When laying out your riser do you want the arrow to pass through the exact center or do you want the center to be the deepest part of your grip?

When making a tillering stick how do you measure out the inches on your stick?

ORIGINAL: Redneck Bowhunter

Hello all I haven't posted in awhile, but keep coming back to read the build alongs. Let me say you guys are awesome!!! I just have a few different questions though. When laying out your riser do you want the arrow to pass through the exact center or do you want the center to be the deepest part of your grip?

When making a tillering stick how do you measure out the inches on your stick? I know it's to measure draw length so are you marking your inches from where the grip sits or are you adding 1 3/4" ( i think thats right) for your true draw length then marking your first inch measurement and carrying on from there.( I hope thats not too confusing)

Finally, when using a long string to tiller how do you know how far you are actually bending your limbs because your marking wont be true becuase you are not using a fully braced string. Thanks to all.

ORIGINAL: Kanga


I think Kent will have to answer your other questions as he is the master of board bows

ORIGINAL: Redneck Bowhunter

Ok. I see now, thanks guys. One more for ya. I have a board of white ash that I want to use to build a bow. But the grain is horrible for it. If I cut it into strips and make a "plywood" type bow will that make it better if the grain isn't perfect?

ORIGINAL: burniegoeasily

Ash will work. Idont likethe stuff. Its real brittle. Ive made bows with it that were ok. Putting it underglass would insure it doesnt break. You dont have to buy prepregged glass, just use the glass cloth and set it on the to back of the bow with some two part epoxy. No need for a heat box, just let it cure completely. Might take two or three days. You can also cure it by putting it in a car and leave it parked in the sun for a few hours. As far as laming it and reversing your grains. Ive done that. But you dont have to cut a lot of lams, Just cut a 1/8" off the back of the board and flip it over and glue it back. That way the grains cross. But if you have lots of violations, ash will need to be tillered pretty well to survive. That is for a decently heavy bow. Red oak or white oak would be a much easier first wood to work with. But if you want to use the ash, no need to get all fancy with a backing, use something like drywall tape and titebond III. Or linen and titebond, silk, or even a brown papper bag. They all will work, plus a whole lot of other things, as well. The drywall tape would be the best of the bunch I mentioned. You will surely want to back a bad piece of ash, if you chose to use it.

There are tuns of ways to skin that cat. All depends on how you want to do with it.