osage newbie

[meanewood]

Ive got a locally grown (Australia) stave of Osage ready to go and need some advise never having used it before.

First, it has about 4-5 inches of even reflex which developed while splitting and seasoning. The log was pretty straight when felled.
Is this to much to begin the tillering or should I straighten it a bit with heat first?

Second, I'm tempted to leave the bark on due to the fact its pristine and would look great!
I left the bark on a hawthorn bow recently and just love the look.
Has anyone tried that with Osage before?

[osage outlaw]

If you leave the bark on it might pop off when you start bending it.

[Badger]

  I don't think leaving the bark on is a good option. It will affect your tillering somewhat. We also normally bring osage down to a heartwood ring for the back of the bow. 

[meanewood]

I'm not worried if it pops off. If it does, I'll just clean it up and go with a sapwood ring.

This stave is not thick enough to remove all the sapwood due to heavy checking along the pith line.
By the time I got through it, the thickness in the center is 26mm and that includes about 2mm of bark!

[Pat B]

I think there is a possibility that if the bark pops off it could cause other problems. For one thing the weight will be reduced and there is a chance a splinter could lift around a knot or pin. IMO, it is best to get to a good clean back ring before you start tillering. You never know what you might find below the bark.

[meanewood]

OK, I'll take the advise and remove the bark. I'm kind of over that idea now anyway.

I put it on the tiller yesterday, with a clamp to hold the middle and see how it reacted to having 5 inches of reflex.
It took 100lbs to get it to low brace height!

100lb is my target so I definitely need to take some of this reflex out.
I'll try rice bran oil and the trusty heat gun.

[mikekeswick]

Yes I would reduce the reflex as well. I like my elb's to have about 1 - 2 inches reflex if possible.