Is the early wood the weak link to cause set?

[Selfbowman]

I took the back down to a growth ring so I could lay the bows back out from there . If we was going to follow the grain. I peeled the sides of the stave some as to follow the grain. Found some checks in the sides of the stave. Would not worry me at all in a normal selfbow. Probably not to deep but could be a failure in the making. May need to try another stave.

[Selfbowman]

More pics

[RyanY]

That stave is impressively straight. You could possibly get away with planing down one side and going from there, though I can't say I've seen many if any osage board bows. I would also worry about the checks if I couldn't get past them or glue them together because side checks (shakes) appear to happen along the growth rings specifically.

[Selfbowman]

Yes equally as impressive as a crooked one! 😁😁😂

[Yooper Bowyer]

Straight osage is so rare I almost hate to see that experimented with   I'm sure it will turn out great

[Badger]

  Arvin, I have never found edge grain osage to be all that reliable. Osage splits easily and can split when you start to taper the bow. I would back it if you go edge grain.

[simk]

Arvin, I have made a dozen or so ash backed bows, all more or less pyramid. In the beginning I was concerned also about grain runoff at the edges, on the working limb and handle section. In the end it never was a problem. Dunno about osage 

[Selfbowman]

Yes smik but it had a joint under it if I understand correctly.

[Selfbowman]

Straight osage is so rare I almost hate to see that experimented with   I'm sure it will turn out great

Yes I agree. I know there could be a record bow in that stave.

[Selfbowman]

Another stave . No checks in this one. Down to one growth ring and block planed close on on side.

[simk]

Yes smik but it had a joint under it if I understand correctly.

I can't imagine this matters anyhow - the joint is in the neutral zone. I haven't done a edge grained selfbow, but I know it's been done successfully. Show us how its been done 

[Selfbowman]

Shavings

[Selfbowman]

  Arvin, I have never found edge grain osage to be all that reliable. Osage splits easily and can split when you start to taper the bow. I would back it if you go edge grain.

But Steve then I would have to go after your backed bow record.😁😂😂😂

[Selfbowman]

Ok Smik. You got your huckleberry. Next question. Which side of the limb do you heat to straighten and  put my reflex in??? If I’m the huckleberry you have to be Tom. Don’t tell me straight bow cause then you lose you huckleberry. Arvin

PS if it’s failure could you chip in on the next $100 stave. 😁😁😁

[Selfbowman]

Golly mention money and it gets quite. 😁😁😁seriously I’m interested in this. I’ll build a test limb today and try it. If I drilled a hole in the tip to hold a 50 caliber muzzle loader ball put this limb in a vice would that be enough to resistance to simulate a limb load of one limb?  Arvin