Thou shalt break thine first twelve bows

[Bleeding Fingers]

I read on the internet where you will break your first 12 bows before you can finally get it right and have a decent shooter.  This seemed to be an exageration but after breaking my first one, it planted some seeds.  

I have started making my second bow.  It is a flat bow made of osage.  I used an old plan from Popular Mechanics and I have ordered the Bowyers Bible.  It has been planed and now roughly sanded.  I am going to let it cure for (not sure how long?) in the bed of my truck before putting it on a tiller.  My first one (same type) broke because I did not let it cure enough.  The plans did not mention curing but a friend of mine did point out the problem.  

I have read many of the posts on this forum but any beginner advice you can send my way would be greatly appreciated regarding curing, osage and flat bows.  I know Osage is not the best pick for a beginner but I was able to find some nice Osage at the local saw mill and now it is considered one of the tope choices.  Thanks,

[ranger 3]

Osage, you have to have a solid ring on the back or it will break unless you back it.

[bigcountry]

I can see the 12 bow rule ringing true if you have no-one to show you how.  I have broke 2, and have only 2 sucessful.  Even those two are not finished.  

I have a osage that came in too light, so I plan on doing some more operating on it with sinew and piking.  

I found out the hard way, a bow isn't finished unless its finished.

If you can find anyone to help you get started its worth a lot and can save you many hours of crying.  Put out a request on the powwow.

I have followed Ranger3 for some time, and the guy has what it takes.  Guy started really putting out some perfect tillers laterly.

I am very frustrated.  But got my head up.

[bjhaug]

I broke the first 6 I made.  I dont do self bows, only laminated bows, and mostly glass bows, but it didnt matter.  I broke the first 6 regardless haha.

[ranger 3]

Thanks bigcountry but there is a lot and I mean a lot on here that can do better than me.(but it's nice to hear LOL)

[George Tsoukalas]

I broke 14 before I got a shooter. Took me 3 years. That doesn't mean everyone else does though. Jawge

[Bleeding Fingers]

Ranger 3 "Osage, you have to have a solid ring on the back or it will break unless you back it."

Not sure what you mean by solid ring on the back.  The grain is quite straight the entire length but it does wave up and down.  I thought about applying a back to it but it is D shaped and the backing may be minimal.

[shamus]

The first batch I bows I made turned out just fine.
The key:
 

• I went to a bow class.

• I purchased the Traditional Bowyer's Bibles and The Bent Stick... and I read them thoroughly.

• High quality bow staves.

There's a wealth of knowledge online now and a new bowyer would benefit from it, but I still think those dusty old things called books have a place.    :)  

You're going to have to read some books. Study them and understand the fundamentals of bowyery. Go slow. You should have very few insurmountable problems.

The problem I see is that new bowyers rush out and start hacking on wood with only bits and pieces of knowledge, and no patience.  This is not like making piece of furniture.

[Eric Krewson]

On osage we call it "chasing a ring" or following one growth ring, with no violation,from one end of the bow to the other on the back.

If you are using osage lumber you will need to back your bow with bamboo, hickory, rawhide, drywall tape or some other substance to prevent failure.

If you have a perfectly decrowned piece of lumber you may not have to back it but as you are a fledgling bowyer I would recommend backing. Bamboo would be my choice if I had a nice board to work with.

[Bleeding Fingers]

Good news.  I built my first shooter.  Yeah it was from an oak board but you have to start somewhere.  I also cut a tiller and after some sanding, it seemed balanced.  This board did have rings all the way through it.  It seemed to shoot well.  

I would like to pickup some bamboo if anyone knows a source.  I do not want to break the osage bow as it has been a lot more work than the oak.  Does anyone have a favorite epoxy they use for lamination?   Thanks

[ChristopherO]

There are plenty of sources for Bamboo, even through suppliers on this board.  As for glue ups many folks use Urac 185 and Smooth On.  I use Titebond 3 with very good results.