The Art of Tillering

Tillering a bow, an example. This one draws 50# at 30" or 45# at 28 inches. It's made of hickory, from a piggyback stave with a chased ring back. The stave was naturally deflexed, so I went for a deflex reflex design.
Here you can find my beginner tutorial, tillering explainer, and heat treating tips: • Beginner Essentials
Featuring music by my cousin, Marcos Topolanski Quintero. You can find more of his work on iTunes and Spotify.
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More of my work: dansantanabows...

[@hennermauritz3772]

Tremendous fine bowyers work!!! And thanks so much for sharing your know-how with us! Regards from Germany

[@HobofromHoboken]

I just finished my first bow yesterday, granted it's not a piece of art, but it works, and that's good enough for me.

[@Gauchooriental]

It is amazing how this process is so delicate!!! I also noticed that your cousin also released new music. You both are a great duet! Carry on!

[@MarcosTopolanski]

Gracias Gaucho!!!

[@erickrewson6419]

I don't watch many bow making videos but make an exception for yours, they are always masterfully produced and informative.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Thanks Eric. I remember a long time ago on primitive archer a beginner posted about struggling to find staves. Without a beat you mailed them a stave and a gizmo for free. That made an impression on me and really set the tone about what kind of community this is

[@mumblingfree]

Your videos are both beautiful and fascinatingly insightful. Thank you for your hard work. You're an inspiration.

[@jill-ti7oe]

Bows and guitar; perfect. 😄👍

[@Man_fay_the_Bru]

Another archer that plays guitar I take it🙋‍♂️

[@richmondlandersenfells2238]

I learned to choose the right kind of wood because regardless of how much i polish nor chip off the unnecessary excess, they will break sooner regardless how equally they bend.

[@DanSantanaBows]

Make those lower quality woods wider or longer. It is possible to make bows with low quality wood but you have to use a design fluent approach. See my video how to break a bow for tips with those woods

[@Miki-zp2my]

The place where you work is beautiful, and also the place where you live .

[@bienyamientoefy1923]

Thanks 👍. lovely lesson. couple of times I tiller my bows from the back of the bow.it works to

[@DanSantanaBows]

Most bowyers don’t recommend it. Some woods can take it though. Personally I prefer to make sure the back of the bow is as unviolated as possible

[@bienyamientoefy1923]

I agree with you on that to

[@brtg59]

Finally haha, I can't get enough of the style of your videos, truly masterpiece just like your craftsmanship. Love it!

[@eastcoastlithics]

He’s back 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@georgemorrison1888]

You are such an artist in both you bow making and making of your video. I love wood and making bows but wish I had just an ounce of your artistic flare.

[@DanSantanaBows]

You don’t need any of that. A basic bow, basically designed and tillered, and without any artwork- is still one of the most beautiful things

[@MarcosTopolanski]

Beautiful art 🎨🎨🎨❤❤❤

[@DanSantanaBows]

Only with your music!

[@brianbaldwin3700]

You are a truly skilled artisan! It's awesome to see your videos once again.

[@mrTwisby]

This is the kind of content I need. Fantastic work as always, Dan. ⚡

[@bubstacrini8851]

Thank You for sharing your meditations & music , so blessed with the spirit of Artemis.

[@markbenoit4187]

Always enjoy your videos, your explanations are excellent and your skill top notch

[@manuelwebe]

Beautiful bow. Thanks for sharing.

[@patriciataubin3103]

Excellente video Dan , very informative and beautifully done.

[@cloudyfanning328]

I love the finish! My daughter's is named after the corn flower but in a different language. I want to make a kids bow for her with this finish ❤

[@TheLonghunterBowyer]

Great video man

[@justabill5780]

Always impressed with your videos and skill. Thank you.

[@martarmis]

Your videos nourish my bow making passion and also act as a meditation. Another beautiful piece of art! Congrats!

[@organicarchery]

I strive for no string follow on customers’ bows, because there’s the widespread false notion that it’s a bad thing. However, with my personal hunting bows, nothing beats one with a touch of string follow or set. They’re deadly silent, stable, and accurate. I’ll grab one with lower decibels over a few extra fps for whitetails any day.

[@DanSantanaBows]

@@organicarchery I definitely agree. Seems like most bowyers settle on this same opinion after a while. My favorite shooters all have a bit of string follow

[@ambidextrousarchery]

Fabulous video 🙂

[@PantelevTV]

Truly, the ART of tillering... Thx for sharing. Since I have not followed all your videos, by any chance, have you ever built a bow out of black locust and reflexed it the same way as this one?

[@DanSantanaBows]

I haven’t worked too much black locust, but someone gave me some more recently

[@nookymonster1]

Is quarter sawn hickory board ok to use? I would back with cloth or rawhide. Grain is pretty good with minimal runoff.

[@DanSantanaBows]

@@nookymonster1 No need to back if the fibers on the back are unviolated. Follow my board bow tutorial for instructions. See the back of the bow video for clarification

[@samgamerocoin9909]

Do you hunt with your own bows?

[@DanSantanaBows]

Sure. I haven’t bought a bow since my first two

[@aaronhollenbeck2880]

How long do you normally wait to start retillering after heat treatments?

[@DanSantanaBows]

I recommend the next day at least. Some do it as soon as the wood is cool, if you’re in a rush. I usually go a week since I am working on other projects anyway and like the wood to go back to equilibrium mc

[@aaronhollenbeck2880]

@DanSantanaBows I normally wait a couple days as well depending on weather and where I'm working. I was just curious. That bow turned out great!!! I just finished a hop hornbeam bow that I used some techniques I learned from watching your videos. It came out nicely. Thank you.

[@LongBowMan89]

🏹🏹🏹

[@JoelWiggins-p9x]

Seems like every bow I build cracks when I recurve it I just fill with ca or epoxy or titbond whatever is handy and they don’t fail at the glue …….. so far lol If I gave up every crack I would never make a bow ! lol take care man thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@ZephrusPrime]

Do you ever make bows that draw out to 31"?