Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: wapiti1997 on November 20, 2013, 03:02:17 pm

Title: If you could get custom sawn osage?
Post by: wapiti1997 on November 20, 2013, 03:02:17 pm

I have a friend that is sawing some large osage.  He asked if I wanted any for bowmaking. 
I'm thinking some 2"x2" or  1"boards might be good for making backing/risers?
I've never worked anything but a stave, how would you get some sawn?

Title: Re: If you could get custom sawn osage?
Post by: Dances with squirrels on November 20, 2013, 03:15:19 pm

I'd get as much as possible sawn into slats, or boards that I could saw into slats myself. My preference would be for quartersawn, riftsawn, then flat sawn in that order. Boards or slats 1 1/2" or more wide and either 72 or 36-40" long.

Title: Re: If you could get custom sawn osage?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on November 20, 2013, 03:34:51 pm

If the 2x2's are fairly straight grained you could chase a ring on the right cut and still make a self bow. Id say 1" thick by 2" wide and no shorter than 36" for slat wood, 1/4 sawn would be best.

Title: Re: If you could get custom sawn osage?
Post by: Don Case on November 20, 2013, 03:39:08 pm

Wouldn't it be better to get the biggest piece you can get in your truck and split it into staves? Save all those sawmill costs.

Title: Re: If you could get custom sawn osage?
Post by: wapiti1997 on November 20, 2013, 04:41:14 pm

I have a hundred or more staves.  There is no cost, he basically asked me if I wanted some and how I wanted it.  I don't have a band saw. 

Title: Re: If you could get custom sawn osage?
Post by: toomanyknots on November 20, 2013, 07:01:53 pm

Quote from: wapiti1997 on November 20, 2013, 04:41:14 pm

I have a hundred or more staves.  There is no cost, he basically asked me if I wanted some and how I wanted it.  I don't have a band saw.

I'd ask him for the straightest grain pieces without knots or cracks, etc. Shoot I'd just take everything he would give me, haha.

Title: Re: If you could get custom sawn osage?
Post by: Danzn Bar on November 20, 2013, 08:17:54 pm

That's got me thinking ........ quarter sawed you say Pearly???   ???  That sounds like a idea to me.  Maybe Half Eye (Rich) will chime in and provide some ideas on quarter sawed osage.  I can remember any bows posted like that but I'm getting old and forgetfull these days.  Can you imagine how thin those limbs would be.....
DBar

Title: Re: If you could get custom sawn osage?
Post by: Tom Kurth on November 20, 2013, 09:11:58 pm

Depending on what your friend is wanting for himself, you may just ask for the center board (of whatever thickness you think appropriate) if he's plain-sawing the whole trunk. If it is fairly straight, the center cut would give you one quarter-sawn board all the way from one side to the other.

Best,
Tom

Title: Re: If you could get custom sawn osage?
Post by: Badger on November 20, 2013, 10:18:26 pm

  I never cared for 1/4 sawn osage but I use 1X2X72" slats all the time for backed bows. I don't like my bely slat any thinner than 3/4" because I don't like using a power lam to keep the handle from flexing. I prefer 1" think if I had someone sawing it for me. You can back osage with a lot of different woods, bamboo, maple, red oak, white oak, hickory. I would take all I could get. I will even buy some from you if you are selling any.