Osage Stave.... Paper Thin Rings

[perry f.]

I have wanted to build an Osage self bow for quite awhile. I have recently aquirred an Osage stave, but the growth rings are very thin. Just wondering if I should wait for something better or have you guys had much luck with a stave with small growth rings

[Bowjunkie]

I've done ok with them. The thinnest I've used were 35 rings per inch, very snakey, partially concave, and I chased a single ring for the back with no violations. It took more set than I would have liked, but keeps on shooting.

[LittleBen]

Jeff would know better than me, but maybe that wood is a good candidate for sawing into lams for bamboo backed bows.

[Pat B]

I really like the thin ringed osage I've used. I think I makes a snappier bow. Chasing a ring can be a pain especially with knots and pins so I do the best I can chasing a ring and back it with rawhide. I also hate the thought of decrowning the back of a good stave.

[Mark Smeltzer]

No reason why it won't make a great bow. Take your time and have fun with it.

[Bowjunkie]

Ben, it is if it's big enough and shaped right. I'm as picky about my bbo wood though :^) If it's got a lot of earlywood in it and will take more set as a selfbow, it will take more as a backed bow too... but we have more control over the profile.

Another option is to use it under clear glass. When resawing thin ringed stuff, more rings are cut through which can make it look really nice and effects on performance are really quite minimal.