Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: bigcountry on February 25, 2010, 01:39:58 pm

Title: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: bigcountry on February 25, 2010, 01:39:58 pm

I bought a quarater sawn "clear" piece of osage.  Almost straight grained with zero knots and zero pins.

I don't see too many people building quarter sawn osage much.  Is there a reason?  It sounds like it would be ideal?

I also have a piece of 1/4" quartersawn hickory to back it.  Any things I should watch out for? Any advise on dimensions? 

I was thinking of 1.5" wide at fades.  2" long fades.  5" bulbous handle.  straight 1.5" for 12" and then pyamiding to 1/2" tips (to start)

Does this sound good?  Never made a hickory backed osage.

Title: Re: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: El Destructo on February 25, 2010, 01:46:14 pm

Sounds good to me....just make sure that you degrease the Osage well before glue up.....imo

Title: Re: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: bigcountry on February 25, 2010, 02:12:17 pm

Quote from: El Destructo on February 25, 2010, 01:46:14 pm

Sounds good to me....just make sure that you reversed the Paste well before glue up.....imo

Not following you.  What does reversed the paste mean?

Title: Re: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: Hillbilly on February 25, 2010, 02:30:42 pm

Should work good. I'd probably thin that hickory down to about 1/8" though or you may wind up with a osage-bellied hickory.

Title: Re: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: bigcountry on February 25, 2010, 07:47:27 pm

Thanks all.  The hickory is rather rough so I figured after I smooth it on the beltsander it will be 1/8"

Really excited about this build.  Going to look freaky not seeing osage feather from the grain. 

Title: Re: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: Marc St Louis on February 25, 2010, 09:30:26 pm

Quarter sawn Osage works well for a backed bow. 

Title: Re: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: El Destructo on February 25, 2010, 09:34:39 pm

Big Country...don't ask me what Happened...but thats not what I typed...I changed it back...must have been the Spell Check on My Droid Phone...and I wasn't paying attention..... :o

Title: Re: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: adb on February 25, 2010, 10:20:45 pm

I've made at least 25 backed osage bows that were from 1/4 sawn osage. Maple backed, ash backed, hickory backed, rawhide backed... all with 1/4 sawn strips. They've ranged from 52" kids bows, to 60" D bows, to 72" ELBs. It's all about the grain.

Title: Re: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: Timo on February 25, 2010, 10:55:11 pm

Big C, I'd say that a very high % of the bbo's you see are from 1/4 sawn/edge grain osage 

As for your dims, how thick is your osage?

Title: Re: Quarter Sawn Osage Hickory backing advise
Post by: bigcountry on February 26, 2010, 01:27:12 pm

Quote from: Timo on February 25, 2010, 10:55:11 pm

Big C, I'd say that a very high % of the bbo's you see are from 1/4 sawn/edge grain osage 

As for your dims, how thick is your osage?

Right now its 3/4".  Figured I would keep 3/4 at the fades and plane it down to 1/2 to the tips to start.

Thanks for all the replys.  This thing has such straight grain, if it was a tad thicker than 1", I would split with the grain down the middle and chase a ring and make two regular  selfbows.