This one kicked my butt. I've been chasin rings off and on this piece of osage for a while now and I think I'm finally callin it quits on this one for now. About the time I would think I had it goin my way, I would go through another ring!! Its 52" long and I had planned on makin a little indian bow out of it for my son.
   

My mood changed pretty quick when I climbed up in the rafters in my shop to see what I could find and I came down with this. Now this I can work with!    
   

Wow, those are some seriously thin rings! The second stave sure looks good.

When they are that thin I use a scraper like tool. I work to a couple of rings above. Then go up the left for a foot or so, down the middle and down the left. If I make a mistake i is on the sides which will come out. Resist the temptation to shape out the bow.  Then there is  room for error. I'd use a curved scraper. My tool of choice is the shavehooks. Middle set of 3 tools. Curved one is my favorite. the curved tool makes for fewer violation. I can dig out rings and valleys without violating other rings.

that first picture looks like pretty low density osage.

Back it with rawhide or paper. Easy fix and will still make a good bow for a youngster.

Back it with something, will make a great bow.

I had both of these pieces marked June 2009 so they came from the same tree. I think the thin-ringed piece was a limb close to the base and the bigger one was from the main trunk if I remember right. So if I have some ring violations and back it with rawhide yall think it would be ok? It would only be in the 35-40# range. I got a couple of copperhead skins too but I didnt figure that would strengthen the back much?

Rawhide backing should work fine as long as the violations are not too severe. I love thin ringed osage and usually back them with rawhide.

Those ring are not  thin enough to warrant having any violations. You got some thick enough rings starting 4 down. I hate ring violations. But that's me. I've seen bows for sale with several ring violations. Inexcusable as far as I am concerned.    Jawge

I'll take a break from it for a little while and work on the bigger stave in the bottom pic. I think I'm just frustrated with it for now. Thanks for all the info guys.

George, I dont have near as much experience or patience as you but when I come back to it I'll try not to disappoint you.  

Stave #2 would almost be like "cheating" now wouldn't it Okie?      


What type of scrapers are those in the middle of the pic?  I've been using some flat cabinet scrapers but those with some handles look pretty neat and would seem to give you a bit more leverage over the handheld/finger type of scraper.

Thanks~

You can do it! Okie, don't give up on it!    jawge

Yer right Lee. I think ole Okie is skeered of stave # 1:)  

And Jawge, I think I remember you telling me once that a couple ring violations is ok?  

That true?

Alright, I'll go back to the thin-ringed stave and see what I can do. Nobody calls me yeller.  

No, I would never say that, Roy. On red oak boards a couple of run outs per limb is ok for 50-55# bend in the handle bows. That's different. You may be referring to that. No one is calling you yeller, Okie. No one who wants to make bows is yeller. Bot one continuos growth ring on the back of any bow is a good thing. I remember going back and forth a couple of times ...may be 3 or more before I got it. Now you may want to back it anyway with rawhide. That's up to you.
 Jawge

Okie I just finished chasing ring on two sister staves that looked like what you got there. I did what Jawge suggested and got to a little heavier ring. I chased the one above it and finished them with a scraper and got it done.

If I can do it anybody can, LOL

Stiks

I think ...thin ring are fun ...to chase !!!! Don't give up !!

You can't be aggressive on thin ringed osage. Go slow and carefull with a cabinet scraper. That first stave is thick ringed compared to a couple that I have done.

I told you nobody calls me yeller Roy.     Got her down to one ring. Thanks for all the encouragement and tips from everybody. I was seriously done with this stave until you guys gave me a little encouragement.


You can see the ring violations on the side of the stave in this pic. They wont be in the bow after its laid out.

Here it is after I laid it out.

Excellent Okie!  A little gentle push from friends can really be helpful from time to time.  I know exactly where you were "mentally" with that stave.  I have one going currently that is so thin ringed that if you loose your focus with the cabinet scraper (even for a second) you'll have gone through to the next ring.  The only thing that has worked for me is to take this stave in "small bites" and learn to walk away when my brain gets "fuzzy" and I find myself loosing concentration.  It's been 30 minute sessions on it lately but so far its helped me keep going and staying on the one chosen ring.

Look forward to see the progress on this bow.