Osage bowyers, I need some opinions.

[Buemaker]

I have made bows since 1986, but have never made an Osage selfbow.
I got this stave in a trade years ago from Eric Wisted, he used to post on Tradgang under the handle Cooter.
The stave have been gathering dust in a corner for years.
The stave had twist and sideways bend, I have managed to take that out with heat, so the long section you see in the picture is now straight.
On the other end is this kink 10 inches from the tip. The kink is on a 6 inch  section and the tip is now not in line with the rest of the stave. The wood itself seems to be excellent with very thin early wood and summer rings about 1/8 inch thick.
Now my question, could such a short ubrupt kink in Osage be straightened out with heat or should I leave it and just see if I somehow could line up the tip section with the rest of the stave? Any suggestions is most welcome
I am posting four pics.

[Buemaker]

[Buemaker]

It may not show very well in the pics, but the tip section i parallel with the rest of the stave on a different plane sideways.This pic is from the side

[Buemaker]

I think this shows it better.

[Forwardhandle]

Bue I have made a few with some wonk to them this one I got the string centered down the handle others to the arrow side , I used a combanation of heat and design to get it all worked out in the end, but the curves dont effect the shooting quality at all , some times the tiller can get tricky when real wonky yours looks like a nice peace of osage !

[Roy from Pa]

That stave could require some heat alignment, Bue.

I wouldn't mess with the area right in that dip but you need to get the whole stave aligned so the string lies down the center where the handle will be.

I text an expert selfbow guy and he should be along when he gets my text:)

[Flem]

I'm glad these guy's know what they are looking at, cause that looks like firewood to me.

[Roy from Pa]

Ah go rub yer epoxy wif yer short bristle brush....

 

[Bvas]

I wouldn't mess with the area right in that dip but you need to get the whole stave aligned so the string lies down the center where the handle will be.

What’s it hurt if the string ends up on arrow side like Ritchie said?

As long as the string ended up on the handle....wouldn’t it be like cuttin the handle to/towards center?

[Pat B]

I'd start tillering the bow, leaving the tips and handle area full width. Once you get to low brace you will see where you will(might) need to make adjustments. Osage responds very well to heat. If necessary to get the string lined up you may be able to shift the bow in the stave at the tips and the handle area by removing wood from one side or the other. A little twist isn't deadly to a wood bow like it is with a FG bow and adds character to the bow.
Keep us posted with your progress and of course you won't forget the pics. 

[Roy from Pa]

Won't hurt a thing, I was generalizing, he's got a ways to go.

I said down the center, where the handle will be, not down the center of the handle.

But would you lay a bow out with the string that far off center when you know you could get a better alignment?

[Bvas]

But would you lay a bow out with the string that far off center when you know you could get a better alignment?

 
I don’t know nuffin bout self bows, and definitely don’t know better.

I just kinda figured the less heating and bending you do, the better off you’d be in the long run. Both performance and durability.

[Mad Max]

x2 what pat said.
the string at the handle is off center of the handle, works fine..
You can do it Bue

[Buemaker]

Okay, thank you. I adjusted it a little more today and since I have used both steam and dry heat I will let it rest for a week (that is if I can keep my fingers off it) before proceeding.
I’ll keep you posted.
Max, if I can get it half as good looking as the one you show,I’ll be more than happy.

[Mad Max]

 

[Mad Max]

It's been a week

 

 

[Buemaker]

Them Norwegian weeks are different.
The truth is that my arthrities have been playing nasty tricks on me.
They are giving me small doses of chemotherapy and cortizone, to keep it in check. But that is not enough so I am going to get some other stuff in addition.
Stave looks good though, it kept it’s shape after straightening.

[Mad Max]

 

[George Tsoukalas]

Just remember that kinky area has to do its share of the bending. Jawge

[Buemaker]

Got started on this thing. The stave was very narrow so after cleaning up the sides I had only 15/16 of an inch width to play with. I decided to make kind of an ELB bend in the handle bow with a shallow convex belly profile. It was difficult to make it track sideways, but managed. Will be a light weight bow.
Here is a pic at brace as is now, and at 21 inches draw.
What do you think?