Finishing my first bow build a reflex deflex 62" longbow and going to start tillering today. Hope all goes well. My question is about limb tip material, although I have already done these tips in red oak I want to use antler in the future. is there any part that is used more or works better such as tines or parts of the beam?

I’ve found that the last 4-5 inches is more dense and is the best part of the antler to use. I quit using antler and horn and just use Osage.

Tried it once and they didn't stay on. I read they were not the best for tips. Just my experience.

use any part thats not pourous,its hard to beat for looks imo,just be sure to rough up both surfaces I use epoxy on antler it seems to be less likely to popoff compared to get gorilla glue (blue bottle CYA) which what I use for wood or glass overlays.

I prefer water buffalo horn but I use white tail antler too. This is how I make most of mine.

They are pretty light. I don’t use big ones. I roughly shape them on grinder and then finish them with bastard file, scraper and sandpaper.

Wood probably is the best for gluing up. I have had antler pop off.

One thing I do is leave the bow wood ever so slightly longer than the antler tips. Helps keep them from bumping off.

Bjrogg

Not sure if you can see how the wood is just slightly longer than the antler.

One drawback to this style. I don’t think you can use a stringer. Not sure. I have never used one.

Bjrogg

I've only use tine tips personally. Mate the surfaces and saturate the antler surface with super glue. Loc-Tite is the best I've used. Then use a fine rasp or file to rough up both surfaces and clamp or strap them together. I use small spring clamps.

They can let go if they're not matter and glued properly, but since I started saturating the antler with glue I haven't had that problem.

These are walnut and antler I just finished up

Wow! Those are very nice.

Mated* properly. Stupid phone.

Sometimes antler will soak up all the glue & not leave enough in the joint. Coat it first & let it dry then glue up normally. Antler,Water Buffalo, & sheep horn adds a nice touch. Here is sheep horn. >>>----> Ken

Nice, thanks for the tips.

Very nice job on all of those tips!!

I use a lot of antler for tips and rests. It's fantastic. If it doesn't stick it's operator error. Use good glue, not cheap crap from DG. Prep the overlay, backfill the mating surface with thin loctite super glue and let it soak in and dry hard over night. Smooth it back out and glue it onto the bow. It will not come off without taking a tip with it. Doing it this way allows you to use the entire antler and not just the solid tine ends.

Now ya tell us lol. I know all about operator error. I made the mistake of using the cheap crap once. I strung my bow up for the 3rd or 4th time and one tip just slid up the back :)

It was back-filled then, at least. Now that I use the Loc-Tite I haven't had an issue, better than some epoxies I've used IMO.

I was busy in my shop the last few days and hadn't been on line :)

I did manage harvesting a real nice batch of dogwood shafts in between huffing HHB dust.

Thanks for the tips Pearl.

I have never had them pop off during normal use, but one popped off when it got knocked off my bow rack and landed tip first on the cement floor.

I will give your suggestions a try next time though. I do let the glue soak into the antler, but I usually don’t wait overnight to apply the tips.

Be watching for the HHB

Bjrogg

I gotta get crackin on some HHB soon. I haven't finished one yet, but I have 2 blanked out and dry, one with an initial heat treat. I just can't seem to let go of the yellow stuff long enough to focus on it. I do remember the intoxicating aroma of a toasted HHB belly, though...ahhhh

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