New member just getting started

[jamesh76]

Thanks for the feedback.  Like I said, I didn't expect much on my first one. I will continue with it until it breaks on me. Its all about learning. I wish I could read the grain better, and I have looked st George's site and many broken build alongs.      We have a few more pieces of oak laying in the garage I'll check. Not sure. I know they don't have the large distinct thicker rings from the growth rings.

[jamesh76]

While we are discussing poor grain. I have these 3 also. I'm pretty sure 2 on left would be bad. Right one maybe?

[willie]

but that board has many run outs

I thought so too, but from here, the worst of it looks like where James tapered the ends, just more on one side than you would normally have with any width tapering on account of the rings wandering.

James, the center of the three might be ok if the edge looks as good and straight. Cant really see the one on the right well. Pics taken straight on would help.

[jamesh76]

I took put that back in our storage pile already.  May go back and look again. Right one looks straight grained but tight

[George Tsoukalas]

The one on the left is running off the sides as is the center one. Incan't see what the one on the right is doing.
Evaluate it. Is the grain running straight tip to tip?
Jawge

[Jefe]

We are in the same neck of the woods.  I am 50 min SE of KCMO. 

[jamesh76]

We are in the same neck of the woods.  I am 50 min SE of KCMO.

very nice. I'm in Spring Hill.

[jamesh76]

Long stringer her today, one side really stiff coming out of fade. Thickness from.one side to the other 6" out from end of fade 7.51v 7.84. That's not much pull, probably 2" if that on the tips. 44#  will scrape tomorrow.

[jamesh76]

Low brace

[jamesh76]

8" from top of tiller board. I will pause here.  It's around 35# at the 8" I assume I can still hit 45. Got 20" to go.  Looks a little stiff first 6" out from fades and tips stiff.  Thin tips now or wait?

[Deerhunter21]

If you want 45# pull it to 45# unless there's a big hinge. That will allow you to see the bend better. Make sure to exercise the limb 40 or so times before looking at the tiller.

[jamesh76]

I have been exercising as I scrape. Hopefully I can get a good bend as info and not remove too much. When you say bend till 44#, do you mean do that now and tiller from that point? I imagine I will hit 45 around 20" not sure. I need to.change scales.  This one is hard to read from.6-7'

[jamesh76]

I scraped some on long string to get it looking better..  I'm just using a cabinet scraper

[Deerhunter21]

Here's the steps,

Exercise limbs,
Pull to desired weight (unless it doesn't feel right)
Look at tiller,
Look harder,
Figure out what spots you think are stiff and weak and mark those accordingly,
Use your gizmo
Cross chewhat you thought you saw with the gizmo
Pull it back to desired weight
Re adjust your eye to what the gizmo says
Take off wood

[jamesh76]

Awesome. Then once you get tiller looking good, ya just keep scraping every inch on tree until ya hit draw length. Or 1" past at a few # more?