Making a Kids Osage bow

[BrianO]

I am wanting to try my hand at building a kids osage self bow.  I have read almost every book I can get my hands on.  My intentions were to chase a ring and rough out the bow as in Traditional Bowyers Bible to speed up the drying time.  But I have yet to find any rough dimensions for a kids bow.  I have a beautiful stave about 48 inches long with 1/4" rings.  I just dont know about what the width of the limbs and the thickness it needs to be roughed out at.  Thanks to all that have responded to my other osage questions. And I look forward to learning alot.

[Huntrdfk]

Brian it will depend on the poundage you are shooting for....48" is a good length, the ones I've made are about an inch wide for 3/4 of the limb and then taper to 3/8 tips, I've made them as low as 10-12 pounds at 16" draw length, up to 17 pounds at 22" draw.  

Good luck, it's pretty neat when you see a child with one of your bows...

David

[4runr]

I'm in the process of finishing one for a youngster in S. Carolina. It's 48", an inch at the fades tapering to 3/8 at the tips. I'm lookin for 20-25 # at 16 inches. Goin good so far. It's a little knotty so that added some challenges to tillering a short bow, but it's comin along ok.

[John Scifres]

Here\\'s how I make them.

[4runr]

Nice tute John. It's nice to see how the masters do it. It's also nice to confirm that I'm doing most things the right way when it comes to building kids bows. Thanks!

[Eric Krewson]

Kids bows are much harder to tiller than an adult bow. When you get below 20# a few extra scrapes may hinge the limb. Do all my finish tillering on kids bows with sand paper.

[crosseye]

brian

i finished up a nice kid osage bow a couple months ago...i'll post pictures in a couple days.  mine was 48" and 1 1/4" wide at fades till mid limb then taper to 1'2" nocks.  i over built it a bit so the boy could shoot it without worrying about breaking.  it is about 3/16" thick throughout the limbs with just minimal scraping needed to bring it in to tiller.  i am such a rookie at this bow building thing, but this one turned out well.  

have fun

stan