Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on February 25, 2017, 05:37:08 pm

Title: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 25, 2017, 05:37:08 pm
Hey guys, what's up? I gotta another one to show ya if you're interested. It's a short and simple osage D bow with cherry bark on the back. Pulls exactly 50# @ 26" and man does it spit arrows quickly. I spent the better part of the day outside shooting this little lady. Lot's of fun.  :)
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 25, 2017, 05:38:39 pm
4 more
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: penderbender on February 25, 2017, 05:46:22 pm
That's a sweet little bow! Man you pump em' out! That cherry back with the hole is sweet! Cheers- Brendan
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 25, 2017, 05:48:50 pm
Thanks bender. I just switched the FD pic cause I think the first one had the bow at a weird angle.
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: Stick Bender on February 25, 2017, 05:49:27 pm
Another nice one congrats how long is that stick ?
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 25, 2017, 05:50:38 pm
Sorry, 50.5" ntn
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: osage outlaw on February 25, 2017, 05:55:01 pm
Nice looking bow.  I noticed you didn't leave any extra width around that knot.  Did you leave that area thicker than the rest of the limb?
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 25, 2017, 06:00:41 pm
Thanks OO. Great question. It bulges just a tad around the hole, but I relied primarily on thickness to compensate for the missing wood. I would have preferred to go more with width, but there were checks on either side that had to be avoided.
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: BowEd on February 25, 2017, 06:16:51 pm
That is nice really a nice bow upstate.You'll have to tell me exactly how you get that cherry bark on there like that.Looks great.
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: Bob W. on February 25, 2017, 06:22:11 pm
Cool bow Jeff, good tiller!
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: Whiskeyjet on February 25, 2017, 06:50:34 pm
That's pretty neat with the little window!
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 25, 2017, 06:54:33 pm
Howdy Ed, First I prep the sections of bark by cutting skive joints with a razor where the sections will overlap to try and maintain a uniform thickness. Then I put the bow in a vice belly down and smear a nice even coat of TB on the back. Next I lay the sections on one at a time wrapping with plastic first, then inner tubes. When I get to the end of a section I put a hand clamp on the inner tube, lay the next one on with a little glue on the joint, wrap more plastic, take the hand clamp off and continue with the inner tube. After a couple hours I remove the tubes and plastic and let it dry over night. At the end I sand the bark from 120 to 320.  ;)

Thanks Bob. Love those last 2 you posted as well!
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: Stick Bender on February 25, 2017, 07:06:14 pm
That cherry bark against the hedge looks awsome !!
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: DC on February 25, 2017, 07:09:53 pm
Whew! Another bow. Good thing. I was beginning to think you were sick or something ;D ;D I like this one. The nocks are intriguing. They look like the string would slip off at full draw. Are they even close to that?
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: BowEd on February 25, 2017, 07:22:58 pm
Cool Jeff.You don't pre reduce the thickness any by sanding of the bark smooth on the glueing side before glueing it on?Your joints are flawless.Nice finish work.I like it.I imagine they are pre cut to width for sure.Maybe a little over to be sanded to a nice clean straight edge.How long do you leave the bow dry before shooting?Is it as waterproof as snake skin you think?
Hey....did you do a build along?
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: selfbow joe on February 25, 2017, 07:43:09 pm
Nice looking bow. I like the cherry bark on it.
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: BowEd on February 25, 2017, 08:15:22 pm
Never mind.I found a few build-a-longs.
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 25, 2017, 11:33:45 pm
DC, the nocks are cut in just far enough that the string stays on. I have had a string come off at full draw once and the bow came back and got me right between the eyes.  :o ouch!

Ed, I think snake skin is probably more waterproof only because the bark does have small pores. Glad you found a build along cause I never did one. Be happy to though if folks are interested.

Glad everyone likes the look of the bark on osage. The pics don't really do it justice cause the sun wasn't out. When light hits it just right all kinds of colors appear- purples, reds, blues, silver, and browns. Tung oil really brings them out. I think it's pretty functional as a backing too. It's amazingly tough stuff.
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: Redhand on February 25, 2017, 11:47:23 pm
Great looking bow upstate.  Nice work!
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: Greenriverwoodcraft on February 25, 2017, 11:47:46 pm
Great bow like the simple profile both braces and drawn
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: BowEd on February 26, 2017, 07:05:37 am
I read that it can increase the poundage on a bow too.It's that strong.Thanks.
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: loon on February 26, 2017, 07:18:52 am
DC, the nocks are cut in just far enough that the string stays on. I have had a string come off at full draw once and the bow came back and got me right between the eyes.  :o ouch!
That sounds like it could've been a lot worse.. O_o

Very nice bow
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: bjrogg on February 26, 2017, 07:32:50 am
Nice bend upstate. Tillering looks great. Really like the birch bark. Never did birch bark before. Do you think it would work on HHB with undulating back? Nice job keep knocking them out.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 26, 2017, 09:39:11 am
Thanks Redhand.

Greenriver, that Osage is amazing stuff. As long as it's dry and I don't over stress the wood it holds its profile incredibly well. When the string comes off, poof... right back to where it was before.

Bead, I never read that about the poundage. Cool.

Loon, you're right sir. I guess I could have lost an eye. Counting my blessings.

bj, thanks man. It's actually cherry bark, which is a good deal tougher than birch. I'm quite sure it would work on HHB, especially if wrapped nice and tight with bike inner tubes. Bet it would look sweet against that bone-white ironwood as well. I'd be happy to send you some if it's hard to come by where you're at. I've got lots and it's cheap to ship. Just PM me. ;)
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: bjrogg on February 26, 2017, 10:16:03 am
Sorry about that Upstate. I knew it was cherry but somehow my brain kept typing birch. I'd like to try both some day but I do think that cherry would look sweet on some really white HHB. I know it has to be the right species of cherry. I think I have access to it but I might take you up on your generous offer.
Bjrogg
Title: Re: Just Another Simple Osage Bow
Post by: upstatenybowyer on February 26, 2017, 10:18:36 am
Sorry about that Upstate. I knew it was cherry but somehow my brain kept typing birch. I'd like to try both some day but I do think that cherry would look sweet on some really white HHB. I know it has to be the right species of cherry. I think I have access to it but I might take you up on your generous offer.
Bjrogg

PM me your info and I'll send some out this week  ;)