newbie question

[97dend]

I have a question but before I ask please forgive my ignorance   :D  I see bows all the time that have curves to them especially the osage ones. I love the way they look and someday I would like to try one. My question is how do you know how to follow the grain like that. Do yo just split the wood and follow the way it splits or is there some kind of grain pattern that you are looking at.

I hope I am asking correctly

[Pat B]

When wood is split it will(usually)follow the grain of the wood. If you violate those curves you jeopardize the finished bow just like violating the back ring. These "character" bows can be difficult to tiller sometimes but with patience and thoughtful working anyone can make one.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I suggest you head to the closest traditional shoot/gathering to you and watch a few people work on self bow's. It will open your eyes wide and answer lots of questions. Most bowyers LOVE to talk about what they are doing, especially if they are set up at a shoot.

[George Tsoukalas]

You can see the grain as it runs the length of the stave. Check this. Jawge
 http://georgeandjoni.home.comcast.net/~georgeandjoni/layout.html

[red hill]

Pearl, I thought something was wrong with me! I get started explaining how I try to make a bow and show off some of the bows on this site and can't stop... My wife gets so aggrivated with me she could scream.
Stan

[97dend]

Thanks for all the info guys I have quite a few more questions but I will start a new topic.

Thanks again

[Monkey Wrench]

Here's the part I don't get about following the grain, figured might as well hash it all out on this thread.

Growing up in Illinois, Osage is usally a throw-away junk wood, it's only purpose being of hedgerows and such.  So...I've had the pleasure of knowing how heavy this stuff is prior to getting into this hobby.  Although I haven't made an osage selfbow yet, I would think that splitting that sucker by hand would be a TREMENDOUS amount of effort for no more than you really get out it.  

I would think that if the grain waves more than 3 or 4" vertically, it wouldn't be much use for a bow anyhow, and certainly not "average" from what I've seen in pictures, like the one George provided the link to - it's probably 2" of wave.

With that being said, why not just cut into stave sections using more "mechanical methods" (chainsaw, bandsaw, take it to a lumber shop), and then just follow the grain on the center line of the bow.  As long as the stave is 4" wide or so, I would think you could still follow it with the centerline of the bow, especially as you get down to the narrower tips.  

So I guess the real question is here, what I'm a missing?

[John Scifres]

Osage splits really easily.  Here's how it is done:    

 

 

 

 

 http://sticknstring.webs.com//photos/Wood-2009/wood2009-15.jpg

 http://sticknstring.webs.com//photos/Wood-2009/wood2009-16.jpg

Now knots and severe twist make it tougher and you are usually dealign with some of that on snaky wood but it isn't that hard.  If your trees are selected well, it isn't bad at all.

But your point on sawing to the grain is valid.  I generally bandsaw the final shape following the grain as well as I can.  That's why staves are split 3-4" wide so you can do that.

Some people do use a chainsaw or skilsaw to kerf a split and make it straighter but I think that's more work than it's worth.

[Osagetree]

Splitting is kinda fun to me and it aint hard....... I'd rather hand split an 8' section than hand saw a 8" diameter osage tree....

Great example John.

PatB has an answer and tool that helps you find center and follow the grain if the stave was split like John described above. I just can't remember what thread it was on.

Crap,,, I gotta go look for it I guess!

Maybe he'll chime in or I'll find the link and post it here.

[okie64]

Dang!! Those rings are huge John! I have never cut an osage tree with rings that big around here. Yall must have some healthy soil up there in Indiana.

[John Scifres]

That was amutant grown on an ag field edge with perfect conditions.  Makes great bows too.

[wildbill001]

Ya know, based on the bark pattern, I just realized I may have a HUGE osage tree in my backyard.

Do these grow kinda twisty-turny and narly?  Does the wood tend to dull chain saws quickly when green?

If so, then that what the beast is.  "Bows on the hoof" so to speak....

Bill

[okie64]

Wildbill, most people call em bodark or horseapple trees and yes they grow kinda twisty and crooked most of the time especially when growing out in the open. They also have thorns on the small branches.

[wildbill001]

Very wicked thorns on the small branches!!  Well at least I know what to do when this beast finally goes down--put up a message here for free staves!  I suspect the tree would be sawed and removed in a matter of hours....  8-)