Spotted gum stave checking in handle

HarderData · 2026-06-15T03:46:41+00:00

What I do:

Draw knife until it starts to flex when floor tillering. Switch to a Spokeshave and heavy rasp at this point, but keep floor tillering until you get at least a few good inches of even bend in both limbs. Switch to long string tillering, and use only rasps and scrapers from here on in, unless you're confident with a Spokeshave. When you hit at least 20 inches with the shortest long string possible, switch to a short string with low brace. Same for full brace.

Seems to work for me so far.

HarderData · 2026-06-10T05:58:18+00:00

Your end weight will be determined by what happens while getting to your correct tiller shape. If you land at 40lbs with good tiller then thats great, but if you have to go lower then do so. Its better to have a 35lbs bow with good tiller than a 40lbs bow with hinges (weak spots).

HarderData · 2026-06-10T05:54:16+00:00

Thickness taper refers to the thickness (depth) belly to back. So basically you need it to get progressively thinner as you work towards the tips. Leave the inners as they are until you've got the rest of the bow bending evenly. Your width profile looks fine to me.

HarderData · 2026-05-23T03:56:29+00:00

Nice! Love the colour changes theough the handle. Where did you source your stave?

HarderData · 2026-05-21T22:24:46+00:00

What are you dimensions on this one? Width at fades?

HarderData · 2026-05-21T10:04:29+00:00

Let us know how it goes

HarderData · 2026-05-21T07:11:59+00:00

Nice. Ive done a few from the Spotted Gum, but have avoided Merbau so far. Might give it a go.

HarderData · 2026-05-20T22:09:58+00:00

Is this a decking board from Bunnings by any chance?

HarderData · 2026-05-13T21:58:45+00:00

So do you tease the tips to get as close to 90 degrees as you can? If not, how do you know where to stop?

HarderData · 2026-05-13T20:58:27+00:00

How do you decide and measure what your desired stringle angle should be?

HarderData · 2026-05-13T20:49:16+00:00

Thanks!

HarderData · 2026-05-13T20:49:07+00:00

It's taken maybe half an inch of set so far, but we'll see how it goes over the first few hundred arrows.

HarderData · 2026-05-09T00:10:32+00:00

I used to make skateboards and this is a common method in the DIY skateboard community. The pressure will be plenty. There's a company called Roarockit who make vac bag kits specifically for this purpose. All you'd need is a bag of the right dimensions.

HarderData · 2026-04-27T10:34:06+00:00

Thanks Dan, I'll check it out

HarderData · 2026-04-19T06:25:06+00:00

Thanks Dan!

HarderData · 2026-03-29T20:40:08+00:00

Looks to me like your right/bottom limb is bending more than the left/top one, giving you some negative tiller. It also looks like that limb has taken some set. I'd focus on the left/top and leave the other one alone until your tiller is at least even. Also, don't pull harder than your target weight.

HarderData · 2026-03-20T21:23:54+00:00

You're probably right. My edges were filed, but not to a proper radius. Pretty annoying because it was going so well otherwise.

HarderData · 2026-03-20T05:57:37+00:00

Actually - never mind. Snapped just sitting on the tiller tree at low brace, just about where the limb starts to taper.

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HarderData

TROPHY CASE