Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: ricktrojanowski on February 08, 2008, 10:48:58 pm

Title: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 08, 2008, 10:48:58 pm
I'm helping a friend tiller a osage bow and it is coming in under weight.  It is about 53# at 27" but needs quite a bit of tillering and he is looking for about 60# at 27"   I figure I need to add about 15-20# to get enough weight on the bow to tiller it properly.  It is 68 " overall right now.  Does taking off about 2 1/4 inches from each limb sound about right.

Thanks for any advice.
Rick
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: Easternarcher on February 08, 2008, 10:57:10 pm
I'm helping a friend tiller a osage bow and it is coming in under weight.  It is about 53# at 27" but needs quite a bit of tillering and he is looking for about 60# at 27"   I figure I need to add about 15-20# to get enough weight on the bow to tiller it properly.  It is 68 " overall right now.  Does taking off about 2 1/4 inches from each limb sound about right.

Thanks for any advice.
Rick

I could be wrong, but I'd tiller it out to even up the limbs first, then see where you're at.  Piking won't help if the tiller is still toast!
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 08, 2008, 11:20:39 pm
The tiller isn't toast, I  just need to get it bending more smoothly, but there isn't enough weight to do so.  So I thought if I shortened the limbs this would increase the potential draw weight. Then I would have enough "extra weight" , and that would allow me to clean up the tiller and still come in at the desired weight.
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: Justin Snyder on February 09, 2008, 12:26:20 am
According to my math, cutting 1 3/4 inches off each limb tip will increase it 15# making it 68#. Cutting 2 1/4  off each limb would bring you in around 70-71#. Justin
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: Dano on February 09, 2008, 12:35:31 am
I useually only get about 3-5 pounds per inch of each limb, but I never pike untill I'm satisfied with tiller, even then after pikeing, you still need to tweek the tiller.
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: Justin Snyder on February 09, 2008, 12:40:21 am
I useually only get about 3-5 pounds per inch of each limb, but I never pike untill I'm satisfied with tiller, even then after pikeing, you still need to tweek the tiller.
Dano, that is pretty dang close on this one.  1 3/4 on each limb is 3 1/2 total yielding about 15# or 4 1/4# per inch.  It all depends on what percentage of the bow you are cutting off.  If it is a short bow it increases more than a long bow. 

I also think you should get the tiller as close as you can and only remove what is necessary.  Justin
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: Pat B on February 09, 2008, 12:47:56 am
I'd also suggest tillering the bow out before piking it. If it still comes out light, he'll have to build another. I'm sure there is a kid in his neighborhood that needs a bow. ;D      Pat
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: Dano on February 09, 2008, 12:59:55 am
Justin, I get lucky sometimes  ;)

I'm an aweful lot like Pat,  ::) If it comes in light, make a kid happy.
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 09, 2008, 08:47:39 am
Thanks for the advice.  We'll give it a try today, and like you said maybey it's some kids lucky day. ;D
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: DanaM on February 09, 2008, 09:17:02 am
53# at 27" sounds perfect ;) ;D for me.
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: jamie on February 09, 2008, 01:45:54 pm
rick if it comes in too light even after you piked it you can flip the tips a bit. this will raise poundage and decrease the string angle youll get with the shorter bow. peace
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 09, 2008, 02:24:04 pm
We tillered it to 47# @27"... the tiller was looking really good.  Both limbs were bending smoothly.  No flat spots, no hinges etc.. Then we cut off an inch and 3/4 from each end, strung it, drew it once to about 18-20" and... Do you think we can sinew it or possibly make it a takedown? ;D

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Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: DanaM on February 09, 2008, 02:57:56 pm
There sure has been a rash of breakages lately, I think I will take abreak because it seems to be catchy. :D
Tough break eh ;)
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: Pat B on February 09, 2008, 03:07:53 pm
Was this a stave or a board bow?  Looks like there was grain violations on the back and that is where it blew...or it was strung backwards. ???      Pat
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 09, 2008, 05:03:39 pm
Dana M - I agree a break sound good.
Pat B- there wasn't any grain violations the pic shows mostly the belly, and it wasn't strung backwards (I asked)  I have no idea what happened. ???
I figure I can make a nice 30" D bow for my boy out of the intact limb.  He's only 14 months old so it should be about right.

Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: Pappy on February 11, 2008, 09:48:11 am
Man sorry about that,but it happens sometime.I was going to say I usually get about 3 lbs. pre
inch give or take depending on the wood.You can save it and build a take down.That is what
I am doing now. I had some bad luck lately also. :(  :) Of course the kids need bow also.I
just have had so many most of our kids have bows so I decided to try and save some for me.  ;)
   Pappy

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Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 11, 2008, 10:47:32 pm
 I was kidding about the take down until I saw your pic.  What do you use for the "coupling" .  Could you splice the handle to make a non takedown?  Mostly just curious because my boys bow is long overdue and this should work well for him.
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: medicinewheel on February 12, 2008, 04:44:35 am

pappy!  -  that would be great if you post some pics on how these will become a bow again! - or is that posted already??
frank
Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: Pappy on February 12, 2008, 06:59:26 am
Don't have it finished yet but got a good start.Here are a few pictures so far.I have it out
to 45@20 and fixing to deer rawhide it before I carrie on.
   Pappy

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Title: Re: Pikiing a longbow
Post by: ricktrojanowski on February 12, 2008, 11:17:57 pm
That is too cool.  I would have never thought of that.   Thanks for the idea and the pics.