For the whole story, go to Page 1 of Stalking Tiller Live III
1/4/99 12:00
This might take some imagination but here's my tillering setup. I'll clean up the shop a bit and that should help. Here's the bow drawn to 14". Looks OK but still flat on that top limb. I'll work there first.
After a few passes with the scraper we got a little movement. This is drawn to 16". I'm pulling about 20# at that draw. The weight concerns me a bit. It'll likely be a little lighter than we hoped. It's still flat at the middle part of the upper limb.
12:30
Drawn to 19"
The upper limb is bending much better and is now weaker than the lower limb by some. I have a little work to do on the lower limb in the middle.
12:45
Drawn to 21"
I got most of the flat in the lower limb out but need some movement near the handle. I'll work that spot next. The limbs are pretty balanced weight wise. That dip in the upper limb really makes it look whippy out there but it doesn't bend much if any.
1:00
Drawn to 23"
I'm getting a little more movement near the handle in that lower limb. Still need more though. Still a little stiff at midlimb too.
1:30
Drawn to 24"
It looks pretty good but needs just a little more at the handle and a touch at midlimb on the lower limb.
2:00
Drawn to 28"
I got pretty good movement on both limbs now. I'm gonna try to get a little movement out towards the end of the lower limb. It looks good there, it just doesn't match the upper limb because of that little natural dip in the bow. Weight is right at 45# at 28". We'll be close to 50# at Kenny's draw.
4:30
Here it is drawn to 27.5". I'll shoot it a few times tonight and check back tomorrow.
1/5/00 11:00
I shot her about 50 times at 27.5". Here's how she looks now.
She shoots pretty good. I'll throw a few more through her tonight and have Kenny shoot her this weekend. It might actually be a bow! I'm gonna put a dye job on her tonight I think. I'm also going with the Massey epoxy finish. Make it good and hard!
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.
1/6/00
Here's a few more shots of it before finishing.
Here's the back with a lot of the inner cambrium layer left on for a camo look.
Here's a shot after 8 coats of Special Walnut stain (it turned out too light) and several blends of aniline dyes in Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, and Raw Umber. I finally got it to a point that I like it. Now on to the epoxy finish.
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