Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Artus on November 10, 2018, 01:06:48 pm

Title: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: Artus on November 10, 2018, 01:06:48 pm
Hello guys!

It´s been a long time since I was around here. Had some years break from bow making.
Anyway, I recently started to continue a bow I began building before my break. And now I could need some advice please.

It´s made from Osage and 66" long the handle is 35mm wide,150mm long and asymmetrical. The limbs tape from 40 to 10mm.
Unfortunately I made a design mistake back then, by making the deflex limb the lower one.
At the moment the bow is tillered to half brace height and looks good so far. But due to the unbalanced shape the grip drops away from my hand when I try to pull the bow. And the tiller is hard to judge, with the deflex in the one limb and the reflex in the other.

Now I have the plan to put a deflex in the other limb too, and give both a strong reflex.
Any thoughts on that?

Here are some pics (the left limb is the upper one):


Thanks!
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: TimBo on November 10, 2018, 01:22:34 pm
I really admire the bowyers on here who can pull off a wonky bow like that without heat correction, but I sure can't do it myself!  Your idea to get the limbs matching sounds good to me.
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on November 10, 2018, 02:02:48 pm
if the bow was braced I could tell more,,
but if you even out the limbs it will be easier to tiller,,
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: rps3 on November 10, 2018, 02:47:59 pm
With that bow, I think I would do just as you suggested, but I have to admit, I enjoy making an unbalanced looking bow that bends just right, but different for each limb, and ends up shooting an arrow perfectly.
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: Artus on November 11, 2018, 01:55:52 am
Thank you!
The next time I get around to continue my work, I‘ll even it out.
@rps3:
Same here but the handle leans towards the belly and drops away when the bow is pulled. Hence it‘s very uncomfy to hold.
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on November 11, 2018, 06:39:45 am
You have to forget about having the classic tiller shape. Tiller each limb  to do an equal part of the work and the bending should start at the end of the fades. Note where each limb begins and ends when bending and make sure they move the same distance.

Looking at your pull point ...it should move straight and evenly down the center without moving to one side or the other.

There is a chapter on tillering non typical staves in TBB 4 I believe.

In my early days, tillering one of these  was a petty regular occurrence.

Now I try to even the limbs off with heat. Makes it easier.

Jawge
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: BowEd on November 11, 2018, 07:24:07 am
Ahhhh. The good old days huh George!!!
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: Artus on November 11, 2018, 08:27:49 am
Just to be perfectly sure: You don‘t see a problem in heat bending, even with dry wood? No concerns about the reflex that could disappear during tillering?

@George:
Currently the limbs move the equal distance. The problem is the leaning habdle, that makes the grip uncomfortable, when pulled.
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: simson on November 11, 2018, 11:05:38 am
Build a steamer and heat that imperfections out of that thing, like Jawge said things get a lot easier ....
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: Artus on November 11, 2018, 02:12:46 pm
Thank you all!
The easiest thing would be of course, to steam out the deflex near the handle on the right limb. But it‘s dangerous to raise a splinter.
I think it‘s safer to put a deflex in the green area and a reflex in the red.
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: Artus on February 23, 2019, 03:48:48 pm
I finally had time to work on it.
I sinewed the back and flipped the ends. The tiller isn’t perfect, but I‘m down to 35#, so I‘d like to leave it as it is. What do you gentlemen think?

(https://i.imgur.com/aLJZ9gG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/daaHt0S.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/moO5CCx.jpg)
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on February 23, 2019, 05:04:58 pm
Maybe even it up,,..and put more Sinew?
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: burchett.donald on February 23, 2019, 06:14:08 pm
Artus,
          I think you done a great job...A hell of a good job...Would love to see you draw in hand...Balance is the key...http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,62531.0.html...
          If your happy, you have my vote...
                                                              Don
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: backtowood B2W on February 24, 2019, 01:55:37 am
well done! I have one like this, didn't correct any: one limb  got chrysals all over the working part. My brother shots it. I´m curios how long...
Hope to see this in real one time...
b2w
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: Mo_coon-catcher on February 24, 2019, 03:15:31 am
That looks real good. How is that balance when drawn on the hand? That’ll be one of the best indicators of the weight of the limbs is balanced in those uneven profiles. You can feel it wanting to tip to the stronger limb, you can draw it in front of a mirror too to see if it is starting to tip one way or the other. The challenge of those kind are worth it when they come out shooting well

Kyle
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: hoosierf on February 24, 2019, 08:10:47 am
I’d consider coaxing just a bit more bend out of the left outer third. Not much. Love these kinds of bows. Well done.

Now as I look at it again, maybe just a tiny bit mid limb on the left and call it good.  The outer third will probably come around for you you’ve got just a bit more circular bend on the right.
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: ohma2 on February 24, 2019, 01:18:28 pm
I think you did a fine job with the corections you made.
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: NonBacked on February 24, 2019, 01:22:52 pm
Artus -
66” 35@28…Shoot It! With those specs, there’s nothing that will hurt a sinew backed Osage bow.
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: Pat B on February 24, 2019, 02:02:11 pm
Can you feel if one limb is stronger when you draw it by hand? 
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on February 24, 2019, 05:00:17 pm
I agree if it shoots well,..and your happy,..call it good..if u wanted. More weight,.,that is possible a s well...
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: Artus on February 25, 2019, 01:52:50 pm
Thank you all for the complements!
I did a few shots in the garden and it works very nicely. The draw is very smooth and feels quite balanced and there is no handshock at all. It shoots very precisely and fast even though it´s rather light in draw weight. It´s exactly what I was looking for, a easy to shoot and reliable bow for practicing aka for times when I´m not so well practiced.
There is just one thing that concerns me a bit. Now the weather is cold and the air dry. I´m afraid the bow looses some weight in humid summer weather, that causes the sinew to relax a bit. So I really take adding another layer of sinew in consideration. I will think about it, there is no hurry. Meanwhile I make the overlays, also give the finish a thought and work a little more on my ash Holmegaard and the R/D elderflower. In other words, I´m gonna put it away for a few weeks.

@Don: I will make a proper presentation when the finish is done and put it in to the vote for the bom. Thank you for your encouragement!
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: bradsmith2010 on February 25, 2019, 06:03:39 pm
sounds like a good plan,, thats the thing about bows,, sometimes you have alot of options to consider,, and it takes a bit of thinking,,im sure it will work out great,,,
Title: Re: unbalanced Osage Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 26, 2019, 06:34:54 am
Bowned,
The good old days when most of the winter was taken up with making bows....just to make them.
Artus,
You have a challenging stave there. The limb entry points into the handle are different which makes judging tiller hard. You have to tell if the tiller is even by short drawing like Pat said.
Jawge