Osage Bow Layout/Grain vs. Crown

[bigcountry]

Was reading thur Dean Torges book on the section with layout. He says he follows the crown.  I was surprised to read this.  He said it could go from one corner of a stave to the other, or down the center or left or right. If a crown goes from one corner to an opposite corner, than he is not following the grain IMO.

I was taught to follow grain for osage no matter if it dips, or snakes or crowns.  Am I understanding him correctly?

[Dano]

Just one more thing to think about when laying out a bow. Most of the time the crown will follow right along with the grain. With a highly crowned stave you may have more of a dilemma, just means more compromise between the two. If the crown isn't followed I can see where you would get some propeller twist in the limb. I know most books don't even mention crown when it comes to laying out a bow, but Dean has always been different.   :rolleyes:    :D

[Pat B]

"but Dean has always been different."
  Quite diplomatic, Dano! d;^)

[No-sage]

All selfbows have violated grain side to side.  If they didn't, the tips would be as wide as the handle, and there would be no narrowed arrow pass.

I've yet to see a selfbow that followed the grain exactly.... don't expect to either.

[bigcountry]

Well, I understand some runoff is expected but the center of a bow is supposed to have none.  In other words, lets say 5" out of the fade dead in the middle you follow that grain and about 10" from the tip, it ran off.  I would imagine you don't want that.

[Pat B]

I think the degree(angle) of runoff is more critical then where they are in the stave. With a pyramid bow you begin tapering from the handle out to the limb tips. That allows for grain runoffs the entire length of each limb...but they are gradual runoffs and the stresses at each are lessened by their length. A more abrupt runoff is more apt to give way than a more gradual one.

[Tom Leemans]

Hmmmmm I'm going to have to reread that section of the book now. Dean is like a German (in this case Greek) engineer. There's a most likely a good reason behind everything he does.