it all done!

[Julian]

Looks nice so far mate! What weight are you chasing and how long is the bow nock to nock?  Might need to take a bit off the tips as you get further out.

Good luck, look forward to seeing it all done!

Hey again :~)

I'm shooting for 40 - 45, but if it turns out 30 I won't be upset. At the moment it's about 70" ntn. I think.

I've heard that slightly stiff tips are desirable for a longbow so I deliberately left that thickness. I think when I'm approaching full draw, I'll thin them down until they just start to bend. Cheers for checking in.

[Julian]

Feels pretty heavy to me, but I've never shot a heavy bow so I don't know. I filled my bucket with bricks until it felt like a comfortable weight to shoot with haha.

I should find a scale on gumtree or something.

[k-hat]

You can get a cheap but effective fish scale at a box store for about 5 bucks.  Exercise the bow plenty as you go, and you'll start getting more comfy with the weight as it increases(don't just yank it back, take advantage of the opportunity to use good form, use your back not your arms, etc).  The main thing at this point is make sure it is not too heavy for you, which you don't really need a scale for. 

[colin1991]

Quick question mate. What did you glue your handle on with?

[Jim Davis]

Julian, don't trap the belly any more. Never a good plan on a wood bow.

[willie]

Nice looking bow Julian. Keep your eye on the inner/mid lower limb as you draw it out more. Looks like it is wanting to bend easier than the rest of the bow.

[upstatenybowyer]

Nice looking bow Julian. Keep your eye on the inner/mid lower limb as you draw it out more. Looks like it is wanting to bend easier than the rest of the bow.

+1

[burchett.donald]

   Julian,
                Jump on those outers, mid limb out...Make sure you exercise heavily between scrapes...
                                                                                                                                                Don

[cadet]

Bucket of bricks?!  You're doing that the hard way!  Get to bunnings or wherever and get a piece of 2x4, or 1x3, or even a fence picket.  If that's stretching the budget, look for scrap, or pull a pallet apart.  Cut a saddle of sorts in the top to sit the bow in, cut notches along it's length to put the string.  Get a fish scale from BCF or wherever to measure weight.

[Julian]

Julian, don't trap the belly any more. Never a good plan on a wood bow.

Oh, whoops. Thanks.