I finally finished this bow. This is my first attempt at sinew backing and string making. The sinew came loose the first time so I had to degrease better and apply new. I backed it with black snake skins. It is 60" long and ended up 50# @ 27". I made the lower limb a little shorter than the top, following Dean Torges advice. I am not sure if I like it or not. My lower limb is probably not as stiff as is should be, but it shoots nice. It has 4 coats of Tru-oil on it. I used a piece of a leather jacket for the handle.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC10141.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC10128-1.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC10127-1.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC10121.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC10126-1.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/SDC10137-1.jpg)
Looks nice, but yes, your bottom limb is too weak.
If you cut an inch off your bottom limb it will just about right to stiffen it up a little. I do this often after a bow with equal length limbs is shot in.
From your post it seems that you have already shortened the bottom limb so you may or may not have the room to lop off an inch more. Either way, if you are happy that it shoots good you may just want to keep shooting it as it is, as long as you believe the limb will not take any further set.
I tried to perfect a hickory bow that is similar in limb bending like your osage and in my pursuit of getting it just right I think I ruined it. Would want that to happen to what you been working on.
It is a pretty bow and you made it look very nice, all in all.
The bottom limb is already 1 1/2" shorter than the top, so I don't want to cut it any shorter. I think the best thing to do is learn from it and build another one.
yep. I like the skins. They look cool with that string.