Osage Selfbow Buildalong (Updated)

[Huntrdfk]

With all this resurgence of the Floppy Ruler coming about, I though that I would jump in with both feet on a buildalong.  You see, when I got my ruler, there was a note with it from Mickey saying he expected to see a bow on TradGang from this.  Well, I thought I'd open the whole process to all of you for expert advice as I go along, I can surely use it.  The stave comes from George Robbins, it is the sister stave to the stave he had that was auctioned off during last yeras St Jude's Auction.  (Some guy named JSOG took that one away from me.)  When I got it I reduced it to dimension and got it down to one ring, that's when I knew I had some work to do.  Here is the handle area.....

   

As you can see, with this knot in the handle area, it almost creates a forward handle bow.  I have questions for you here, but I'll await comments first.

The second issue was that the both limbs curved to the same side, forming a crescent when you looked at the back of the bow.  I struggled with this for a long time, before finally putting the bow on its side on a caul and heat bending the limbs until they lined up.  Here is one of the limbs on the caul, you are looking at the back of the bow here.

   


I then floor tillered the bow, and got it on a long string.  I am shooting for 50lbs@28", the bow is 63 1/2" ntn.  ( I actually made it that length to fit a string that Jeremy had made for me for another bow when I gave him the wrong specs.)  This bow will be my spring turkey bow in '06.  Here it is on the long string.  My take right now is that the inner half of the left limb has to start bending and get caught up before I go any further.

What do you think?


David

[the Ferret]

Neat David. When you get that handle shaped, hardly anything will be left of that knot. Don't even give it a second thought.

One thing I notice about your caul though is the flat spot for the handle fades seems awfully long and then it doesn't gentle curve to the tips, it appears to make straight lines to the tips putting a kink in the limbs partway down the limb. And are both side identical? One looks like it has more reflex than the other.

I couldn't see any long string pics.

[NorthShoreLB]

i like the color of that wood.

I'll be watching this.

    M

[Huntrdfk]

Oops,  meant to put a photo of it on a long string in, here it is...

 


David

[Huntrdfk]

Mickey,

You know, now that you mention that about the caul I see it clear as day.  Will get that remedied.  

Since you mentioned the handle,one of the questions I had was where to put that knot area.  I initially had thought to make that the lower part of the handle so as not to weaken that area, then as I worked and looked at it, I believe, like you, that the punky part of that knot will disappear as I work the handle to shape.  It will still be kind of a forward handle though, but I can tell already I will like the grip as it already seems to fit my hand very well.  I don't think I will be doing a whole lot of wood removal there.

David

[tmccall]

Looking good so far!  I gotta get back to mine... it's been a while.

[the Ferret]

Looking good. Still a long way to go and both limbs are stiff but right limb looks better than left limb. Need to get the whole limbs bending some more to tell much of anything.

I assume you haven't induced any reflex in this one or your limb tips would be moving 6 or 8" in that pic. If you have they should be bending a lot more at this point.

[Dano]

Looking good David, can you give us a picture of the profile unstrung? I think that handle is going to look pretty cool. Man I love builalongs, thank you.

[Timo]

Long string looks well.Getrdun!  

[kennym]

Looks like a good start David,I may have to try another one when deer season is over,either that or have a weenie roast with all them staves takin up space in the barn.....

[Huntrdfk]

Dano, here is the bow at rest.

 

I worked on it some more tonight, and have the limbs beginning to bend.  I think I need to work on both limbs in the mid limb and outer limb area, getting it close to getting a short string on it, probably tomorrow.

 

Kenny, there's always space up north if any of them staves are left after your weenie roast!

   

David

[DCM]

I agree on the mid and outer limb.  The short string will make a difference too.  I'd be mindful of the first 6" off the left fade.  Even though it is reflexed there, it is moving a lot.  Are you at draw weight there?

[John Scifres]

Both limbs outer two thirds.  More so on the right than the left.

[Huntrdfk]

David, yes I was at draw weight there.

I worked on this quite a bit today, and got it to a short string with a brace height of 6".  I worked an awful lot on the right limb to get it caught up with the left, and then rounded all edges off.  I was able to work the bow to 50 lbs@29", my draw length, so will end up a couple of pounds under when done.  After these pics were taken I shaped the tips, and have shot about 30 arrows through it so far.  The one thing I have found is that I have flipped the bow around so that the right limb had become the bottom limb now, the bow just seem to shoot better that way.  This first pic is of the bow braced to 6". ( I normally brace at about 6 1/2", so I have a little more to go).

 


This second picture is of the bow drawn to 29" at a weight of 50lbs.

 

I will finish this up on Monday, shaping the handle and such, right now I am toying with overlays on for the tips, I'm partial to antler overlays, we'll see.  It will probably eventually get snakeskins too...

What do you think?


David

[Timo]

Braced pic looks good! Can't see the second one?

[Dano]

Looks pretty good, that right limb might have a little flat spot at mid limb. I'd leave it if it were me and it shoots good.

[Sparky]

Might think about softening the right limb just a little at the bump right out of the fade and smidge at mid limb, unless that's a knot. looks awesome bud! Hows the handshock at release?

Sparky

[Sparky]

Sorry Dano..we cross posted...

[Jim now in Kentucky]

looks like too much bend near the handle to me. And maybe you could get one of the cheap little plastic levels to put on the camera! lol ;-)
Or maybe the sudes in the wall just aren't plumb!

[tmccall]

Man, that was quick!   Good work.  I'd sure be proud of a stick like that.