Main Discussion Area > HowTo's and Build-a-longs
osage board bows: 2 at once
Ryano:
Now!!!!!!! Dont bend that thing any farther or you'll be sorry. If you glue your boo on in reflex your goin g to gain a whole lot more than 5 or ten pounds. You'll need to start the tillering process all over again. Dont rush it faster isnt better when it comes to tillering bows, just go slow and take a break and do something else for a while if you tired or sick of scraping it. Come back later with a fresh mind.
radius:
OK!
It's cold out this morning, but I trimmed the bamboo to shape (slightly over) and sanded it down futher....here's what it looks like now...
But...because it's cold out, I didn't want to work with the epoxy...so I brought the bow to the table. The first picture is the bow with nock to nock string, a bit loose, at 12" draw.
Now I tightened the string up a little. It's not braced, but it is tight against the handle. The clamp is still at 12" draw.
Keep in mind that every time I set it on the stick, i check the bend with a block, and mark the flat spots for work. This next photo is at about 14" of draw, string tight against the handle. It took a lot of effort to pull the string into the groove, and yet the bow shows no set at all. The curve is symmetrical and even. Lifting the string into place takes so much energy that the table comes up: I have to hold it down with my feet!!! After taking it down, I wondered how heavy this bow really was. After all, I have no scale. So I came inside and strung my 65# hickory bow. After working with the osage bow, the 65 is easy to draw: no problem! And so far I have heard nary a crack or a creak....
Here it is at 14" draw.
Next step: low brace: say, 3 or 4 inches or so...
Hope it doesn't break!
Gordon:
Why are you going to brace the bow before gluing on the backing?
radius:
sounds like you think that's a mistake!
I don't know...because I am an experimental bowyer...I'm like Tim Baker that way...no hard and fast rules other than have fun, keep trying, keep it interesting...
Everyone says it's gonna break without backing...and I like to take the advice of more experienced guys, no matter what i'm doing...but this one feels pretty strong to me, gives no sign of breaking (no eerie sounds, and no hinging). I think that people are afraid it's going to break, but I tend to doubt what "everyone" says. And I look at this buildalongs...don't people often make the bow and then throw a backing onto it?
If I make the bow, then add the backing without reflex...what effect will that have?
Do you make osage board bows without backing? Or with backing added at the end?
Maybe I'm just a dolt! :'( :-[ :-[
stiknstring:
I do not think you are a dolt...heck i don't think ANY of us think that. He was just curious about your procedure. Typically the procedure goes something like rough out the bow...floor tiller then back before tillering the beast. It is especially true when adding a hard backing such as bamboo or hickory.
What I really think it boils down to with Gordon's question is asking about your thought processes so we can understand what you are doing and why....then will come suggestions......does that make sense???
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