thinest rings.... ever

[sleek]

I have two beautiful staves of osage. Only one problem. The rings are so thin, even with a magnifying glass, your not gonna see them.  And if I chase below that, I run out of width on the stave. So, not being loco enough to try to chase a ring, im thinking bamboo backed. But out of curiosity,  anyone ever run into this befoe?

[Pat B]

I love thin ringed osage. It makes a great bow. I usually back it with rawhide.
 Boo or hickory backing would be an option but you'll have to decrown it first.

[sleek]

I love it also. It makes beautiful handles, and I think it has better performance because of less mass. But this is insane thin. I got bamboo. Now question is, I have two staves 7 foot long. Id like two bamboo shorties. One a deflex reflex andthe other a recurve. Do I really cut two straight 86" staves down to size? I feel guilty doing that. How short can you go and get a 28" draw with a boo osage lam, stiff handle, 40-50# draw?

[lebhuntfish]

Don't know for sure buddy, but if you bring them next weekend to Erics I bet we can decrown them on his jointer! Patrick

[Knoll]

we can decrown them on his jointer! Patrick

cheat! cheat!   

[sleek]

No thanks. I'll use my KaBar.

[Pat B]

Build the bows you want with the staves you have but pick out the best portion for the bows. What's left over can be made into risers, turkey box calls, tip overlays, knife scales and the list goes on.

[sleek]

I do need a hatchet handle....  wait a minute.  That leabes me 30" drop. Thems billets! Hehe...

[Pat B]

Not necessarily if you pick the best for each bow. 

[sleek]

True.... and now im home looking at them its hatchet handles.  Good ones though.

[sleek]

So, whats the shortest boo backed stiff handle you guys would think for 40-50#@28?

[bowandarrow473]

I'd say 60-62 inches but I saw where you got a 54in stiff handle to 26in the other day  so I'm sure you might could do it at 58in long.

[JonW]

I think you could do 56 easily. Make it a three inch bulbous handle and make it work right up to the handle.

[Blaflair2]

I'm working one now, pretty thin rings. I found one that worked out. It seems to want to take set on me. And I'm not done tillering. I'm gonna hear treat the belly after. But was curious if thinned ringed Osage was more sub par unlike other woods

[sleek]

I havent noticed a difference in set between thick or thin ring osageand I have worked lots of both. However I also never directly compared the two either.  That being said, I always get set while tillering, but never very much.

There was a black locust bow I made. Had only two rings fat rings in it. I heat treated the belly many times until it was purple and black. 40#@28 4" set. I have no idea why but thick rings didnt help it out none.