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Author Topic: Osage lam saves the bow  (Read 6080 times)

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Offline GB

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Osage lam saves the bow
« on: August 30, 2015, 12:45:58 am »
Last fall I made this bow from a red elm board.  It didn't turn out great, took too much set midlimb.  I heated some reflex in it and was flipping the tips when I noticed small cracks along the wood.  So I stuck it back up in the rafters.  I couldn't bring myself to toss it because I'd backed it with cherry bark and I liked the way it looked.
A couple of weeks ago I rasped the elm down and glued a 1/4" Osage lam on the belly.  It's 65" long and draws 45 pounds.  Pretty average speed wise, but it's a nice shooter when I can manage to get my form together.
The handle is maple with a little curl to it.











« Last Edit: August 30, 2015, 02:25:59 am by GB »
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Offline sleek

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2015, 02:04:51 am »
Nicely done sir. In my experience red elm tends to take lots of set. I didnt know it would handle an osage belly however.  Looks like you done it and done it good at that. Nice craftsmanship.  I like it.
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Offline Del the cat

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2015, 04:17:19 am »
Nice save... :)
Del
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Offline Badger

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2015, 06:13:53 am »
  Very nice job on your part, I have never had luck with red elm. Beautiful tiller job!
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Offline Dances with squirrels

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2015, 06:55:25 am »
That's a nice bow... regardless of how it got there.
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Offline Stixnstones

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2015, 07:37:47 am »
thats a beautiful piece of work right there!
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2015, 08:04:32 am »
Nice bow and wood combo. Red elm will take some stretching and osage will take some compressing.
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Offline rps3

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2015, 08:23:57 am »
I like the cherry backing.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2015, 08:50:04 am »
Nice save!
  I've done this a few times with good results.   The cherry bark is helping with the tension.
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Offline Danzn Bar

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2015, 09:39:54 am »
Very well done......
DBar
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Offline lebhuntfish

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2015, 10:48:00 am »
Awesome bow, nice save! Patrick
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Offline sleek

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2015, 10:51:24 am »
Quote from: Pat B on August 30, 2015, 08:50:04 am
Nice save!
  I've done this a few times with good results.   The cherry bark is helping with the tension.

Does it really?! Seems weid to menbark has a viable tension strength.  It seems so thin and brittle.
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Tread softly and carry a bent stick.

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Offline bowandarrow473

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #12 on: August 30, 2015, 10:59:45 am »
Looks great, nice save.
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Offline Carson (CMB)

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #13 on: August 30, 2015, 12:11:10 pm »
Way to see it through. That turned out really nice.

Quote from: sleek on August 30, 2015, 10:51:24 am
Quote from: Pat B on August 30, 2015, 08:50:04 am
Nice save!
  I've done this a few times with good results.   The cherry bark is helping with the tension.

Does it really?! Seems weid to menbark has a viable tension strength.  It seems so thin and brittle.

Sleek, cherry bark has incredible tension strength.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Osage lam saves the bow
« Reply #14 on: August 30, 2015, 12:41:58 pm »
Thanks Carson. I've found that out first hand. I think it even adds a bit of performance...but it is a specific cherry bark, not just cherry bark in general.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC
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