Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Dave 55 on April 08, 2009, 06:30:04 pm

Title: I have read
Post by: Dave 55 on April 08, 2009, 06:30:04 pm

I have read that osage does not make a good performing stacked belly elb do any of you have experience with bows of these types?

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Pat B on April 09, 2009, 12:15:24 am

I made a 70" ELB osage that pulls about 55#@28". Thin ringed osage so I added a rawhide backing. Osage will make almost any kind of bow you want to make! ;)

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Dave 55 on April 09, 2009, 12:21:57 am

Thanks for the reply Pat,Im gonna give it a try,Dave.

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Ryano on April 09, 2009, 12:22:32 am

Well I don't think the stacked belly is the problem its the over all length. I've yet to shoot a osage bow longer than 64" That didn't shake mt teeth out..... ;D Its just to heavy and dense of a wood for longer bow designs IMO....

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Dave 55 on April 09, 2009, 01:34:46 am

Thanks for the advice Ryano its appreciated.

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Pat B on April 09, 2009, 01:38:59 am

This bow had no more hand shock than any of my other bows. Keep the tips small.

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: DCM on April 09, 2009, 09:45:02 am

At typical ELB dimensions osage makes a better 100# bow than 50#.  As has been said, keep it narrow and/or short, relatively, for more dense woods.

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: adb on April 09, 2009, 08:08:12 pm

Osage makes a fine ELB. I just finished one. 72", 45# @ 28", maple backed. Custom made for a friend. 1 1/8" at the handle, tapering to 3/8" tips. I think you could make almost any bow from osage. The only "problem'' I've experienced with osage is making the limbs too wide. I've found if you do that, the limbs are excessively heavy, and you get more hand shock.

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Dave 55 on April 09, 2009, 10:07:42 pm

Thanks for the replys,I appreciate all of them,Dave

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Hillbilly on April 09, 2009, 10:44:07 pm

I've shot Pat's osage longbow, and it's sweet. Accurate and no handshock that I noticed. If you made the tips the same size you would on a yew ELB it would probably jar your fillings loose, though.

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Rich Saffold on April 10, 2009, 12:49:49 am

I've shot 74" 120# Osage ELB styles which were as sweet as you can ask for. 

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Traxx on April 10, 2009, 12:55:41 am

Guess this falls under the dont believe everything ya read rule.LOL
Seriously though,I think it falls under the design the bow to the wood category.

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Kegan on April 10, 2009, 10:08:42 am

I made a 70" Osage ELB. It was a fine shooter. Trick is the bowyer, not the wood or design ;D! With Oage it's just easier to let the tips get too wide. They should be light, narrow, and stiff.

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: 1/2primitive on April 10, 2009, 05:55:51 pm

Quote from: Kegan on April 10, 2009, 10:08:42 am

I made a 70" Osage ELB. It was a fine shooter. Trick is the bowyer, not the wood or design ;D! With Oage it's just easier to let the tips get too wide. They should be light, narrow, and stiff.

Ditto, Kegan. Performance (and hand shock, or lack of it) can be improved greatly with small tips.
     Sean

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: NOMADIC PIRATE on April 10, 2009, 06:42:34 pm

Osage is such a strong wood that the outer limbs can be made real narrow, a properly made a 70" Osage ELB probably will have less handshock than a 60" osage recurve,...I hear allready, Osage bowyers screeming "bloody murder"  ;D

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: nickf on April 10, 2009, 07:27:50 pm

as everybody said, heavier woods need proportional narrower outter limbs/tips to keep the handshock away.

Nick

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Jesse on April 10, 2009, 07:44:11 pm

Im pretty sure ipe is heavier and denser than osage and it will make a great bow at long lengths. I never tried a long osage though. I agree that it should have less shock if built properly but I can't realy say till I've tried it :)

Title: Re: I have read
Post by: Bullitt on April 10, 2009, 11:00:51 pm

For what its worth, I have a osage elb made by Steve Martin of Kentucky.  Its only 48 lbs. and was my first selfbow of any kind.  Its a shooter, and Steve is quite the bowyer and Gentleman!  I have seen others, your choice and preferance.