my first osage selfbow / question ...

[Hillbilly]

Looks like you're well on your way to a nice bow. Osage is quite variable over here, too-everything from great wood to nearly useless junk, just depends on what conditions it's growing under and probably genetics of the trees, too.

[heavybow]

Sweet looking bow frank. marlon

[1/2primitive]

Nice stave, looks like it'll be a good bow in no time.
     Sean

[jpitts]

It's gonna be a great bow.

[George Tsoukalas]

I'm liking it a lot.      ;DJawge

[medicinewheel]

gentlemen, thanks for all the kind replies! - i was offline for a week because the computer didn't work...

cheers, frank

[Badger]

Looking forward to the finished product, looks great so far,  Steve

[medicinewheel]

in 2007 i finished ten bows; considering i travelled for two full month in 2007 that makes one bow a month; and i was happy with all of them! some project i started ended up in the oven helping to heat the workshop  - oh well, i'm sure most of you...naaah, probably all of you had that happening, too!
but i also started many projects and never found the time to finish them: this beautiful piece of osage is among them and i'm up to finish it now!

all you osage experts please speek up:

the bow will be pulled to 29" and should have a 60-65 poundage; right now the bow is 69" ntn, 1 3/4" wide at the tapes bending nice and even from 3.5" reflex to straight limb at 25#.
later in the tillering process i may flip the tips a bit, mostly for the bow's sexyness... 

i might shorten the bow by an inch on each limb in the process.
what do you think of the width, can i / should i go narrower at the fades??

thanks,

frank





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[GregB]

Frank,
I think 1-1/2" at the fades would be fine...1-3/4 might be a little overbuilt.

[Pappy]

Looking good so far,I love the snake,you could go a little narrower if you like.I make most 1 1/2 to 1 5/8 I know you can go narrower than that but I just like the looks of a wider bow,not all that concerned about high performance.It wouldn't hurt to cut it down a little,it looks like a quality piece of Osage so it should handle that draw length.I like to flip the tips also it speeds them up some and seems to make them a little smoother.Keep us updated.
   Pappy

[Badger]

       That bow is looking very good, I have been using wider demensions the last couple of years with better results. Steve

[medicinewheel]

for now i stuck with 1 3/4" ; i'll might reduce during tillering!

have it at low brace right now, and seems fine; i don't really know about the marked part on right/upper limb. that's the one that had a bit more reflex and where marked the limb flips up a bit. it feels alright for now; being very carful there, bit afraid to get a hinge if i reduce to an even bend at this state. what do you think??

i by now lost one inch of reflex (pulled to 18" so far); what do you heatgunslingers think, should i heat-treat the belly? induce bit mor reflexß? flip the tips??? quit bow-making??



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[Badger]

I think I would use the heat to take the kink out of that limb and slightly flip the tips just to make it sexy and pick up a little umph. Steve

[medicinewheel]

sounds like a plan! - dry heat for flipping the tips??

[medicinewheel]

well, what can i say: I DID IT !!! -... now i'm scared   

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