Hand tools & Osage bows

[Osagetree]

At this point & with the bow still a bit heavy, I shape the tips as best I can using the flat and round files.

 

Back into the vise, I work the backing once again with a small scraper to provide a  better finish and remove all the latewood I left behind when I 1st chased this ring.
This scraper is a industrial floor scraper about 4 or 5" long. I can bend it slightly in the middle to make its action a bit more rounded. This bending of the scraper helps it get into the dips of the backing ring a bit better than just the straight scraper blade would. I also go over the entire bow with this scraper to remove some of the tool marks I've made while shaping and tillering.

 

Taking sand paper over the entire bow with a 80 and then a 100 grit to smooth it all out.

 

[Jim Dahlberg]

Good stuff.  I like the rye helper/relaxer!

[karrow]

great thread osagetree really god stuff. i noticed the talleys on your draw knife handle is that the number of staves its wroked? keep the info coming.  

[Osagetree]

Yes karrow, I started keeping tally on it sometime back. There are 35 or 40 on the other side of the handles and it has never been sharpened. Though my other larger DK is much more sharp!

Yes Jim, I suppose one must be able to concentrate while in the shop.

After a bit more tillering, it's back on the tree once again.
The poundage is over 5lbs from where I want it to be. I like a heavy draw hunting bow but not that heavy,,, 65lbs at 27"!!

 

I use a 3M rubber block sander & 80grit paper to sand the belly a bit from the fades out to about mid limb to reduce the draw weight a little.

 
 

A little more excersize and Check the weight again! Okay,,, let's shoot this beast!

 

 

[KellyG]

You make it look so easy Joe can't wait for the nest installment.

[Tony Chinn]

Good looking bow pal. Can't wait to start on mine with the buff tips and rest.
Take care buddy
Tony

[SEMO_HUNTER]

Great Work Joe! You have the patience of a science teacher, excellent explanation skills and easy to follow along. I enjoyed the build along very much. Is it done or is there more on the way?

[Osagetree]

Chris here's #1 after a little dress up.

I'll put a string and some silencers on it tomorrow,,, maybe?

 
 

[Pat B]

She looks sweet, Joe!!!

[KellyG]

stunning

[WestTexan]

Yep Kelly your right about that.

[red hill]

Great lookin' bow, Joe.

[b.glass]

I didn't see this thread when you did the string alignment. I want to know if I've got this right. I haven't made many selfbows yet.

The string is too much to the left in the picture, so if you remove wood from the left side of the tip on one end you would flip it around and remove wood from the right side of the other end?

In other words remove wood from the side of the tips where the string is closest?

Does that make sense?

[Osagetree]

b.glass, I beleive I removed wood from the same side on both tips. And, I think I also used a little heat to better line up the string and tips

[Osagetree]

Don't forget I also thinned the wide handle to help line up the string.

[Osagetree]

 

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Another sweet bow Joe    Nice work as always.

Tracy

[Osagetree]

Okay gang, here's an untimely update.
Two of the staves were sacrificed to make one take down. It was my last years trade bow and I was pressed for time so I din't take pics. The bow was shipped to South Africa and the pics I have are posted below.
I needed two billets for the take down and two of the staves ends matched great so they got their ends cut for billets for this bow.
I still have one of the four staves left and hope to complete this thread sometime in the future.
So far the sore is 3staves - 2 bows.

 
 
     
   
   
   

[inksoup]

i always loved your work osagetree. this is also very nice.

[4runr]

Grasshopper enjoy watching Master work