first attempt bow building questions

[kodiakkid]

I recently bought an osage blank to try my first bow with. It came from Mike McGuire and is already worked down to a single growth ring. My question is, can I do any sanding on the back of this bow. I have read several articles on building but have yet to come across the answer to this question. When you are on a growth ring is everything ok as long as you don't cut completely through to the next ring or can you not even nick the ring you're on. I also got me a black ash stave to try from the very beginning. How do you know that you are staying on the same ring? These may be dumb questions and though I am not new to traditional archery I am a newbie to building my own bow. I am eager to dive in but I don't want to get in a hurry or do the wrong thing and mess my blank and stave up. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Paul<><

[Pat B]

You can sand the back without worry. No need to do so until you are ready to sand the entire completed bow.Ideally you want as pristine of a back ring as you can achieve. As long as you don't have drastic dips and gouges or cut through the ring around a knot you should be OK. If your annual growth rings are thick enough, you can usually see the lunar rings in it. They are laid down each month during the growing season. You could possibly have problems if these are violated but I can't document that.
   With osage you want the heartwood, with the ash you want the ring right under the bark as your back ring. Any chased pristine annual ring will work but it is way less work to use the ring under the bark. Ash has an obvious difference in early and late wood(as does osage). You should be able to follow a single ring easily.

[kodiakkid]

Thanks for the info. I do not have the option to use the ring next to the bark on the ash stave. I bought it off the internet and whoever removed the bark cut through several rings in several different places.

[Pat B]

Well, just chase to the next best ring.
   Whenever you cut your own whitewood, be sure to do so during the growing season so the bark will peel off. With woods like osage you are better off cutting it in the dead of winter.

[Roy Steele]

When I get to tillering I long string.I sand my bows back down to ready to finish.Reason is after finish tillering your bow.Then you sand down your bows back.Your taking off pounds [your trying for a set poundage]at least I do.When the bows finished and if it's sanded uneven Or if heave to sand out a nick or sand a knot a little exture.The tiller could change you worked so hard for.

[kodiakkid]

Thanks for the info. Paul<><

[formerbutcher]

Paul, I wouldn't watse my time with the Black Ash, White Ash is good, but Black Ash is for making baskets. Don't ask me how i know    :rolleyes:  If you still want to make one out of the Black Ash go long and wide and keep it under 40#'s.

[Don Batten]

Paul, I have the first two trad bowyers bibles and the bentstick by paul comstock and two by jay massey. plus I think i got jim hamms video. your welcome to anything I got. Also got the tools . I also have a hickory stave that I debarked in the summer and have roughed out the bow and put it in my pantry to dry. you can have it if you want.  let me know. Don

[kodiakkid]

Thanks Don. I have volume 4 of the Bowyers bible that I am reading now. I have the hickory stave you gave me and I am gonna start on it as soon as I break this piece of osage I got. LOL I may be interested in a scraper if you have one and I would like to watch the video. I'll give you a call when I can get by there. Thanks, Paul<><