Main Discussion Area > Bows
Osage Board Bow
Pat B:
Welcome to PA, Clay. You are not the only "mature" guy here. I'll be 72 at the end of this month.
I've built quite a few hickory backed ALBs from many different belly woods. Hickory backed osage is one of my favorites. 63" to 66" long
1 3/8" to 1 5/8" at the fades and out 6"(or so) before a straight taper to 3/4" tips for now. The tips will be reduced to 3/8" after first brace. If there is any misalignment while braced you can move the limb over within the wider tips to get the string to track properly. Also, leave the handle area full with until after first brace for the same reason.
Another option would be a pyramid style with a straight taper from the fades out.
I use pieces of 2x4 for blocks to add Perry reflex. Put the tips on the blocks and draw the handle to the table(or form) at glue up. Much more reflex than that can be counter productive.
Good luck and don't forget the pics and any questions you may have.
mullet:
Welcome, Clay. Dang Pat, you are getting old. By putting the Perry reflex in at glue up there will be no need for steaming also.
Eric Krewson:
I would lean towards a bamboo backed osage bow, much better than a hickory backed bow. Glue up with three inches of reflex and you will end up with straight or 1" of reflex after shooting the bow in. I have made over 50 bamboo backed osage bows, even though I made them with staves and billets after I flattened the back these were essentially a board bow.
gutpile:
do yourself and the osage board a HUGE favor and get the DVD hunting the bamboo backed bow by Dean Torges.. it will help you make an exceptional bow out of the board..
scp:
For the third bow, especially at your draw weight, there is probably no need to back the osage orange board. Just build an American longbow that is rather flat and learn to tiller perfectly. It would be a pleasure to shoot. I usually start at 72 inch long, then by and by get to 66 or 64 inch long with almost stiff handle. You cannot go wrong if you just use scrapers with long strokes. Unfortunately it will take just a couple of hours. But you can fine tune it for hours or even days, if you want.
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