let's do a static tip osage build along

[Stiks-n-Strings]

was in the shop tonight and whipped up a recurve caul and then got to working and bending a stave so I decided to take some pics along the way and decided to do a build along.

 I picked a stave that has about 3" of natural reflex. It's 63" tip to tip.

 Going for 62 NTN, stiff handle, 50 to 55# at 28"

 We'll see what happens      

 

 I had chased a ring on this stave this summer and sealed with shellac and set it off in the corner until I decided what to do with it. Well I guess we know what we're doing now.

 Since it had a couple pin knots in the back I decided to go ahead down a couple rings so I could make sure I didn't get into the pins when I chased the first ring

 
 
 for the newbies that light colored spongy lookin stuff is the early growth. Just follow it all the way down the back with your draw knife. I flip my draw knife upside down and I think most folks do. It works better that way seems like. Here's a pic of the early and late wood.

 

 Here's a pic of the pin knots. I left some around the knot so I don't violate the ring coming over the knot and I'll clean it up and take it down to the ring I want with scrapers. I usually use my gooseneck on account of the undulations on the back of a selfbow.

 

  .

 I'll clean up the whole baack with my scraper and have a look see at the ring and make sure I didn't go through any where.

 After all that was done I decided it was time to flip the tips. In retrospect next time I will remove any prop twist first. This stave has a little that will have to be dealt with to line up the tips but from what I gather it takes a few heat sessions to get things all lined up anyways when doing a recurve.

 To flip the tips I heat the wood with my 10$ heat gun after putting plenty of oil on the wood, back and belly. I heat them until they are hot through to the back when I touch them. You'll also know they are hot enough to bend when the wood starts to turn a nice dark color. Don't get your gun to close or hold in the same spot to long.

 I usually hold it about 5 or 6 inches away and count to 15 and move and then count to 20 when I go back over the same spot. Just get her hot and move on.
 
 

 

[Stiks-n-Strings]

As you heat the tip you clamp as you go till you got her flipped. When it cools you'll end up with this.

 

 
Any questions or advice just jump on post away.

 I'll do some more heating in the next day or two and get her a little closer to floor tiller.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I should have added that when flipping tips they should be left thick (1/2" to 3/4") so that if it lifts splinters you still got plenty to work with and they will come out. Also a good Idea to have a strip of metal to clamp over the tip as you are bending it. This help the splinters from getting real bad.

[kevin_h]

Living in Alaska is nice, except when you get to see all the nice yellow wood that everyone gets to play with...ha

[Stiks-n-Strings]

I hear ya Kevin, I would love to live in Alaska but I would have to bring plenty of yeller wood with me.

[Roy from Pa]

Nice build along Kris.

[scrub-buster]

Thanks for the build-a-long.  It't looking great.

[coaster500]

All eyes Stiks    

I've got to get one of those cabinet scrappers...

[Keenan]

Looking great Kris. Nice buildalong. Glad to see that your shop is used and not one of those eat off the floor type disfunctions  

[KellyG]

Well now that is going to be a great bow.

Kevin if I was still up there I think I would climb up those mountains and get some of that alder. It seems like a big spring already.

Stiks I can't wait to see more.

[kevin_h]

I did bring some with me, but after 11 years the supply is getting mighty thin...

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Keenan I would be lost with out by bench for sure. I'll get up pics of it tomorrow.

 Today is my anniversary and I worked some more on her but it will be later before I get up more pics.

[snakebit40]

[Roy from Pa]

Happy Anniversary Kris and Mrs. Kris...

[2treks]

Happy Anniversary Kris,
Mine was yesterday.

Nice looking bow so far.Can't wait to see that bench(    )

CTT

[Bel007]

[mwosborn]

 lots of learning for me!  Thanks!

[burnt]

Looks like you made a pile of shavings. nice curves. cant wait to see it finished.

[Stiks-n-Strings]

well as promised here's the progress report.
 
 I started taking it down to my lay out lines. When I split this stave it had a few areas that tore out on the edge that had me a little concerned and I ended up having to take it down to 1" wide instead of 1.25" I think it will be fine though. It is 1" for about 14" from the fades and tapers to .5" from there.

 another tip for the new guys is to be sure to rasp from belly to back when cleaning up the sides and taking her to her lines or you run a chance of raising splinters on the edge of the back.
 
 

 

 Heres what she looks like after bending both tips. She need a little twisting on one limb and the other limb needs moved about a half inch. I'll do that tommarow. Also a pic of the Stave Master designed and patented by Keenan Howard.

 

 
 
 

 And a pic of the tips cleaned up a little to remove the splinters that lifted. Make sure not to take off too much, just enough to clean'em up at this point.

 

 

 more to come!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

one other thing I should of added for the newer folks working staves. If you look at the pics you can see the grain running on the limb. You want to lay your bow out and follow that faithfully so you don't end up with run out on the limb.

 You'll get some very slight run off on the edge as you taper you limb but you don't want any drastic run off or you'll end up with a heart breaker.
This is one that broke from run out where the grain crossed the limb to much.
 

 T