Never give up on a stave or billets

[Eric Krewson]

I posted this on another site but thought it might be of intrest to some here.

I have a bunch of less than stellar osage, great rings but firewood to most people. I tried to sell four billets of this osage for $35 and had no takers, thought about giving it away but ended up stacking it up in the corner of my shop for 5 years.

I developed a lot more bow making skills over the years and decided to chase a grain on one of the billets just to see what was under the bark. Eureka! Snakey wood! I chased a grain on two of the billets and got out my heat gun.

Here is what I started out with, dogleg and lots of propeller.

 

After two weeks of heating and straightening I finally got a center line lined up.

 

The finished result, never give up.

 

[Skinny Little Runt]

Eric, your skills amaze me. Talk about making a silk purse!! The reflex BBO you made up for me I think five years ago still Is not showing any string follow. That bow is aging better then I am! LOL

[Dano]

Nice job Eric, I have a similar stave I have been working on. We shall see if mine turns out as nice as yours.
 
 
 
 

[Shaun]

Nice bow Eric, great rings and clean wood can make up for a lot of other "defects".

Getting a little string follow myself Dano.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Wow, I really need to try a Osage stave... When I get some money I will. Eric great job so far... I can't wait to see the finished bow.

[JEFF B]

oh thats purty!!!  

[Big Dave]

Eric.  I like it. David

[Eric Krewson]

Last coat of finish drying.

 

lettering

 

Handle leather on.

 

Osage burl overlay.

 

And finally, full draw. My wife was a little behind me and the picture got a little of the snake. This made some of the tiller look a little off.

 

[BMN]

Very nice!  

[Mike Yancey]

They don't get any better than that, a little time and a lot of patience is all staves like that need. That's what about all of my bows come from because no one else would want them GREAT JOB!

Mike

[Roy Steele]

Theres and old saying.If it's a peice of wood theres a bow in it./That is if you the time and desire to get a bow out of it.

[George Tsoukalas]

Awesome bow, Eric. That's a great story. Jawge

[Walt Francis]

Eric, That's another good looking bow.  Ya done good, real good, once again!

[razorback]

Eric, that is a great looking bow. I am still working on the stave with all the cracks and trying to find the bow in it. I may need to reduce it one more ring and back it with some wood or bamboo. not sure yet, just taking my time.

[TroyH]

Eric, that's a good lookin bow.
I've been aching to get another stave to work on, but money is tight these days.  If only you were a few states closer, I'd buy one from you for $35.  I was just thinking the other day that we haven't been seeing any osage build alongs lately.  That ache to scrape just won't go away!

[Roy Steele]

In every peice of wood there's a bow weighting for the right person to let it out.