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Split Osage branch for a small kids bow? Opinions needed.

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Thunderlizard:
Howdy!

I cut a load of Osage orange about 5 years ago, and want to start with this little branch. Hindsight, I should never have split it in half, but I did. Any opinions on whether it can be used as a very light weight child’s bow? Looking to draw maybe 15-20 pounds.

As you can see, it has few and pretty wide growth rings, and they have a high crown with it just being a branch.

As I understand it, Osage bows should ideally:

1. Be crafted into flat bows, because they are weak in compression
2. Be made only with the heartwood, and the back should be chased down to a ring of the dark colored late wood within the heartwood.

Is this correct? Given that this is going to be a very small child’s bow, do those things still hold true, or can I make this bow with a rounded back and flatter belly, and use the sapwood?

Photos below.
 Thanks!

Thunderlizard:
Photos

Thunderlizard:
One more

Hamish:
Nothing wrong with that stave, nice growth rings. I can't see how long it is from the tape measure, but it will make a nice bow, much more than 15-20lbs, if you wanted to.

Sapwood on the back is fine, as long as it hasn't started to rot, or been attacked by bugs.

Osage is actually very strong in compression. A flat belly will work well with the high  crowned back from a small diameter stave though. You could also make a round bellied like an English longbow too. Osage can handle the strain.

Happy bowmaking.

Pat B:
I've made 50# bows from poles that size.

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