Osage first try (ding ding)

[KellyG]

Ok here we go and the story continues mean while at the Grill

Ok to day I tried straightening out the knotty limb. I was successful to an extent. I found out yes I can do it with heat off of coals and not burn the wood. It is going to take more than one session but I have the time. I will be fighting the rainy season. I need to get it done now while the RH us up here.
Ok we will start with a PIC of a before on the knotty limb that has a lot of natural Deflex
 
Now the fuel what better way to get rid of the ole shavings. I lite them up and let them burn down too coals.
 
now before I put the limb on that metal I did put some water on it to cool it off. I closed the lid and did about 10 minutes on the belly and back for about 20 minutes total. At this point is was very hot to the touch. I almost could not touch it at all.
 
Now we strap it down.
 
I repeated the heating after it was completely cooled and did it again focusing on a different spot.
 
Now I have it on the tree for an after  
 
and a close up you can see pencil marks where the top of that limb use to be. plus you can go back an look at other pics of it on the tree before.
 
I am planning on doing this again later this week if I get time. I know it does not need to be prefect but I know I can get it closer. I am walking the stave down the 4x4 each time making it a little flatter as I go. this was just two time on the heat.
So how do you like that let me know what ya think and any more info. I will also have to deal with the way the string tracks at some point but that will not be as easy.
Thank, God Bless and Happy building,
Kelly

[broketooth]

lookin great so far kelly. keep the pics comin. ruddy

[Pat B]

Looking real good, Kelly. You're straightening so far is successful. You do need to work right off the fades to get that deflex out. Maybe clamp so the handle is on the end of the form board and draw the limb down just below that level. Be careful of the sharp edges(ends)on the form because they will leave a crease in the hot wood. Maybe round those edges on the form before reclamping the bow to the form.
  Taking it slow, the way you are forced to, is very good when learning to build bows. It gives you plenty of time to think and rethink each process before you jump in with both feet...and patience is one of the hardest lesson to learn but the most important tool a wood bow builder can have in his(or her) kit bag.

[KellyG]

Thanks Ruddy I will get some more when I do the next heat treatment.
Pat thanks I am at the age when hurrying is just not all that important.
thanks again,
Kelly

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Looks to me like your taking the right steps in the right direction. Way to improvise and use what ya got available to ya! I'm impressed.
You'll get there, just keep pluggin away at it.

I noticed some trees in the pics, I didn't know you had any trees there? Of course I've never been to Iraq either. I guess I was under the impression it was all dirt, rock, and sand......and of course some mountains.

[hova]

i was thinking the same thing. that little bit at the fades would just need the edge taken off , and youre good to go.


i cant wait to get my hands on the drawknife kerryb is sending. im sure to cut myself shortly after i receive it...

lookin great kel , keep it up.

-hov

[red hill]

Kelly, that does look like quite an improvement on that limb. Did the limb scorch at all?
This is an excellent thread. I'm learning one heck of a lot from following along.
Good job.
Stan

[Pat B]

Semo, Irac , between the Tygres ans Euphrates(sp) Rivers was where the Garden of Edan is supposed to have been. Should have at least an apple tree or two! d;^)

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Yeah, that's weird......I guess the only pics I've seen just look like dry, hot desert with some rocky mountains in the back ground. It's hard to imagine any lush green landscape with those dry barren images in my mind. I was really surprized when Kelly was talking about all the rain they were getting, I didn't think it rained that much there?

[KellyG]

Thanks hova, slow and steady.
Red hill- no scorching at all, I was afraid it might. I did not use any big pieces of wood just shavings and dead branches.
Pat is right SEMO, this country could be the greatest in the middle east. There #1 export besides oil was dates. If the wheat comes in I may have to take a PIC and post them of the wheat fields that would rival many in KS.
If you want to know what this place is like read the old testament. It has not changed much. Sheep and Donkeys roam city streets with herders in tow. Now he bad news they are very tribal and the tribes/clans just don't like each other. That is in my mind the biggest hold up to the country. If they ever unit, no country here could rival them. They have big lakes, if they would put half the energy into making canals as they do petty feuding there would not be a dry place here.
Those are olive trees if I can find a dead on I might put it on the bow menu. There are a lot of eucalyptus here also. I know of mulberry trees and have my eye on one if it gets cut. We can't just cut down the trees they have to be dead and a safety issue.
If you really want to be surprised Google the Bagdad school of fly fishing. You will see a few PIC of yours truly from 06. Winter is the Rainy season I really don't remember as much rain as we have gotten here.
Enough about this big bow shed over here.
God Bless and Happy Building,
Kelly

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Thanks for the tour Kelly, I'll have to do a little googling now and research it a bit. Now that I started thinking about it and brought it up, I'll have to do some image searches on Iraq.

Hope you get to try your hand at an olive bow, at least you could say you've done something with wood that none of us have! lol

[KellyG]

You never know Semo you never know. It would not suprize me if anyone popped on here and said oh I did that years ago and it was good/bad. LOL

[KellyG]

So today I get 2 more heat treatments on the limb.
Here I am adding heat, there is little flame but I use a water bottle to keep it down.
 
no flame the why I like it so far
 
ok since last weekend I heated the limb twice I am calling this 3rd and 4th heat treatments
so 3rd time strapping it down I tried just on a flat piece of wood
 
now the fourth with a round stick under the bend
 
close up
 
ok on the tree  the tips up almost the same height. the left is 6" above the first tape and right is 4.5" so about and 1.5" to go.
well what do you think. It is closer that is for sure. so what do yall think,
thanks,
Kelly

[Pat B]

Coming along Kelly. We can tell more after it has cooled and we can see it on the tiller tree. Where the round stick is looks thicker than the surrounding area. That need to be the same thickness(mol) as the rest of the limb in that area.
  At this point, if all of the major straightening has been done, draw a thickness line down each limb and even out the limbs to that line. Probably about 1/2" thick or slightly more then check it on the tiller tree and start marking stiff spots.

[KellyG]

Pat there is one of the knots there it humps up, and add sime twist to make it really look thick. Hmm I will look at that spot

[KellyG]

ment to add this one.
 

[KellyG]

I think I am going to make a caul by next weekend. I am going to drill holes in it I need to get the string closer to center. If I drill the holes and use para cord every 1" or so and twist each on it should draw it against the board and hold it down if I make it ark just a little say 1.5 inches that sould bring the rest of the deflex out put the knotty limb tip closer to the center

[KellyG]

I think I am going to make a caul by next weekend. I am going to drill holes in it to run loops of para cord. I need to get the string closer to center. If I drill the holes and use para cord every 1" or so and twist each one as tight as I can, it should draw it against the board and hold it down. I may make it ark just a little say 1.5 inches that sould bring the rest of the deflex out and put the knotty limb tip closer to the center.
I think I know were  2x6 is to use. I will screw a 2x4 to it.  the 2x4 will have the 1.5" drop and the 2x6 should help draw the string closer to center.
If I can get it made this week I will show ya what I did and see if you think it would work

[Pat B]

Kelly, I think paracord is too stretchy to be effective. Do you have access to long thin bolts or threaded rod? you can make a clamp with 2 bolts and two pieces of wood.

[KellyG]

I did not get any work done today. I did have to go to a metal shop for a work related project, and asked one the young men if they hand clamps. He pointed at some hanging under a table like these. Yep  I said and can I borrow them. His answer was as long as you don't bring them back. I keep hitting my knee on them and we don't use them. I could not get them today I did not have anything to carry 6 or so large C clamps in. I have to go back tomorrow, and will be taking a back pack. To borrow some C clamps.