osage self bow

[gilbarbarian]

3rd bow, osage self bow that was once 67 then 62 and tried to reflex but it cracked at the bend.  
47ntn 55# @26 How long before both limbs break?  I have a 28in draw but shouldn't try for anymore than 26, should I?

 
 
 

[walkabout]

bottom limb looks like its hinging right out of the fades, this is what is causing it to take alot of set right there. really its anyones guess how long it will last, i would personally try to catch up the rest of the limb and then shoot it short draw. you can always add a thin piece of wood to the belly side of the tips to glue in a little reflex, it will help with stacking and string angle, plus maybe pick the weight up by a little.

[walkabout]

of course if you could sinew it, that would be a whole diferent story..

[Osagetree]

Nice looking bow but there are a few tillering issues.

3, you gotta be hooked by now!

Looks like your fades are to long. Maybe you did that to cut in a shelf?

Get it bending some in the fades and I bet you get 28".

Keep up the good work and be sure to keep posting pics!!!

[John Scifres]

That's too short for even 26".  Look at the string angle, or the angle formed by the string and the limbs.  You are at roughly 120 degrees.  Anything over 90 degrees and you lose most of your leverage and almost all of the weight is stacking weight.  Stacking weight is just you pulling against the bow limb long wise.  It does little if anything to propel an arrow.

I'm afraid this one is a learning experience in my opinion.  It might not break but it will never be what you want.  Try again.  Make it at least 62" with a rigid handle (4" handle 2" fades) or 58" with a bendy handle.

Why did the bow crack during bending?

[gilbarbarian]

Thanks guys, I think I'll just leave it alone and let the wife shoot this one. I would have to agree this one was a learning experience.

[gilbarbarian]

I only heated the limb about five minutes with a heat gun. I think that is why it cracked.  How long should've I heated it?  One more question, Is 90 degrees, the perfect string to nock angle?

[George Tsoukalas]

No, that's the worst string angle. Generally, the lower the string angle the smoother the draw. Jawge

[John Scifres]

I heat a 4-5" section at a time.  5 minutes is about right on a floor tillered stave.

String angle is more of indicator than a goal.  Less than 90 degrees on a well-tillered bow and it shows that you have designed and executed well.

You should see my first few "learning experiences".  Well you can't see the first one cause I burned it  

[horseapple]

Thats a good one John, I've burned a few    don't want the public to see them:)

[Pat B]

I keep most of my failures. Some are reborn and some are good learning tools. If you burn them they are only good as a filler in your pitch glue! d;^)