unusual looking osage in progress

[Aaron H]

That is an incredibly unique looking piece of osage you got there BB.  I'm sure you will do something amazing with it.  I can't wait to see it finished.

[Danzn Bar]

Saw that beautiful piece of wood at the Classic this year in stave form......sure didn't take you long to get started making a bow out of it.    Can't wait to see that sucker all finished up.
DBar 

[Badly Bent]

Worked the belly a little more, got it drawing to 22" now. Anymore I don't get to upset when a bow blows up while making it but I don't want to ruin this one so going slow from here out. May not find a piece like this again ever. I believe the back will be fine and won't lift a splinter, the knots are actually more of a concern.
This one won't get any decoration, paint or add ons.

[H Rhodes]

Greg, have you left that last sapwood ring on very many bows?  I was just wondering if this is as rare as I think it is. 

[Badly Bent]

I've only left a ring of sapwood on osage one time Howard and that was recently and the bow didn't survive to full draw. Wasn't the sapwood that failed, just bad tillering at the fades and got it bending to much at the handle. Did a mulberry a couple years ago with one ring of sapwood intact that came out nice. Cody has that one now and it is one of my favorites of all the bows I've made so far.

[blackhawk]

Come on hurry up....ya got that creamscicle shooting yet?    ....every great once in awhile I've come across these in that last layer of sapwood transitioning to heartwood.

[Badly Bent]

Maybe tomorrow Chris, wifes got me doing some spring cleaning today. I keep taking these breaks to get on PA and take a breather but she's pushing me hard to do other things around the house.

[Danzn Bar]

Same here Greg......   the knee excuse doesn't work anymore after the Classic. 
DBar

[simson]

That's really unusual looking, never seen that on my stuff. Obviously the time when the sap changes into the heartwood. Do you what month it was cut?

And -  I'm sure we will see a fine bow soon ....

[lebhuntfish]

Maybe tomorrow Chris, wifes got me doing some spring cleaning today. I keep taking these breaks to get on PA and take a breather but she's pushing me hard to do other things around the house.

Yeah it's great going on our little outings. Only to come home and realize that the wife only had more time to find things for us to do! I'm with you buddy! Patrick

[Badly Bent]

Tiller input welcome, here's where I'm at with it now. Have it drawing to 22" and feels about in the low
40's # at that length. Want to take it to 25" and anything above 45# at my 24" draw. I have to do some string alignment adjustment tomorrow but that should be easy with the heat gun.
 
The setback you see in the handle area is natural and was there from the start, not fond of that much setback all in the handle area. I tried heating a little out when I had the bow roughed but only eliminated a very small amount. Shot about 70 arrows out of it at the short 22" draw and it has a bit of handshock.
Tiller critique welcomed, I don't want to crank her back in further at this point so any input is welcome.

[Badly Bent]

Here's the back profile/shape

[Blaflair2]

That's terrible looking, I'll send ya my info for proper disposal  she's a beauty, nice bend

[paulsemp]

the second full draw picture appears that just out of the handle on the bottom is a little stiff.did you try steam to get that set back handle out?

[Badly Bent]

No chance Blaflair. 

Didn't apply steam Paul but your right that would do it. It may not show in the unbraced pic. but the reflex in more pronounced out of the handle at the bottom limb. Do you think it would be a good idea to take a little of that reflex out of the handle at this point? I was thinking of doing that but wasn't sure if that would be a good idea and don't want to experiment on this one.  Will I lose draw weight doing that?  I haven't heat treated the limbs so I could do some of that to get some weight back if I lose some .