black locust complete

[Pappy]

You will loose some weight but it will make it last much longer,also how long is it and what is your draw,you could cut it off a bit and pick some of the weight back up. The whooped limbs can be a bear to see the tiller and easy to get them bending to much right passed the whoop.I try
to straighten them out with heat or steam before I start tillering,if possible.Sometimes you
can't get it all out but some will help. 
   Pappy

[robbsbass]

Hey Pappy,
Thanks for your comments, their much appreciated. I think I'm going to take a little more off  just before the handle and see what the weight is, if it is to low then I will shorten the bow by maybe 1/2 an inch on each end and see what happens. Thanks for your help. I'm guessing on draw lenght but I think about 29". I shoot 30" with the dreaded compound, sorry I had to mention that word.

               Robb

[robbsbass]

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll27/Robbsbass/SDC10267.jpg

       thats  only shooting at the corner red at 10 yards

[Keenan]

 Robbsbass, Looks like your getting some great advice and your well on your way. As Pappy stated sometimes them bumps and dives can make it a real bear to read the tiller. I second the thought on trying some heat treating on the belly and shaving a little on the stiff parts that Ryan pointed out.  If you do pike it and shorten a little it will bring the poundage up, and you could probably get a little more limb working at the handle, this will help the draw length if shortened.

[robbsbass]

Thanks Keenan,
This is all great advice for a guy like me. Now how do you heat treat it and what do you mean by pike it?

    Robb

[Sidewinder]

Pike it means shorten both ends an equal amount. Take off an inch from each end and it will up your weight allowing you to re tiller it and still come in at target weight. Heat treating is what you can do as well to gain back pounds usually 5-8lbs if done correctly. Mark STLouis wrote the chapter on it in the latest version of the Bowyers Bible VOL 4. I won't try and explain it hear, plus there ar ethose that are much more qualified to do that. Iif someone has a link to an article or something that will help him put it on.   Danny

[robbsbass]

Thanks, the more I read from you guys the more I learn.

              Robb

[George Tsoukalas]

I think Ryano spotted the parts that need a bit work. I would add that you need to scrape the top limb  a bit mid limb on also. You know my first BL looked like that. It  can be a tough wood to tiller. Jawge

[George Tsoukalas]

This may help you see it, Robb. Sometimes with these character bows you have to  draw an imaginary arch through the limbs. Check this. Jawge
http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/seneca.html

[robbsbass]

George, thanks for the information and pics you sent me. I decided to use your information and a few of the other guys thoughts. I'm going to take more wood out from the handle down, to try to get more bend and then take an inch off from both ends to keep the weight up. Hope this works.

                 Robb

[George Tsoukalas]

Ok, Rob. Let us know how it goes. Jawge

[robbsbass]

Just realized I never showed the tips, sorry their just plain, nothing fancy, just wanted them to look as natural as possible

                Robb