First selbow?

[Fleatrap1]

I cut two staves in the early winter.  One is black walnut the other is osage.  The walnut is in great shape quite straight, the osage has some slight "snakiness" to it and a fairly large knot near the handle.  I plan to work on the walnut first as it seems an easier choice of the two.  I am thinking right??  For my first attempt/ a straight walnut or a twisted osage??

Also, both staves are rough cut to about 62"....is that too short, I only draw 27" and do quite well with my 58" recurve.

[Fleatrap1]

I really do not plan to back these bows with anything.  Is that something I should do on the walnut???

[Pat B]

With winter cut staves you'll have to use a draw knife to remove the bark. You'll use the sapwood under the bark of the walnut for the back of your bow but remove the sapwood from the osage for the back. Be sure to seal the newly exposed backs so they don't check. If you do a good job of chasing a back ring you shouldn't need to add a backing.
62" is short for a new bow builder. You would be better off at 68".

[John Scifres]

Go for it with the walnut.  Proceed with little hope but cautious optimism.  Your first selfbows will be marginal but memorable.  Have fun.

[Echatham]

Originally posted by John Scifres:
Go for it with the walnut.  Proceed with little hope but cautious optimism.  Your first selfbows will be marginal but memorable.  Have fun.

Proceed with little hope but cautious optimism.... Love it.  Im gonna steal and use that one.

[soy]

IMHO yes they are to short.....especially the walnut unless you plan on making a bendy handle.....

[mwosborn]

62" pulled to 27 is certainly "doable" - I would also suggest a bendy handle.

I too love the quote from John!!!  And as John alluded to...this bow building is a journey - but you got to start somewhere.  Your first bow certainly will not be your best - better comes with experience.

[Fleatrap1]

Thanks for the input everyone. I cut the staves without really researching first. I will try them this summer and not expect too much. One must start somewhere so here i go.....

[bubby]

you say you cut two staves, are they saplings

[Fleatrap1]

The walnut was a young tree about 5-6 inches in diameter. The osage was a straight branch about the same size off of a large very old tree

[Jack Skinner]

A little insight on the black walnut. I was going for an ELB, but on advise from some folks here and some reading about crysaling problems on the belly of walnut, I went with an overbuilt design. I backed mine with hickory but trapped the back as well. So far in the tillering process I am at brace with little set and no crysaling on belly. So I would suggest go wide and at 62 inches maybe an Ishi bend in the handle design would be in order.

[bubby]

black walnut makes a nice, and beautiful bow this one is birch backed with a stiff handle and no problems with frets