Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: sleek on September 06, 2015, 12:56:05 pm

Title: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: sleek on September 06, 2015, 12:56:05 pm
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?
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Pat B on September 06, 2015, 01:47:31 pm
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.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: sleek on September 06, 2015, 02:13:50 pm
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?
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: lebhuntfish on September 06, 2015, 02:30:11 pm
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
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Knoll on September 06, 2015, 02:39:01 pm
we can decrown them on his jointer! Patrick

cheat! cheat!   :)
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: sleek on September 06, 2015, 02:42:00 pm
No thanks. I'll use my KaBar.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Pat B on September 06, 2015, 04:06:42 pm
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.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: sleek on September 06, 2015, 04:12:29 pm
I do need a hatchet handle....  wait a minute.  That leabes me 30" drop. Thems billets! Hehe...
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Pat B on September 06, 2015, 04:16:04 pm
Not necessarily if you pick the best for each bow.  :-\
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: sleek on September 06, 2015, 04:32:12 pm
True.... and now im home looking at them its hatchet handles.  Good ones though.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: sleek on September 06, 2015, 04:33:34 pm
So, whats the shortest boo backed stiff handle you guys would think for 40-50#@28?
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: bowandarrow473 on September 06, 2015, 05:02:50 pm
I'd say 60-62 inches but I saw where you got a 54in stiff handle to 26in the other day  :o so I'm sure you might could do it at 58in long.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: JonW on September 06, 2015, 05:23:07 pm
I think you could do 56 easily. Make it a three inch bulbous handle and make it work right up to the handle.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Blaflair2 on September 06, 2015, 06:32:03 pm
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
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: sleek on September 06, 2015, 07:05:24 pm
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.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: duke3192 on September 06, 2015, 07:21:41 pm
I know it has been said on here before, look at the ratio between early growth and late growth. Thin rings = slow growth, good if the ratio is about the same or smaller in the early growth, those will make awsome bows, but are a real pain to clean up or tiller, you can mess up in an eye blink, scrape and sand, and a lot of patience.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: sleek on September 08, 2015, 09:16:16 pm
(http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i411/rocketernally/20150908_194302_zpsddnxs3nt.jpg) (http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/rocketernally/media/20150908_194302_zpsddnxs3nt.jpg.html)

Thought this thread could at least use a pic.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: JonW on September 08, 2015, 09:18:40 pm
Man that tree had a rough life. You did it a favor by cutting it.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Hrothgar on September 08, 2015, 09:50:06 pm
Can't help but be curious Sleek, did either one of those staves come from my stash--the 31 ring per inch staves?  ;D  I have one down to floor tiller but still haven't managed to save a ring on the back. My eyesight and my patience are failing equally, think its time to post it on Trading Post--in exchange for anything!
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Selfbowman on September 08, 2015, 09:59:37 pm
Burn both and get another stave. That's what I would do. Been there done that. Osage is not that hard to find yet. Maybe someday. Arvin
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: bowandarrow473 on September 08, 2015, 10:11:03 pm
I'll take the stave!!!!!
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Blaflair2 on September 08, 2015, 10:24:13 pm
I'm working on this
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Badger on September 08, 2015, 10:29:29 pm
  I had bought a ton of that thin ringed osage a few years ago. I rough chase it with a draw knife then go down one more ring with a well sharpened scraper. Very easy, just a little patience, doesn't really take all that long either. I really like thin ringed osage, the belly is beautiful when you finish, lots of v's pointing to the tip.
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: DavidV on September 08, 2015, 10:38:51 pm
Dosn't look much thinner than this osage I got from Patrick, ended up performing really well and it worked nicer than the fast growth osage I've cut here.

(http://i.imgur.com/CA7Ng7D.jpg?1)

Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: lebhuntfish on September 08, 2015, 11:21:46 pm
Nice David! If you can, bring that one with you on Saturday! I would love to see it! Patrick
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Selfbowman on September 08, 2015, 11:54:11 pm
Steve I admit no patience. I was tring to chase a growth ring on a yew stave once with a single edge razor blade as a scraper. Used all those patience up. I have seen good fine ring osage and good 1/8" ring staves that where good also. There is a lot of fine ring osage along the Red river . The osage is dark brownish with a hint of red in it. I don't care for it. I'll take Kansas , east Tn. ,Mo., central Tx. Osage over it any time. Arvin
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Pappy on September 09, 2015, 05:26:01 am
I prefer thin ringed Osage , I personally think it makes a better bow.JMO  ;) :) Seems much denser and I just like it better, don't mind chasing a ring on it either, I kind of enjoy it. :)
  Pappy
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: blackhawk on September 09, 2015, 06:43:50 am
Theres chaseable rings between the bottom of your thumb fingernail n knuckle...ive made quite a few bows with rings that size where i mentioned in your stave
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: PatM on September 09, 2015, 07:14:28 am
When the end cut reveals such thin outer rings why not try to squeeze less staves from the log and allow yourself further depth up the triangle of the split in order to retain sufficient width?
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: Selfbowman on September 09, 2015, 08:55:56 am
One more reason for us to not want the same kind of tree. The discussion may sure enough become arguements at that point. Mine . No mine. No it's mine.  >:( :(  Sleek I wish you good luck with your bow . Hope it shoots like the best you have ever made. Arvin
Title: Re: thinest rings.... ever
Post by: sleek on September 09, 2015, 09:29:14 am
I got two boo steips ready to back em with. And a third stave with similar rings. Ima try and chase a ring on it. I bought these stave inn a pile with others so I didnt split these.