First Osage built TBB Vs Dean Torges

[Stick Bender]

Hi guys I am going to be starting my first Osage build soon & kinda stuck on choosing a design,so figured I would throw it out for you guys with more exsperience , the 2 designs that I'm looking at are the TBB1 osage build or Dean Torges Osage hunting bow my draw is 29 in. My exsperience level is 3 board bows 2 good 1 failure & currently working on my fist Maple stave bow, so I would like to here your opinions on those or any other designs that would work for me ?

[willie]

seems like both bows are proven designs. some folks like a flatter belly  than deans design, although dean does say that his belly is more rounded as product of his tillering and faceting method.

I see the differences being a result of methods, more than expected performance. if you have the confidence in your skills, choose either. If you like the detailed tutorial dean offers, why not?

Dean does say that his faceting method helps avoid problems if you are dealing with earlywood softness. your stave may or may not present these kind of problems, so the flatness of the belly you prefer might be all about how easy it is to tiller without making "steps" in the belly.

in the end, your craftmanship will determine more than the design per se

[bubby]

It depends on what you want really, you know there was a osage build series in pa a while back by Mickey Lotz, think it was a standard afb build and you can't go wrong there

[Stick Bender]

Does any body know what issues the Mickey lotz build a long was in I would like to get it ?

[PlanB]

I just happened to see it yesterday....here:

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,38381.0.html

[blackhawk]

Pick the one you like most and run with it...any are fine proven designs,but in the end it all comes down to execution and tillering which is more important.

[Aries]

I loved dean's book and my first successful bows were based on his designs. That being said I have grown away from them with experince.

[Eric Krewson]

I prefer the sleek lines of a Torges type bow but his facet tillering never worked for me. I make what I call a "Krewson" bow, narrow, 1 1/4" wide, slightly rounded belly transitioning into round, slim tips.

I can spot someone carrying one of my bows a mile away, they are distinctive.

[bradsmith2010]

great advice from above,, only thing I can add is,, I usually have the stave roughed out a bit before I commit to a design( checking for issues that might have been hidden,, but thats a fine point that might not apply here,,