I got bored today!
I had an osage stave on the drying rack that was too short for an adult, but long enough for a youth. Thought I'd work on it today. So, at around 8:00am I got started on it.
It was 51" long and the stave was taken just under a year ago, it was hand cut, split and sealed and has been on the rack since then. It had some good rings in the heart, but the first TEN RINGS were thin as paper. The tree must have gotten shaded about ten years ago and started growing slower.
It was too deep for the vise, so I trimmed off the tip if the pie before I try to lock it in the vise to remove the bark and sapwood.
Finaly got to a good ring at the end of the stave. You can see how thin the first ten rings were. They came off easily with the draw knife.
Removed all the sapwood and bark. Then I chased the ring and it took about 45 min.
Only one big knot to worry about. But the knot was left raised and will not cause a problem.
When I have the back down to one ring, I start drawing the pattern for the bow. Since it is a short stave (51") and I want at least a 23" draw, I am going for a 1" wide bendy handle bow with a "D" shape belly.
With the pattern drawn on the back, I use the draw knife to get it close to the lines.
Then I use a rasp to take it to the outline and flaten out the sides to mark for depth of the bow.
Down to the lines. not much of a pattern, but it will be effective!
It sure does have some natural reflex. but, with my tillering skills, thin rings, the wood not quite cured and the design itself, There will likely be some set to the bow by the end of the build.
Topic: Youth Osage Selfbow,,, ( A pictoral) (Read 416 times)
