I did some experimenting with my new heat gun on a limb that I thought was a failure, but as it turned out I think I can save it? Maybe.

I thinned it down to about 1/4" thick at the limb tip and it gets thicker toward the fade end. I'm thinking I could glue a different wood to the belly side and tiller it anew.

My question is what wood would you laminate with Osage? With the Osage being the backing.

I've got on hand.....
Cedar, Poplar, and White Oak rough cut boards, but I do have a planer. I'm thinking maybe a 1/4" belly lam under the Osage should just about do it?

What do you all think?   :rolleyes:

out of those three only the white oak seems suitable.

more osage?

That's kinda what I was thinking, maybe white oak? I don't think it would over power the Osage too much if at all, and since this is an experiement on an otherwise failed limb anyway I figured why not try?
Highpoint- I thought about that, but I'd like to try something with some contrast to it, just to give it an original look like I "meant" for it to be that way...ya know?  

C'mon guys, nobody else wants to weigh in on this?
Art, Pat, George, DVS, Walt, Roy, nobody?

What's a good wood for the belly on Osage?
I've got Poplar boards, Red Cedar boards, and Oak boards that I can plane down to any size I want to. I need a wood that will compliment and not over power my Osage back.

Bellies don't overpower backs.  You need a good compression wood.  Try the white oak but osage would be better.  i've made a couple osage backed osage and tehy were pretty cool.

Thanks guys, still trying to decide what to do.
I've got more limbs cut out already that are fine, I was just trying to figure out something different that I could do that would look good and maybe save the limb from the scrap pile. It may not be worth my time saving, but it may be good practice?

I'd say osage.

I would use the red cedar if you're talking about the ERC. It's very good in compression. Others you mentioned are not.

I never scrap bows with good backs anymore Semo. Good, pristine backs/backing are hard to come by sometimes.....Art

I've got some red cedar boards that are very nice, I may just do one anyway and see how it turns out. It won't cost me anything to try and if it fails so be it. I think it would look good with the Osage. Thanks Art, that's what I was waiting to hear.

I used bamboo with Osage for what you're considering Semo........got any of that?

No, just common woods and nice red cedar and white oak, possibly some red oak boards. I don't even have any hickory down right now.

If you had access to yew, it would be my first choice. However,of the woods you listed, Osage and red cedar would be my choice, in that order.

Double Post

Desert Ironwood....

I'm sold on the red cedar, that's the one I wanted to use in the first place. Just needed a push.