Osage serial killer!!! Added some pics.

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So I've made a few board bows and now i'm hooked. Three out of five are still alive. Thought I would try my hand at an osage bow. Got my hands on a few pieces that I thought were pretty good but every time I try to split one it don't go so well. Every book I've read or video I watch they make it look so easy. Lets just say I've tried a few and I have a good pile of kindling going. Then my luck changed , I got my hands on some 10 year old osage all 66" or longer. Got one going now that seems to be going ok. Actually made it to the floor tillering stage. Taking it real slow, I've become extremely intimate with my cabinet scrapers.
So after all that heres my question. My bow is 66" ntn, 4" handle, 2" fades, 1 3/4" to mid limb tapered to 3/8" tips. Limbs are aprox. 9/16" thick. Still real stiff on floor tiller. Will these specs get me to a 50# bow at 28" draw? And should I trap the edges of the limbs along the back like I did on my board bows or just round them with sand paper? Any advice would be great. Love this site it is full of awesome info. If I can figure out how to post pics will get them up.
Thanks in advance

[Bowjunkie]

That's too wide. I've made 65-70 lb bows with osage 1 1/4 or less wide... but I like em narrow. I would recommend you shoot for about 1 3/8" wide... then later you can narrow it if the tiller is good but the weight is just too high. I wouldn't bother trapping it, just knock the corner off with a scraper and/or sandpaper.

[mwosborn]

Yep, I agree with bowjunkie.

[Pat B]

I too agree with Bowjunkie. I make most of my osage bows 1 3/8" wide.

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Guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow! 1 3/8" it is. Guess I'm still in board bow mode. Hopefully this will get me to floor tiller sooner. But I'm not going to rush it, I am literally sneaking up on this bow. Don't want it to get away from me.  This should also make it easier to heat bend and get the kinks out hopefully! How thick do you all normally make your limbs? Thanks to you all. Gotta get pics up so I can get some serious critique from you all

[John Scifres]

Yes, narrow it and thin it before floor tillering.  I would make a bow for your draw weight and length, 62-64" long, 1-1/4" wide, and start with 1/2" thick all the way across the working portions of the limbs.

I round the back corners but do not trap them.

[ffdiggs]

Thanks guys, just got home from work, turned the furnace on in the garage. Its about time to make some shavings.

[ffdiggs]

Glad I started wide and long, leaves me some wiggle room. Lord knows I'll need it.

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Two questions. How do you know when you have it floor tillered enough? And should I do all my heat bending prior to the tiller tree?

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think this will cause me a lot of head aches? Hope it works I think it will look cool when done.

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I know the photos are not the best, still learning here. I suppose I could ask my photo major daughter to take the pics. Na!

[KellyG]

looking good so far.

[mwosborn]

Floor tillering is an acquired skill I believe.  I am still working on it!   :D   It something that one develops after doing it numerous times.  I am getting better - but lots of room to improve!  With that said - I try to get the limbs bending with a nice smooth curve and each limb bending with about the same force.  I try to get them bending approximately 4-5 inches depending upon the weight of the bow I am shooting for.  I do any straightening at this point depending upon how much needs to be done.  (If it is real bad you may need to straighten before floor tiller). I then go to a "short" long string and continue to a low brace.  At this point I do any final straightening.

It is looking good to me.  The knot with the hole may be a challenge to tiller - not much experience there for me.

Good luck - lots of experts here.