Home Grown Hunting Equipment for 2006/07 (UPDATE - Nov. 5th, 2006)

[Osagetree]

As I dug down into the rack of wood, I found two a osage staves that I have had for a couple years. They looked fairly straight and I wondered why I had passed these up before. Well when I cut the end of it off, so I could see the rings, I found the rings to be paper thin. That's probably why I had two of the four quarters of this log,,, I had probably trashed the other two quarters of the log trying to chase a ring.

I decided to go at it anyway!
 

Just my luck,,, I found a wood borer hole in the white wood. I have never had bugs in my wood until now!
 

I went ahead and took the area down a couple rings and the hole is deep and the larva is still in the hole chewing away.
 

I went ahead and stripped the bark so I would be able to see if there were more holes.
 

Only two holes in the stave and I may be able to get around them when I lay out the bow. Here is a couple of the little osage eaters I pulled out of the holes.
 
 

After about an hour I finaly chased a single ring and got deep enough to rid myself of one of the holes created by the osage eaters. Though the stave is looking pretty thin.
 

From know on, I will be splitting the wood at the end of the summer after it is cut, and will strip all the bark and white wood to prevent these things from messing up my wood stash.

[Luke Vander Vennen]

nice looking stave    

I hate wood borers too. They ruined all my first bow wood  :mad:  

Do you have any rawhide or something to back it with? You might get away with no backing but if you're low on time it might be best to go for more insurance so you don't have to start over again. Just a thought.

Loving this  

[Shaun]

Those borers are a pain. I hate to see little piles of sawdust under a stave and hear that snick snick sound of them chewing.
Some say to spray bug poison on the bark, but I believe the best way is to strip the bark and sapwood like you said.

Keep at it. Busting bows is how we learn.

[John Scifres]

I know you are wanting to do this all yourself but if you need it, I probably have some osage that'll make a bow.  Consider it payment for an entertaining thread  

[Gopherhunter]

Very good thread and don't ever get discouraged you have an amazing talent and thanks for sharing with us.

[Osagetree]

The nice comments and generosity extended by the members of this site is really something! John, I appreciate your offer! If it comes down to it, I may have to take you up on that offer. I still have some osage to play with and I just would not feel the same about using your wood considering the title of this thread. I am already disappointed I have had to subject the Tradgand to so many staves,,, it was not my plan. But this is a real time build-along so when I goof,,,,,,,,,,,

Well, Thanks again to all! I need to eat and get out in the shed!

 91 degrees,,, shewy!  

 

[Osagetree]

Boy,,, I must have sweted a bucket full this evening. The bugs were biting as well. Sure wish I had an air conditioner in the old shed!

Well I got started and struck a line down the middle.
 

Got the outline layed out on the stave.
 

Using the draw knife and rasp I took all the wood on one limb down to the lines.
 

Then I removed the wood on the other limb.
 

 

Here is the stave down to the outline.
 

I reduced the wood on the belly on one limb and the profile of this limb has some real character. I intend to heat it and work the woop out some.
 

[Osagetree]

To late tonight to continue,,, I have to be at work early. Tomorrow I will reduce the belly on the other limb. There is a long crack coming from a knot on this limb and it is in the middle of the thickness of the limb. It concerns me, but I'll try to get under it,,, I just hope it leaves enough wood to make my weight.
 

I had to do a little ceremonial burning of the osage shavings before I go in,,, hopefully it will give the stave a little MOJO! It's gonna need it!

Good night Tradgang    
 

 

[initialimage]

Love this thread and your last picture.  Made me think of a Phoenix.  May a new bow rise from the ashes.  Keep going.

[Paul Daellenbach]

OT, I just wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying this build along. You must have the patients of Job. Keep up the great work you are doing and it will all come together for for you. thanks again Paul D.

[Sant-Ravenhill]

I just read this thread...what can I add that so many haven't already. I can't believe I missed it this long.

A very sincere thank you!      :D

[Osagetree]

Reduced the other limb on the osage today while the wife was at work. It did'nt take long, but it sure was hot and I still needed to reduce both limbs to where I could get it to bend or floor tiller.
 

 

Well I got it down to where it is starting to bend. I do not like the profile very much.

 

At 62" it does not look to bad.
 

After heat bending in a couple spots I got the profile looking much better.
 

I put it on the tiller tree and got it to about brace.
 

Then I cut in the string grooves and shaped the tips a little so I could get a short string on it.
 

[Osagetree]

I put the short string on then did some more tillering to even out the arch some more.
 

After abit more tillering I got it at brace and it seems pretty stout.
 

More tillering and here is the profile at full draw.
 

I could not stand it any longer so we went out to shoot a bit. After about 20 shots I put it on the bow scale and ended up at 46 lbs of draw. Dang I sure wish it was 56 lbs of draw.
  :(  

I don't know if it was the rush in tillering or the paper thin rings, but this stave is at least two years old and it took on a bit over 2" of set.

Profile showing string follow.
 

Tomorrow morning, I plan to take off an inch or two in lenght and maybe even try and recurve the limbs a bit. This would be in hopes that I can get a bit more draw weight out of it and less set.


Who knows,,, I may even move on to another stave    

[Lewis Brookshire III]

Man, this is like a suspense novel. LOL

[Billy]

only more fun Revive..lol....
Thanks for sharing the good, the bad, and the oopsies- this is the best way to see what is truly involved; Thanx OT.

[Osagetree]

More like a horror story    

A boring one  

[vermonster13]

I'm enjoying the ride. Don't be so hard on yourself. We all sure appreciate all of the effort you're going to to share this with us.        

[Billy]

OT, if this is a horror story that you're writing... should we get our blankys and flashlites now ...or ya want us to wait til the season starts??
I'm bettin that with the ups and downs we have all gone through with you, and the persistence of our storyteller; this one is gonna wind up with Ol' Yeller comin home, wearin' Dorothy's ruby red slippers, and Pavarotti singin' Rocky Top    
 We're sweatin' it with ya (in spirit), and I don't think any of us are givin' up on this season yet!!  

[Osagetree]

Thanks for sticking with me Guy's!

Like I said in the beginning, I may use some unusual tactics to get the job done,,,,,, I may be grasping at straws here but, I cut 1" off each limb and took the bow to the kitchen.
   

Kitchen? Well, there are two thing in there that I can use right now.

One is a pot of boiling water.
   

And the other is the smooth curve of back of one of my kitchen table chairs. Tapeing a thin piece of rubber between the chair and bow protected the chair from any damages that could get me in trouble with the wife. After about 15 min in the boiling water I used a clamp to hold the limb tip and rolled the hot, soft wood around the bend in the chair.
   

After holding it and letting it cool for a bit, I unclamped the limb and the result was a partially recurved limb.
   

The profile is looking better and I will give the bow a while to dry out before I test the results with the string on it.
   

From 62" in lenght to 60" the draw weight of 46lbs may or may not increase at 28", but I'm wonering if it will go that far before busting apart, and how well the recurve will set after shooting a while.

We'll see,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Probably need to start on another stave just in case!

This bow would be legal, but I would be more confident if I can get in the 55 lbs of draw weight.

[Frenchymanny]

Excellent buildalong,thank you Sir!

You are using wet heat on a dryed stave.
I've read that wet heat should be used only on green wood.

Any feedback on this?

F-Manny