Main Discussion Area > Bows
Tapering a Osage slat question
willie:
--- Quote ---13th attempt
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can you identify a part of the build process which you find the most challenging?
are you often changing your designs? every change adds new challenges,
maybe starting a new build coming off a succesful build of a simpler design?
razorbak:
Most challenging for me is tillering I won’t lie I use the gizmo religiously
I try to follow a basic design depending what wood is being used like Osage I go 1.5” at the widest point of limb. Mild flip tips steaming or dry heat and on the hickory wood I give it a mild reflex and 1.75 at the widest tapering down to 3/8 or 1/2” tips
When going with board bows I down to 2 or 2.5” at the widest and all of these are at between 64 to 66” tip to tip. Various reasons that the bows been breaking are crap wood
I haven’t been rushing on these builds I do every in stages. I figured the latest batch of woods I’ve gotten from 3 rivers would have been better quality but as I found out that’s not the case
Last bow breakage was at floor tillering stage and not far into it
superdav95:
Sounds like you got a bad batch of materials. Best of luck on your hunt for good bow material. It makes a big difference being picky with materials. You shouldn’t be breaking bows at the floor tiller stage. That is an indicator that your materials may be sub standard.
willie:
--- Quote ---When going with board bows I down to 2 or 2.5” at the widest and all of these are at between 64 to 66” tip to tip. Various reasons that the bows been breaking are crap wood
--- End quote ---
I would find it frustrating to have a lot of work into producing and gluing up multilaminates and having poor success.
gizmos are best suited for designs that call for consistent bends, ie pyramid limb profiles. your lengths and widths seem fine unless you are asking for poundages that stress the wood too much
Rather than online suppliers for lams such as mentioned above, a decent hickory stave with a natural back would work out better? but
what poundage are you hoping the hunting bow will be, and what part of the country are you working in.? humidity is important in materiel selection maybe find a local stave?
razorbak:
I been in the woods looking for good hickory lately no luck yet as I’m not gonna cut a sub par tree And yes I’ve had no good luck getting decent material from various sources and after spending about $800 in wood the last 4 months and getting ghosted by a guy who owes me a good Osage stave that I paid for instead of a horrible knot ridden cracked piece of crap. I tell you if and any bad luck for a budding bowyer I achieved that and yes I’m looking to make a mid 50 ish bow
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