And so it begins... my first selfbow

[Art B]

64" to 66" is more reasonable for your bow IMO. Like Okie64 mentioned, Osage is very heavy, and not to mention, just too elastic for a 72" bow.....Art

[George Tsoukalas]

I agree with Art. I would leave the nocks 1 in wide and the handle full width until you string it up at least. Jawge

[snag]

I am looking at Gary Davis' DVD about building osage bows. He likes double your draw length 28"x 2= 56 + 10"= 66"  Adding 10" to double your draw length is a length that he likes as a minimum for an osage bow. I think I'll give this type of layout a try on the next one.

[red hill]

Looking good so far.  Nice thick rings.
Stan

[Bel007]

Ya.. I lost alot of sleep over that last night.  I knew inside that was just not the right call.  I left plenty of room to slide the handle up or down (just in case I changed my mind).  So now I just need to decide 64" from bottom up (w/o curve) or 66" from top down (keeping curve).

I think 66" is my ideal length, but I'd also prefer not dealing with an S-curve on the first bow.

I know.. ya'll like the curve  

[Art B]

"I know.. ya'll like the curve "

Not me, I'd want the cleanest, straightest piece of wood I could find for my bows. Curves are best left where they can be better appreciated.
       

[D]

Everyting is looking good..real good but i'm with Art B I don't like the curve either.  I like my staves to be clean and straight.  I think the craftsman ship that it takes to make a bow with curves and holes is something to appreciate though.  Good luck on the rest of your work looks like your doing good so far  I look foward to seeing the finished product

[frank bullitt]

I agree and ..... disagree,too!

That piece of hedge is so consitent in ring thickness, early to late wood, and clean!

Just don't look at the curves, turn away!  

[Bel007]

Thanks all.  Honored to have you with me on this one.  Feels comforting not to be going alone.

Back to work for a week, so progress will likely be slow.  I'll have time time to look it over everyday, plan, ponder, and dream a little, but probably make few piles of shavings for the next week.

Will update when anything worth while takes place.

[Bel007]

Got to spend more time today working on my little project.  Mostly worked the belly of the limb down to a consistent thickness. I shortened her to 64" so she should end up 62" NtN.  Laid her out using Dean  Torges "Hunting the Osage Bow" as a guide.  Started to form in only the outer limits of the handle.











So, what do you think.  Am I ready for this step?



The caul has 3 inches or reflex for a 72" bow, so at 64" it should give about 2.5 inches reflex initially.

[Art B]

Looks ready to me! How thick are those limbs? That's one prime piece of Osage you have there, so treat it nice. No pressure now! Get busy.........Art

[Bel007]

Thanks Art.  The limbs are 3/4" thick right now.  I know they will need to thin down considerably but was not sure how thin would be too thin before I put some heat to her.  I can certainly thin them down more before bending her if needed.

I'll pick up a heat gun tomorrow, and barring any advice otherwise, I'll get my first taste of bending and straightening.  I only need a bit of straightening on one tip.

[TroutGuide]

Lookin real nice!!

[snag]

Brian, she's looking great! I look forward to seeing the rest of this journey into selfbowdom...? What a fine piece of wood!

[red hill]

Nice job so far. Looks like your doing well.
Stan

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Just rub a little olive oil or veggie oil on the limbs and start at one fade and heat and clamp.

Plenty thin enough to heat and bend. I don't know what kind of poundage your going after but your gonna need that to sneak up on that tiller. When you do get her bending just remember not to pull it past your intended draw weight and if you do see a problem develope during tillering such as a hinge or anything don't pull it past that draw until you get it corrected. This will help minimize undue set and you'll be able to keep some reflex in your finished bow or at least finish out with it straight.

Good luck with your new addiction.

Stiks

[Bel007]

Well, had my first run with the form, a heat gun, and the clamps last night.  Lessons learned; slow and steady heating, keep the gun farther away than you think, and clamps absorb heat too.  Yes, I got a little color on the Osage ( and a little red spot on my hand).  No burns but some lightly toasted edges.  Most of the reflex held.  Made some good progress on straightening , but a little more limb alignment is needed.

Should I continue this process until she is as close to what I want as I can get her... or would it be beneficial to start working down the tapers and get the limbs flexing a little?  Then fine tune her when she is a little thinner...

[Shaun]

Coming along nicely. Take it on down to floor tiller - that is getting it bending slightly and evenly with the tip on the floor and force on the handle as you look down the limb. After floor tiller I do final adjustment on the cull for tip alignment. Nice looking piece of wood and good work so far. Do not be afraid to ask questions all the way through the process, its how I built my first one from scratch right here on TG.

[Bel007]

Thanks Shaun,  
I'll start working them down today.

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks good like osage should, Be1007. Some bowyers like working with the wood as is ( as much as possible). Some like it straight. Either approach works. Jawge