Osage Limbo

[okie64]

Been a while since I posted any pics of bows over here on the bench so I thought I would share some pics of this one that I just finished up. It was a 2" diameter limb that came out of the top of a pretty good size osage tree. Took quite a bit of heat straightening to get it all lined up. It finished up at 60" long and 55# at 28", started out with 2.5" reflex and still holds 1.5" after unstringing. First time Ive ever left any sapwood on an osage bow but I will do it again as I really like the color contrast. Thanks for lookin
 
 
 
 
 
 

[Roy from Pa]

That is sweet, I too like the sap wood looks.

[Bert Frelink]

Nice work and great tiller, I build one from an Osage limb last year it turned out great as well.
I wish I could find some more limbs, it saves a whole lot of chopping.
Congratulations, very well done.
Bert.

[Eric Krewson]

Looks like the bow has a little hingy spot about a foot above your hand on the top limb and another about 15" below your hand on the bottom limb.

Could just be the picture as they sometimes make a good tiller look funky.

[vanillabear?]

[Mark Baker]

I like it!  Nice job...

[SportHunter]

Nice job Okie, I've had an 8' osage straight pole drying for just over a year about that size. Hopefully I can turn it into a nice bow or two this year.

[Trapper Rob]

Looks sharp with the sap wood left on.
Rob

[okie64]

Thanks Roy
Thanks Bert, These limb bows definitely save you a whole lot of work, hard to find em straight enough and long enough to be bow worthy though.
Thanks vb
Thanks Mark
Thanks Sporthunter
Thanks Rob
Eric, I see the same thing you're talkin bout in the pics but I didnt see them when it was on the tree. It has some twist to it also so it looks a little different depending on which side its viewed from. This one wasnt an easy tiller for me for some reason and I finally got tired of fighting with it and called it good where its at. It shoots great so Im happy with it. Thanks for the input though.

[Pat B]

This is the "pole" bow I made for last years TG bow trade. It was made from 1/2 of a 2" diameter osage sucker I got from Mike McGuire a few years ago.
 After studying the pole I bandsawed it in half lengthwise and bound the two halves back together with spacers between them for good air circulation. They stayed bound for quite a few months before I began to make this bow.
 

 

Here she is finished...
 

 

 

  I thought I had a full draw pic but I can't seem to find it.

[Osagetree]

I liked the look too. Here's a couple I did. I have a few more on the drying rack I want to work in the future.

Notice I left a bit of bark as a handle overlay.
 
 
 

[okie64]

Those are beautiful bows Pat and osagetree. I love the contrast of the sapwood and heartwood. I will definitely be saving some more limbs in the future. Ive always heard and been told to get rid of the sapwood because it is useless, guess you cant believe everything you hear.

On another note, Ive noticed a lot of people post pics of osage bows and the wood is a lightish yellow color. Ive cut truckloads of osage and have never seen any so light in color. It is always orange or dark orange color even when just cut. Is this a regional thing or am I just not seeing the colors right?

[Pat B]

I've seen osage from very pale yellow to dark orange with red stripes in it. I think the darker wood is denser and seems to make a snappier bow but all osage is good!
  Osage sapwood is as strong or stronger than many of the whitewoods I've worked with.

[DVSHUNTER]

Nice bow Jamey. I haven't made any limb bows, but I have made plenty of sapwood bows. I agree with pat. Osage sapwood is fine for a back. I like to make them a bit wider though. Congrats on the new bow.

[Roy from Pa]

What, DVS never made a limb bow?

I thought you have done it all?