Billet?

[stringstretcher]

When osage logs for billets, what length do you try to cut?  And when making bows from billets is it always best to make them from sister staves? And what width do you try to keep your billets?

[PEARL DRUMS]

I wouldnt go less than 36" Charlie. Sisters are better, but not required by any means. I have a few spliced bows that have billets 1-2 years apart in age. I wouldnt go any more narrow than 4". By the time you take the bark and sapwood off and square the edges you need at least that to get a 1 1/2-2" wide bow. By no means would I leave a short or narrow billet behind. You can always use it for something down the road.

[Art B]

38" to 42" is about the norm that I've noticed over the years Charles. And 2"-2 1/2" wide on average. ...Art

[PEARL DRUMS]

I will explain my 4" width preference. Two weeks ago I grabbed a couple 3" wide snakey sisters from my stash. I peeled the bark and sapwood, went down 2 rings to get to the one I was after. The billets are 1 1/2" wide now and I havent squared up my edges at all, that concerns me. Thats why I suggested wider, you never know how far down you have to chase rings which sequentially narrows the billet. Just a thought.

[Art B]

I like mine wide enough to get 2 bow out of Charles     .

Pearly has a point there Charles. You should be able to look at the butt end of the billets and determine the bow wide that someone is asking for. Most Osage bows on average run 1 1/4" wide finished. An 1 3/4" width maximun.

Sister billets are preferred. Personally, I wouldn't want them any other way.

[Roy from Pa]

Charles, don't know if I'd believe a word that those two birds just told ya above. One is an ole fart from WV and the other is a young pup from Mich....

[KellyG]

But roy boy break out them crayons of your and draw us one of them pretty Pics of your so we all can just see.