Okay, so I've been wanting to make bow. I got the Bowyer's bible vol 4 but I need some input on plans. I have a couple osage boards 2 in wide, one 1 inch thick and 72" long. I also got a flatten piece of bamboo 72" long. I wanna make this bow somewhere in th 65-70# range. How would yall go about this? The only plans I found online was the guy from poorfolkbows, but I'm not sure if that will apply to the materials I'm using. Any links, drawings, etc would be super appreciated!

Semper Fi,

Leon

I would read volume I and mention your draw length and intended poundage.

Check out the post by bowhuntingeverything. I don't know how to make a link to the thread, but it's just what you need. Just scan through the last few pages of the bench and you'll find it.

you need to get dean torges' dvd about building boo backed osage bows.

There alot of different styles you could build with the material you have. I just built a boo backed hill style bow that was tri-lam that turned out great. You can build a deflex/reflex or just a good ol' long bow. The possibility's are endless.

+2 on Dean's DVD. I have a copy of Dean's DVD.  Very informative.  Haven't tackled the build yet but he gives you everything you need to get it done.

Get the video, it is the best tool you can buy for making bamboo backed bows.

i would try a red oak board first then work on your osage bow if you learn on the oak wood and back with hickory you will thank yourself ten times over for not screwing up and you be miles ahead with a shooting bow if it turns out.

If you follow Dean's video and have good material, it's almost a sure thing to get a good BBO out of the deal.  The most critical parts are getting the bamboo properly tapered and shaped and tapering the belly slat before glue-up.  After that, it's basically assembly and some tillering.

Just for clarity's sake though, it won't be a selfbow.  A selfbow is defined as a bow where the working portions are the same material from belly to back.  In other words, and practically, a single piece of unbacked wood or spliced billets.  Selfbows have a different set of challenges.

I'm no master at bamboo backed bows, but one thing I did learn is to start out with a straight limb design, much easier to tiller. I've made a couple RD bows and you need to take your time when tillering.  


Rick.

If this is your first bow don't think of it as an event, it is a process and don't worry about the first ones, assemble the tools, look at a video, read an article, get some boards and build a few-they will most likely be sacrificial anyway. You will only learn so much without actually doing.