Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

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stumper
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Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2016 7:40 pm

Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#211 Post by stumper »

Bottom limb is bending well. Worked all on top limb all day. Really debating whether or not to take the warp and off set out of the bow.... but I did buy a heat gun because this will not be my last bow and I will need it in the future. Also got some scrap wood out to make a portable tillering tree. Why portable you ask? Easy in the future, I am dreaming of going to the Tennessee self bow jamboree to build a bow. Really want to meet my archery hero clay hayes.

I think I will be using Dakotas source for osage from now on. Mine was expensive and didnt seem to care after the sale was made. It actually almost put me off bow making completely.

Here I am teaching my bow to bend though racing towards the finish line of becoming a bowyer despite all the hurdles I had. Actually reread this entire thread today and boy what a journey.

Speaking of difficulties, I'm leaning towards, just shooting the bow as is with the twists and all. May look wonky, but if I tiller well it should be a shooter. Because of the flaws, I wont be using rawhide backing or putting reflex in it. That I feel would compound the complications I'm having. Would love some opinions on the matter... whatcha all think??
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Nothing clears a troubled mind like shooting a bow.

stumper
Posts: 2688
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2016 7:40 pm

Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#212 Post by stumper »

Crude but serviceable.
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Nothing clears a troubled mind like shooting a bow.

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Graps
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Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#213 Post by Graps »

Well I'm no bowyer but it looks good to me.
And you have a supervisor so what could go wrong? :D
"Maybe the truly handicapped people are the ones that don't need God as much." ~ Joni Eareckson Tada

Nock
Posts: 667
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:03 am

Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#214 Post by Nock »

Looking good Dave. You will be flinging arrows before long.
Happiness is a tight chain!

stumper
Posts: 2688
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2016 7:40 pm

Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#215 Post by stumper »

Graps wrote: Tue May 28, 2019 4:22 pm Well I'm no bowyer but it looks good to me.
And you have a supervisor so what could go wrong? :D
Quality control dog.
Nothing clears a troubled mind like shooting a bow.

Nock
Posts: 667
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:03 am

Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#216 Post by Nock »

stumper wrote: Tue May 28, 2019 8:14 pm
Graps wrote: Tue May 28, 2019 4:22 pm Well I'm no bowyer but it looks good to me.
And you have a supervisor so what could go wrong? :D
Quality control dog.
Got to have one of those.
Happiness is a tight chain!

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Grizzly
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Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#217 Post by Grizzly »

Wow. I've never done anything like that. I know folks who have and they sure do love them. The only thing I do know is that those who build these have all kinds of techniques and knowledge from years of working with wood that has a mind of it's own sometimes. If you do get stuck somewhere, maybe rather than risking that expensive stave, set it aside until Tenn. or you read and discuss somewhere what might solve your problem.
Jesus replaces the old covenant and speaks to the believer the moral code of God by His Spirit directly to the heart. He is the eternal, everlasting revelation of God to mankind. In Him is both the knowledge of righteousness and the power to live right.

stumper
Posts: 2688
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2016 7:40 pm

Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#218 Post by stumper »

Grizzly wrote: Wed May 29, 2019 6:03 am Wow. I've never done anything like that. I know folks who have and they sure do love them. The only thing I do know is that those who build these have all kinds of techniques and knowledge from years of working with wood that has a mind of it's own sometimes. If you do get stuck somewhere, maybe rather than risking that expensive stave, set it aside until Tenn. or you read and discuss somewhere what might solve your problem.
It does have a mind of its own.... and I have elementary wood working skills at best. It's not so much a sticking point as it is a crossroad. If I leave bow as is, it will be suitable and will probably work out fine. It wont be the most efficient of designs and may have some hand shock. If I go heat route, it has both risks and rewards. The risk is that when bending a bow, you can crack it or bend it and it's a piece of firewood. The reward is a better shooting bow that is more efficient. However, the wood grew this way and is probably stronger in the shape it grew. I'd like to hunt with this bow but I also want it to be around for a while so I can see how far I've come over the years.

I'm leaning towards doing nothing because it's my first bow and I have so much time invested in it that I dont really want to chance it. I dont give two hoots about efficiency and will have plenty of opportunities to bend bows in the future and do all the fancy stuff.

As for Tenn. I have no idea when I will actually make it there....
Nothing clears a troubled mind like shooting a bow.

Nock
Posts: 667
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:03 am

Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#219 Post by Nock »

I’d probably leave it as well.
Happiness is a tight chain!

stumper
Posts: 2688
Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2016 7:40 pm

Re: Hunting the Osage Bow build along **Teaching a bow to bend**

#220 Post by stumper »

Did some floor tillering and cut some temporary nocks in. Put a string on and gave a quick pull. I can't even make it budge lol. Back to floor tillering for a bit but there is a long way to go. Already see a problem though. The twist is causing the bow to rotate in my hand as I try and pull back. I wonder if I weaken the side of the limb that the twist is on if this will diminish like a 3d tiller.
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Nothing clears a troubled mind like shooting a bow.

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