I am making a small bow from a sliver off stave. 58" ntn, bend through handle, about 3/4" wide at handle to 3/8" at tips. the belly is rounded like an english longbow design. I started tillering and got out to about 40@ at 14" when bow started twisting to one side. I straightened the kinks out with heat last night and got stave much more inline. Several questions, how long should I let it alone after heating before continuing tillering, what weight should I be shooting for, and is it worth backing? I will end up giving it to a kid as it wont be a hunting weight for me, just having fun building it.
You can make a hunting weight bow from that piece of osage. Depending on how much heat you used but I'd give it over night to be sure it was completely cooled. If you have a good, clean back ring you shouldn't need a backing.
If it keeps trying to twist on you, check your string nocks to make sure they are even and the same depth on each side. If they are not even, it will try to twist to a balanced point it will never seem to find...
Also, with a rounded belly, if the crown of the belly wanders off of centerline, it can also cause twisting, same as if a flat belly was thicker one side than the other.
I do have a clean ring on the back but there are two pretty good knots on each limb. i left extra wood on those areas and it is bending evenly throuhout. @pat b, what weight would you consider ideal for a bow of this size? I made a bow this size to 45#s a couple yrs ago but it didnt have the twist and knots to overcome. on closer inspection the cown on belly does wonder from center a bit, maybe that is my problem. Well, the stave is now straight so I will play with it again tomorrow and see. Any other comments welcome. This is my most difficult challenge to date, if nothing else I will learn stuff :)
Will you post pics of the knots, etc?
If the knots are in or near the center of the limb you can work around them. On the edge can be a problem. I'd think you could easily get 45# out of this bow. Try to get the limbs to bend to the fades or into the handle at full draw and you'll not stress the limbs as much as with a stiff handle.
The twist sounds like uneven tillering to me. A deep, rounded belly style bow can be tricky to tiller sometimes. Uneven tiller could cause latteral bending. A more flattened belly would make it easier to control because you can feel the thickness differences better than you can see them.
I usually wait at least a couple of days before bending osage after its been heated up. Like Pat said it depends on how much heat you used as to how long to let it rest. Had one snap like a toothpick a couple of years ago because it was too dry. Osage becomes very brittle at low mc. If you're worried about the knots back the bow with rawhide. Does your bow have any reflex? If so it is going to try and twist no matter what being that skinny.
(http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/cheshirew/2012-04-12190409.jpg)
(http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/cheshirew/2012-04-14105257.jpg)
(http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/cheshirew/2012-04-14105239.jpg)
(http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/cheshirew/2012-04-14105334.jpg)
these are the pics of the bow. sorry none of it strung. those will happen tomorrow
it looks sweet! lets see her bend
(http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/cheshirew/2012-04-15144919.jpg)
this is 40# @ 21" it still trys to twist to one side although not nearly as bad since got the crowned belly evened out. looks to be trying to hinge in a spot or two as well. I a thinking about trying to adjust twist by heating and bending one limb slightly to side to straighten it some more. then i will try to fix hinges and get it bending evenly to 26". it is at low brace (about 1")
(http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/cheshirew/2012-04-30190739.jpg)
Bow at 24"
(http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/cheshirew/2012-04-30190953.jpg)
45# @ 26". Still need to do final sanding. It is shooting now though. The bow still wants to twist a bit reguardless of my best efforts at straightening. Not nearly as bad however. I do think I will I will make a few arrows and take it turkey hunting this weekend.
Looks like a turkey killng machine to me... Osage is amazing stuff.. That little bows almost as thick as it is wide :)
(http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/cheshirew/2012-05-04184341.jpg)
(http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/cheshirew/2012-05-04184548.jpg)
New bow ready to hunt. Gonna go looking for turkeys tommorrow!
Nice stick, William!
That turned out really nice! Good luck with the birds.
You did a great job on that! Excellent tiller. Jawge
Cool little bow. It always amazes me the kind of power you can get from such small pieces of osage.
Cool little bow.