Perplexed, need some advice

[ffdiggs]

So I cut a lot of osage back in May, ended up having some powder post beatles so I debarked and took sap wood off every single piece to get rid of the little buggers and save my investment. I only had a few pieces that were beyond saving. Got it all sealed and stored in the shed out back, so I took a couple of pieces and roughed out two staves steamed them and straightened them as much as possible. I let them set for several days before using dry heat to fine tune the straightness on them. My moisture meter says they are 6 -9 %MC. So I thought  I Would finish one of them. It is 66" ttt, 1 3/8" wide to mid-limb and tapered to 1/2 " tips. The limb taper from fade out to tip of bow is gradual, the thickness does not drop below 3/8". (3/4" thick at fades dropping 1/16" every 1 1/2" )  But for some reason it is only drawing 25-30 lbs. I hunt with a bow that the limb thickness is less and it draws almost 45 lbs. Is it possible that this wood is still to green and my cheap moisture meter lied to me? I would have to cut 5" off each end just to bring it up to 40lbs, but then Im worried that a 56" bow may be to short

[Mad Max]

I think it is to thin for a 45# bow.
I made one a while back and it turned out 25-30 at 70" long so I piked mine and got what I wanted.
I also think some osage is better than others.
I weight my bows in grams and watch them loose weight (moisture) before I star floor tiller.


Good luck
Keep those bugs out.

[Dan Landis]

I do the same as Max.  I weigh mine even if it's been dried for several years. After roughing out, I bring it inside during the winter months and weigh it every week or so until it stops loosing weight, then start to floor tiller.

[John Scifres]

It could still be too wet but I would guess you won't get up into the 40s when it is fully dried.  

It's probably too thin for the piece of wood.  I try to start with a touch more than 1/2" at the sides and then let tiller tell me where to remove wood and how much weight adjustment I need.  Best to sneak up on it.  But some wood is just weaker.

I'd let it dry for a while yet and then see where it is.  If you have your AC running, the inside air is dryer than the outside especially this week with Irma bringing lots of moisture into the Midwest.

[ffdiggs]

Thanks guys, I do normally weigh them, but it seems to be to heavy for my scale. It throws it into error. I've made several other bows that tapered out to 3/8" thick at the tips and they came in at 40+. Im gonna dry it awhile longer, pike and flip the tips and see what it does.
What would you all recommend das far as shortening it? What would be a good length? This bow is for a friends wife so I don't think draw length is going to be a full 28.

[scrub-buster]

I'm guessing its still a little wet.  You could heat temper the belly and maybe gain a few lbs.  If it is wet you might get some checking if you temper it.