Hi guys, I am working on my first osage stave and have some questions. I'd like to aim for 50# at 28" draw. I sketched out an idea of limb width at 1 3/4". It is 63" long and width varies from about 3" at the widest and 1 1/2" at the narrowest point. One end has a crack off to the side that runs down about 10 inches, so I tried laying out a center line that works around it. I also have a knot that is currently sitting a couple of inches into the working limb. It appears to angle back in toward the center. Does this pose an issue once I start shaping the limb? Can I get some opinions on the handle layout as well? I've made a couple of vine maple bows, and I know osage is a different beast. If the knot is questionable, should I consider cutting the stave in half to flip the limb with knot around towards to the tip where it wouldn't be a problem? I would like to try a 2 piece takedown at some point. So, if all goes well there should be pics at the end of this rambling. Thanks for looking!
(http://i.imgur.com/76OFvsg.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/bi7Nrd6.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/PKIiU9l.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/a0oCc7N.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/iCzTSYk.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/7sgrAd4.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/AolNqeQ.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/SV3xGft.jpg)
For me it is easier to draw a center line, following the grain and then mark off the limb width from there(3/4"on either side of the center line for a 1 1/2" width). Work around the knots to finalize the limbs. It almost looks like you could eliminate that knot by staying to the wide side of it.
1 1/2" wide is plenty for a 63" bow at 50#@28".
Thanks Pat! I was erring on the side of using a wider limb. The limbs are marked out at 1 1/2" wide now, which has the knot closer to the handle right on the outside.