Going out on a limb

[M2A]

Figured id try and kill 2 birds with one stone here. first, the picture host site i had been using decided to change how they do things so as i read into it i cant use like i use to. Thats all fine and dandy, I just need to go through the learning curve. So lets see if this works. 

[M2A]

Well aint that something. I did it.

I can move on now.....I always have enjoyed the hunt for materials as much as anything and in fact before i even got started on my first bow i thought about the resources needed and determined i had everything to do so. For me Osage has been hard to source but i get lucky sometimes. Good thing hickory and locust have kept me busy over the years.

The one clump of osage i know of and have permission to cut i didnt need yet so just was letting it grow till i had the oppertunity. As things would go I need to get started on that this winter. Looking over things i decided to take some of the branches first, remove the bark and sap wood a few at a time, as my time is limited these days. The photo above is one of those. Below is what i was able to split from it. aweful reflexed but not going to pass on the oppertunity to work on them. great rings imo
   

[M2A]

I finished processing the last of the branches yesterday. Next step is going to be the trunk next weekend. With any luck ill it will have some nice rings in it and make some nice clean staves.

Going to do all i can to get as much from this tree as i can, with  in reason, and determine later if its too poor for a bow. So i kinda wonder if most folks that cut and split their own staves think the same way. Would be interesting to hear your opion.

below is final 2 branches i just finished up. the smaller one has some poor rings on the outside but gets much better a half inch into the hart wood. i was hoping for 1 stave from each branch but ended up with 3. each having its own challenges but just might be worth it.

Thats all i got for now.
Cheers, Mike   

[sleek]

Well aint that something. I did it.

I can move on now.....I always have enjoyed the hunt for materials as much as anything and in fact before i even got started on my first bow i thought about the resources needed and determined i had everything to do so. For me Osage has been hard to source but i get lucky sometimes. Good thing hickory and locust have kept me busy over the years.

The one clump of osage i know of and have permission to cut i didnt need yet so just was letting it grow till i had the oppertunity. As things would go I need to get started on that this winter. Looking over things i decided to take some of the branches first, remove the bark and sap wood a few at a time, as my time is limited these days. The photo above is one of those. Below is what i was able to split from it. aweful reflexed but not going to pass on the oppertunity to work on them. great rings imo
   

Holy cow! Man, Id be VERY excited to work those super reflexed ones. Id splice two of them into a deflex reflex recurve bow. How wide are they?

[Eric Krewson]

Back in the day I had access to a good bit of osage so I never saved limbs because they tend to be so knotty. I saved all of the trunk wood that had a bow or billet in it no matter how bent or twisted it was.

At my peak I only made about 15 bows a year, because these bows were for other people I didn't attempt to make bows out of the type of wood in your first picture. That wood can be tamed it will be a long term job.

[bjrogg]

I don’t have local access to Osage either. Have been gifted a few longs over the years. Also bought and gifted staves, billets and blanks.

Always impressed by what Osage would let me turn it into. It usually takes heat corrections really well.

I’m kinda like Sleek. I’d go for those two on the left. Splice in a decent amount of deflex in the handle and use that natural reflex.

You can always practice on scrap pieces to learn the wood too.

Bjrogg

[M2A]

As i recall they are 3" min. in width and 64 long each, for those reflexed ones Sleek. I did eyeball 2 of them up at one point to see how they'd line up for a spliced R/D layout. Got a good year at least while they season to think on that.
You made some good points Eric. I just started shooting in one from a stave that was all knotted up. its looks cool but a pretty average shooter. took me forever to work around all the flaws. I sometimes wonder if i should work on some of my better material instead of continuing to save it for that rainy day. The branches i pictured dont have too many knots however some of the first ones i cut are full of knots. I do get using good material for good results, but is fun trying to figure out the puzzle.

I did buy a couple early on too BJ. Also have been gifted a few logs over the years. Even made a few but never kept any finished osage bows for myself. I have a couple somewhere between roughed out to just needing a finish on them. If this tree gives me some good staves from the trunk I'll start on some of my best seasoned material. Not getting any younger 

They dont know it yet but going to get my boys lined up for next weekend to cut and split up the trunk. With any luck i'll be able to get 3 full length rounds from it. Going to have to work around some knots and flaws but thinking positive. Part of the fun trying to make the best use of what you got.
Mike