Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on January 11, 2017, 07:33:34 pm

Title: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
Post by: upstatenybowyer on January 11, 2017, 07:33:34 pm
So I've got this stave of osage with only enough wood to get about 1" of width and 3/4" of thickness at the handle. It's 58" long and get's wider and thicker on both limbs as you move away from the handle. Think I can still make a bendy handle bow with 45# of draw weight at 27" or would I be wasting my time?
Title: Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
Post by: JonW on January 11, 2017, 08:10:37 pm
If you nail the tiller early on that should not be a problem.
Title: Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
Post by: Stick Bender on January 11, 2017, 08:22:20 pm
Not all osage is created equal but the osage bendy I used for hunting this year is only 1 1/16 wide @ 66in pulling just shy of 50 lb it could have easely pulled 60 lb plus , like has been said it doesent take much osage to make a bow , if its a bendy I would go for it especialy at 45 lb. @27  that would make a nice ground blind bow just my 2 cents.
Title: Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
Post by: osage outlaw on January 11, 2017, 09:10:29 pm
Check out this little sliver of osage.  I don't remember how wide it is but it wasn't much over an inch.  It wasn't very thick either.  It made a bow in the low 40's draw weight.  Like Stick Bender said, not all osage is stellar bow wood.  If your stave is good quality you should be able to pull it off.  I know 

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=57085.0


Gun Doc made a 1" wide osage bow but he sinew backed it.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=46182.0
Title: Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
Post by: upstatenybowyer on January 11, 2017, 09:37:57 pm
Check out this little sliver of osage.  I don't remember how wide it is but it wasn't much over an inch.  It wasn't very thick either.  It made a bow in the low 40's draw weight.  Like Stick Bender said, not all osage is stellar bow wood.  If your stave is good quality you should be able to pull it off.  I know 

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=57085.0


Gun Doc made a 1" wide osage bow but he sinew backed it.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php?topic=46182.0

Okay, now I'm a little pumped. Both of those are sweet. You guys never fail to provide a stellar example.  8)

P.S. I ordered some bowstring material last night.  ;)
Title: Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
Post by: osage outlaw on January 11, 2017, 09:41:27 pm
What kind did you order?
Title: Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
Post by: upstatenybowyer on January 11, 2017, 09:50:39 pm
What kind did you order?

I went with BCY D97. It said approximately 16 strands for a longbow as opposed to 24 so I went with that. Hope I ordered the right stuff
Title: Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
Post by: bubby on January 11, 2017, 10:15:42 pm
Unless you go really heavy you wont need 16 strands 10 is plenty up to 65# anyway
Title: Re: How narrow can one go w/ osage?
Post by: dirthas on January 11, 2017, 11:04:58 pm
It should be OK, go for it and report the results!

I made a tiny osage sapwood bow that you can see in the pictures below. It delaminated in the handle a bit when my fades were too stiff, but some scraping solved that. It pulls about 40# @ 26" and is 7/8" just after the fades.

It has even handles the occasional, reckless 27 - 28" draw http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/tongue.gif

(http://i.imgur.com/oHWqknV.jpg)

(http://i.imgur.com/MWTTH37.jpg)