Osage self-recurve Questions ?

[Bowjo]

I have an Osage selfbow that turned out too light.Some of you guys suggested that I reflex it.Well,I recurved it instead.This thing shoots great!Now for my questions.Do I have to back this bow?How much weight will this bow lose over time?It is only about 45#'s.It is a very thin bow,in width....Joe

[Bowjo]

[Bowjo]

[Bowjo]

[ishiwannabe]

I have no clue but that is awesome! I have read somewhere that reducing length increases weight....sounds dangerous to me...but I have never made one yet. Nice Job!!

[the Ferret]

Nice recovery. In my experience expect to lose up to 5# over time. However you'll have made many more bows by then in all liklihood.

You can always gain the weight back or even add weight now, by a 2 course sinew job.

How long is that bow anyway?

[Jason Lester]

Turned out nice. Looks great. Do you have it all sanded down? you'll lose a little there if you haven't. But like Mickey said by the time it does loose weight from shooting you probably have made a few more.

Tiller looks nice too.

[vermonster13]

Nice!

[Bowjo]

I think Its 68".I dry heated it.First time I ever tried,was amazed as it bent over my form.This bow was my first osage also.When I split my logs into staves,this smaller piece broke off,which is this bow.thank you Ferret for the helpfull website....Joe

[OconeeDan]

That is really nice!

[wingnut]

Dang I'd cut it down a couple inches and leave it be if the back is sound.  If not, like Mickey said a couple of course of sinew won't hurt.

Mike

[the Ferret]

Mike I would have suggested that if he just hadn't bent just those nice recurves into it. Cutting it down after recurving kind of messes it up. Bow looks good I'd shoot it as is or sinew it if you absolutetly have to have more weight (although 68 is pretty long for a sinewed bow..that's a lot of glue and sinew. Not sure the extra weight would be worth it in the end. Might draw more weight but have little to no performance gain)

Since this was a little split off from his main staves, he has more wood to play with. I'd probably leave this one as is and grab another stave to make a heavier bow out of.

[Bowjo]

I'll shoot it this week and see how it goes.It is strange to shoot such a small light stick so quick.This bow is very light,even for a selfbow.IT was a good learning experience.Thanks everyone.