Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: MWirwicki on April 15, 2015, 08:17:07 pm

Title: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: MWirwicki on April 15, 2015, 08:17:07 pm

I favor Osage Orange as my "go to" wood for making bows.  I don't much do anything with any other wood species anymore.  Lately though, I had an itch to try something a bit different. 

I was looking for something to build and noticed an osage billet that was old enough that the bark popped off leaving a clean, back of sapwood.  I thought it was unique since the rough texture on the sapwood under the bark was still there.  When I peeled the rotted bark from the stave, the cadmium layer also came with it.  What was left was a billet that had no violations of growth rings. 

I've made bows with one sapwood layer on the back but never with the entire amount of sapwood.  The "will it survive" notion was too great for me to resist so I layed it out for a shortie since I didn't have much length to begin with.  I made a form to reflex it on.  I used a heat gun for the reflexing process.  The first attempt didn't satisfy me so I put it back on the form and made some string alignment corrections.  I noticed that the sapwood took considerably more heat to have an affect on the sapwood unlike the usual, heat-friendly heartwood bows.  While in the final tillering stages, the sapwood bow took on some set.  I put it back on a different form heat treated the belly.  I did it dry, with no oil until the belly turned a mellow tan color.  There is a remnant of one thin layer of heartwood that remained on the belly side nearest the handle.  The heat treating greatly improved it's stance.  Surprisingly for 30#, it shoots hard and fast.

I didn't want a heavy bow since my thoughts were for a horse type, chest draw bow.  Here's the final specs:

50-1/2" NTN
1-3/8" Pyramid limbs to 1/2"
30# @ 23"

The little woman wasn't available for a full draw pic.  I'll post one later...

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: Danzn Bar on April 15, 2015, 08:21:07 pm

Very nice bow...osage is great wood ... but never tried a sapwood bow ....
DBar

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: alwayslookin on April 15, 2015, 08:26:15 pm

Pretty cool man I like when people push the norm. You guys make me jealous with all your Osage it's downright wrong :( 

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: Badly Bent on April 15, 2015, 09:29:34 pm

Looks good Matt, held a nice unbraced profile too.

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: osage outlaw on April 15, 2015, 09:43:55 pm

Nice bow Matt.  Can't wait to see a picture of it bending.

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: Carson (CMB) on April 15, 2015, 10:22:21 pm

That is a sweet little bow. That is the first all sapwood osage bow I have seen. Cool!  :)

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: bubby on April 15, 2015, 11:19:17 pm

Cool little bow can't wait to see it bend Matt, bub

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: Pappy on April 16, 2015, 08:03:02 am

Never tried sap wood, but know several that have and say it's fine. Looks like that one turned out nice. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: George Tsoukalas on April 16, 2015, 08:06:10 am

Good job on that bow.
I've left sapwood on BL and osage but only when I had to.
Jawge

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: Aaron H on April 16, 2015, 01:11:53 pm

Great looking bow

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: Joec123able on April 17, 2015, 04:04:08 am

I think Osage sap wood is just as good as the heart wood, and it can't be much different considering the sap wood becomes the heartwood lol. I wonder where the whole "Osage sapwood doesn't work " thing came from.

Title: Re: Osage Sapwood Bow
Post by: paulsemp on April 19, 2015, 04:10:57 pm

really nice to see you posting a bow Matt :) see you at Marshall in a little bit