Tillering with the long string on recurves

[PEARL DRUMS]

Have it low braced and tillered before you bend hooks in. Once the hooks are in you pop a string right back on. Tweak the tiller and reduce the weight. I push/pull them all to brace.

I tried push/pull on a recurve and couldn't pull it off. I was kind of pushing at the base of the recurve and couldn't push and get the string in the nock at the same time. Any idea what am I doing wrong?

The bow has to be more horizontal than a straight bow does to push/pull. The bottom hook needs to be buried right into your foot's arch. The just do your thing. The only bow I cant push/pull is my recent Grumley. Stringers are fine if they hook up beyond your string grooves as mentioned above. You don't want to use the style with a pad that pushes on the limb and socket on the other end, its way un-even pressuere and nasty for the limbs.

[mikekeswick]

Another trick instead of floor tillering/longstring I use is to clamp the handle in my vice and flex the limbs with my hand. That way you get a real good eyeball on whats happening.
For first stringing a peg board is best once the weight/reflex starts going up. You get great control with them and it's very easy. Failing that step through works well with recurves (if done correctly!).

[Blaflair2]

Pearly, those grumleys made me flinch every time. It seems like it just wants to fly out of your hand. I agree with burying it on ur foots arch. The narrower the bow I find it's more squirrely

[Sidewinder]

I really like the stringer. Its safe, distributes the stress evenly and allows you to brace it at higher weights without getting a hernia. You might try it. It does require you leave your tips a little longer which you can cut down later when your done with tillering and you have reached your target weight.

[Pat B]

I also use a cup type stringer to brace a new recurve or at least until it is a manageable weight. You still have to be careful that the bow doesn't twist or spin in your hand as you put tension on the stringer.

[Springbuck]

  PearlDrums mentioned my best method.  Get it roughed out pretty close to tiller first, then bend the recurves.

  The other thing is, I don't love floor tillering.  I can do it, just doesn't come naturally.  One thing I like about shorter bows, recurves, and mollies, is I can often spread my 74" wingspan, grasp the limbs and "floor-tiller" it by bending it slightly over my knee.  Brace the handle on the front of your knee under the kneecap, grab as far out as you can and flex it with a wide-hands rowing motion.  Then flip it and repeat.