1st Osage - Need some advise!

[mwosborn]

Trying my first osage from a stave.  Cut the tree last year and split to staves - this one was real dry so thought I would try it.  It was a short narrow "sliver".  Only 57" long and 1 3/8" wide - parallel limbs to mid limb then taperd to 1/2".  It has quite a bit of natural reflex right out of the handle.  I did have to straighten the limbs using dry heat.

I have it "roughed out" and just starting to bend the limbs a bit.  But have a question.

The left limb in the pic has more reflex than the right.  Should I reduce the reflex on the left limb to match closer to the right?  If so should I use heat and bend just out of the handle?  Or should I just start tillering the way it is?

Thanks for the advice.

Mitch

 

[John Scifres]

I think I'd just go for it.  Might not be easy at first just getting her started bending.  It's kinda easy to miss weight just because highly reflexed staves feel so heavy at first but take your time and it should work out.

[mwosborn]

Thanks John - that's what I am thinking too.

[vanillabear?]

[Pat B]

I agree with VB. I prefer to even up the reflex and spread it out along the limbs. You can go either way, though.

[mwosborn]

Thanks  guys - just got it to brace and it doesn't look too bad.  I did not try and remove any reflex - we will see how it turns out and at what draw length - hoping for 27".

[Roy Steele]

TILLER IT OUT