question about osage slats

[blacktailchaser]

i hate to say this word CHEAP..but,i am trying to get some osage and was looking at some slats for glueing up..i havent done this way of making bows..SO,what do i need to look at for good bow wood..OR how should the growth rings be in the slats...i am NOT a fan of bamboo backing BUT i do love sinew backing..thanks for you time...john

[Roy from Pa]

I make a lot of bows with 36" Osage slats. I prefer 1/4 sawn then rift sawn second. But even flat sawn would work since your going to back it. But I would choose 1/4  sawn if I were you. They need to be spliced together, I use a Z splice. The spliced section will have a riser glued over it anyway and you will never see the splice after backing the bow.

Mike Yancey of Pine Hollow Longbows is a sponsor here, he has Osage slats full length and 36 inch billets. Give Mike a call and he will help you out.
 http://www.pinehollowlongbows.com/

[blacktailchaser]

o.k. roy,since your the man..i will be picking your brain..if i was to get a full length slat 1/4 sawn and just sinew backed it could it give me a bow of 55-57 pounds..OR would it take 2 slats..i am trying to get a 63-64 inch bow with this weight...thanks john

[macbow]

You should be able to order a slat thick enough to avoid the glue up.
I'm going to guess 1/2 inch thick to 5/8 inch.
Give Mike Yancey a call you'll like talking to him and he will steer you into the right direction. And Mike certainly knows sinew.

[Buck Buckley]

The rose wood archery would help you on that BUCK

[macbow]

Roy,
Do you have any tips on the splice.
Just mark it and saw. Or do you have a jig made?

I've got some short slats to glue up. Unibond 800 ?

[Bowjunkie]

Unibond works, as does Smooth On.

I often stack the two slats and clamp them, with the pattern glued onto the top one with spray adhesive. After the splice is cut, you simply unclamp them, flip one over, and slide them together.

It takes just a few short minutes to create a perfectly mated splice... so no need to mess with jigs. Splicing doesn't get any easier than when done to 1/2" slats.

[macbow]

Thanks, I hope to start in on some slats after the start of the New Year.

[Roy from Pa]

With a slat 1/2 thick and sinew backed you will hit your target weight. Z splices are easy. I just lay the slats end to end and mark out the lines, then cut.

[blacktailchaser]

thanks for the info guys...hey roy,the splicing sound pritty easy..what kind of glue do you use for the splice and a block for the handle..thanks john

[Roy from Pa]

I use unibond or smooth on. The riser I use many different hard woods. Osage, curly maple, cocobolo, zebra wood, bocote etc.

[blacktailchaser]

do you think titebond 3 work for the riser...i dont think it would work for the splice...

[Roy from Pa]

Yes it will.