How to Make a Tillering Board for a Bow

Getting the top and bottom sections of a bow to bend in the same fashion results in a balanced bow more accurate and easier to use. The process of removing material from the bow to obtain this balanced curvature is called tillering. The tillering board holds a strung bow in place while the bow string is drawn, allowing the bow maker to observe how the bow curves. The bow maker removes material from the bow to balance the curve of the bow. A homemade tillering board requires a few basic tools found at hardware stores.

Things You'll Need

  • 3-foot piece of 1-by-4 wood
  • Scroll saw
  • Tape measure
  • Marker
  • Straightedge
  • Pulley
  • Drill
  • Screws
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a notch into the top section of the 1-by-4 piece of wood. The notch must be wide and deep enough to hold the handle of the bow in place as the bow string is drawn.

    • 2

      Measure down the 1-by-4, marking off each inch below the notch using a marker and tape measure. Use a straightedge to draw a line across the board, making these marks easy to see. The marks are used to examine how the bow bends when the bow string is drawn.

    • 3

      Attach a pulley to the bottom of the board on the side on which the string will be drawn, using the drill and screws.

    • 4

      Run a string or thin rope through the pulley, and attach a hook to the tillering board end of the string. The hook is attached to the bow string, and the string is pulled to draw the bow. This gives the bow maker a chance to observe the bow without standing right next to it while it is drawn.