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Author Topic: grain orientation for boo backed bows  (Read 3383 times)

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gutpile

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grain orientation for boo backed bows
« on: February 22, 2017, 09:46:22 am »
I just picked up some flat sawn osage boards and have seen few comments about it being bad for boo backed bows. Due to Grain run off...quartersawn is best I know.. my question is can these still make a good bow ?....gut
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2017, 09:54:52 am »
Flat, rift or 1/4 doesn't matter much, grain run outs do. If the grain is straight it will work fine.
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gutpile

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2017, 10:10:13 am »
sweet, I feel better about it .. appears grain runs pretty straight through board.. kinda hard to see on flat sawn...
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Offline ty_in_ND

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2017, 04:19:01 pm »
At least you didn't and up with a board like this:



And it was sold a piece of osage to be backed to make a bow.

 :(
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2017, 04:37:12 pm »
Who sold that to you as such, Ty?
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Offline ty_in_ND

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2017, 05:00:22 pm »
Well... I got it from 3rivers, which surprised me because I've gotten osage from them before and the pieces were fairly straight grained (the osage I used for the bow I made for Jeff was from them and the grain was nice and straight).
« Last Edit: February 22, 2017, 05:17:42 pm by ty_in_ND »
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Offline mxalex229

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2017, 06:00:59 pm »
I just bought a piece of osage from 3 rivers that was just as bad. Grain run offs everywhere, board was completely warped, it wasn't worth firewood. 3 Rivers told me the wood was on sale and it should be expected..... Ordered from Pinehollow to restart, they sent me a gorgeous piece of osage that has grain like a leveling stick, and a 2" x 2" x 10" piece for the handle just as nice. Well worth the extra few bucks. Lesson learned.  8)
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Offline ty_in_ND

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2017, 06:21:00 pm »
 >:(

I've purchased "on sale" osage from 3rivers that was good for bow making (that's why I was fine buying it from them), so that's really a poor excuse.

As far as my board is concerned, the grain is bad, but the board is straight and not twisted, so I think I'll go ahead and just use it for practice.  If I can get a backed bow out of it, great, if not, then it'll be a teaching experience (both in bow building and who to purchase materials from...).  Heck, I might even save it to turn into core materials for trilams or cut it into veneers for making a bow out of "the material that shall be nameless", as it does have an interesting grain on it (waste not, want not after all).
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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2017, 07:06:43 pm »
I have made a bunch of BBOs from twisted, tight grain wood with a ton of runouts, never had a failure out of any of them. The bamboo and urac keeps them together.

Matter of fact, if I am making a giveaway BBO it will more than likely have this type of wood in it. I used to call this wood trash osage destined to be a BBO. I have probably made 30 or more with twisted runout wood. There have been a bunch of championships won with these types of trash wood bows that I made, all the way up to the national level.

OK, everyone who has made a BBO out of twisted osage and had it fail raise your hand. What, no hands showing.........

I hate to throw osage away if I can put it to use and BBOs fill the bill.

This is the low poundage BBO I am currently shooting because I had back surgery and I am somewhat incapacitated.

Yep, a BBO with a little runout and about ten years old. When I saw this thread I ran out to the shop and took this picture.



« Last Edit: February 22, 2017, 07:32:07 pm by Eric Krewson »
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Offline ty_in_ND

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2017, 07:22:16 pm »
That's really encouraging to hear, Eric. Just out of curiosity, did you take any special considerations with your design of a bamboo backed Osage bow using a less than choice piece of Osage vs something with really straight grain throughout the board?
« Last Edit: February 22, 2017, 09:33:54 pm by ty_in_ND »
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Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2017, 07:39:08 pm »
Nothing at all, I make them all the same. All of my BBOs are 1 1/4" wide and between 62" and 66" NTN depending on how long the draw length is of the recipient.

I have had failures from edge grain osage BBOs that had a pin running cross ways on the limb and positioned little too close to the belly, I had one edge grain without pins fail. I don't make edge grain BBOs any more.

I had two straight grain high poundage (75# plus) BBOs fail that I made for a guy with a very long draw length, after #2 went I sent him his money back and didn't make him a third bow.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2017, 07:46:00 pm by Eric Krewson »
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Offline loon

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2017, 07:56:27 pm »
Thanks Eric, I may try to rescue my hickory trash bow from ringing rocks with some bamboo.
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Offline Stixnstones

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2017, 08:04:23 pm »
Wouldnt worry much about that board... have gottin worse from 3 rivers and have made fine bows from such
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DevilsBeachSelfbows

Offline PatM

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2017, 08:27:53 pm »
If you guys start endorsing this type of wood  3Rivers will get wind of it and really start testing things.  ;)
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Offline ty_in_ND

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Re: grain orientation for boo backed bows
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2017, 09:36:46 pm »
Quote from: PatM on February 22, 2017, 08:27:53 pm
If you guys start endorsing this type of wood  3Rivers will get wind of it and really start testing things.  ;)

Boards with huge knots and holes! Then those of us making BBOs can get as close to a character stave as possible.  ;D
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