Tillering advice

[NewBowyer]

Seeking opinions on my tillering of this 68” (66” NTN) honeysuckle stave. I chose the concave side as the back to use the natural bend as reflex. It’s at 20” (40#) now and it looks like the left (top) limb is stiffer- am I accurate? Are both limbs’ inner thirds bending too much? To my uneducated eye it looks it’s already bending an awful lot, yet has 8” more to reach 28”.

I’m also wondering about adding a rawhide backing- should that come after final tillering, or at some point before?

Shooting for 50# @28” but I’ll settle for upper 40s; TBH I’ll just be happy if there’s a working bow here. Thanks, all.

[Nasr]

 the left limb doesnt look to be bending more overall but it does look like it needs to bend more mid and outer third of the limb. the right limb looks like it also need to bend more outer limb and a little at the fade. 

[Nasr]

the red is where you need to remove wood. But you can wait till more people chime in. its better to get more opinions.

[WhistlingBadger]

the red is where you need to remove wood. But you can wait till more people chime in. its better to get more opinions.

That's what I was seeing too.

[bownarra]

I agree  - watch those unmarked areas!

[RyanY]

I wouldn’t touch that right inner limb as Nasr marked but I would agree with the other areas.

[NewBowyer]

Would it be better to add the rawhide backing after final tillering, or at some point before?

[NewBowyer]

Now 43# @ 24", still see a stiff outer third of left limb. Fire harden now, or after final tillering? Planning to back it at the end. Thanks, all.

[TimmyDeNorCal]

I would scrape that outer left limb a little and then heat-treat immediately. If you plan on heat-treating I have had better results doing so before she’s tillered out fully...

...but, then again, there might be differing opinions on the when-to-heat-treat issue...

[SpringyWoodPassion]

I agree with TimmyDeNorCal. Is the left limb slightly longer or is it just my impression? Great work space.

[NewBowyer]

Left limb is actually 1” shorter; it’s the lower. I’ll work on that until its outer portion bends better, hopefully to around 26” draw, then fire harden it. That’ll have to wait until later because it’s wet here and the Colts play today. If anyone has ever fire hardened or rawhide backed a honeysuckle stave I’d like to hear about it. Thanks, all, for the great input and direction. Fingers crossed…

[Eric Krewson]

Hingy left limb, you need a tillering gizmo.

[George Tsoukalas]

I think the end of the fades needs to move a bit more. But feather in wood removal. In other words don't hit short areas with  What I do is mark the end of the fades with a  nice dark pencil line and using a scraper get the wood starting to move there. Have fun. Jawge

[NewBowyer]

EK where are you seeing a hinge? I do have a gizmo

[Nasr]

this is what i see