Osage sapwood?

[okie64]

I was lookin through my stave pile the other day and found this piece of osage. Its only 52" long and has really thin rings but I thought I might make a bow for my son out of it. It still had the bark on it but it lifted right off without damaging the sapwood and there is no insect damage. If I remember right its been cut and split for around two years. I've never tried makin a bow from osage sapwood and didnt know if that would work or not but I figured some of you guys had tried it before and I am looking for suggestions. I'd be tryin to get it to about 35- 40# at around 23" so I figure to get that low poundage it will be almost all sapwood. Any suggestions appreciated.
   

[Dean Marlow]

I have a stave that I also will be using the sapwood to try and make a bow. I have heard of using it but never have myself. Be interested to see what people say.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe that the sapwood on Osage is all that great for making a bow out of? I wouldn't do it myself, but some other guys may have done it at some point?

It looks to me like you've got plenty of heartwood to make a nice bow out of and hit the poundage your looking for without needing the sapwood. At that poundage your limbs are only going to be around 1/4" thick or so, and even thinner out toward the tips by the time it's all tillered.

Those rings look near perfect to me.

[Pat B]

I have made successful osage bows with all sapwood, 50/50 sap/heartwood, a few sapwood rings on mostly heartwood and all heartwood. The more sapwood the thicker your bow will be. I will only use the sapwood on osage if I am certain it is sound and without disease. Being that your stave has been drying for two years under the bark, I would not use the sapwood because you can't be certain about it's soundness, even (or especially) for a kids bow.
  The rings on your stave are not all that thin. I would chase a good back ring and if you have a problem with some violations add a rawhide, silk, linen or paper backing for insurance.

[George Tsoukalas]

I take off the sapwood if I have enough heartwood for a bow. Looks like you've got nice heartwood rings on that stave. Make the bow a little taller than he is and he'll be able to grow into it. It will have  a nice sturdy back.  Jawge

[scrub-buster]

I would chase that thick dark ring that is at 1 15/16 in the picture on the right and use that for the back.

[okie64]

Thanks for the input guys. Yes theres plenty of wood under the sapwood to make a bow I was just thinkin I might could take the easy way out and not have to chase a ring. Oh well.
George, he's almost 5' tall and I figured he'd outgrow in a year or two but my daughter is comin up a few years behind him and she could have it when he outgrows it.

[George Tsoukalas]

okie, that's pretty neat. Hand those bows down! Jawge

[DVSHUNTER]

The rest of the guys are stearing you in the right way. It is very possible to make a sapwood osage bow and the look awesome. You limbs will be thicker though as Pat said. I have made four sapwood bows for adults, but none for children. So the answer to tour question is yes it can be done, but with that stave... Man up and get chasin. Haha those rings are big enough if you take your time. Good luck. If you do go with sapwood, make the limbs wider and maybe only leave one ring of sapwood.

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Chasing a ring ain't no biggie man, unless you have really super bad eyesight? Mine ain't as good as it used to be, but I've got 2 big 4 bulb florescents over my shaving bench so I can see exactly what I'm doing. Don't be afraid of them rings, they won't bite! Take your time and you'll do just fine.  

[okie64]

Yeah I know. I've done my fair share of chasin rings, I was just tryin to take the easy way out.