This topic is inspired by a recently disappointing osage stave. I had a stave that was a little narrow but really clean. It had minor natural deflex but was otherwise good to go. Air dried for 14 months, roughed out, dried in a hot box for 3 days at 90*, and heat treated into 1” reflex. No major knots or wiggles and good early to latewood ratio.
I worked it into a 58” bendy handle flatbow that’s 1 and 3/8 wide and 52# at 26”. Not something I’d consider super stressed. I also took the time to rawhide back it and cover it with a pristine rat snake skin that was 6’ long and covered it in one application. I dried it in a hot box between applications. Our ambient humidity is roughly 37% right now.
It lost all its reflex and took 2.25” string follow immediately after working. It settles in to about 1.75-2” set. None of the set is in the handle, but evenly spread throughout the limbs. It shoots plenty hard enough to hunt deer and is quiet and smooth with the string follow, but I was sad to use the rawhide and snakeskin on a piece that didn’t meet the “ideal”.
I’ll post pics of the tiller and profile here in a couple days. Out for Christmas.
I’ve ran into a few staves over the years that are just duds for no reason. Unusually low weight for their dimensions, excessive string follow. Have you guys had one that kinda let you down after lots of work?