I've been on a roll. All down hill. I have broken 4 bows in a row.
All BBI. All were just about ready for finish.
Starting to think my IPE was too dry or bad. All from one board. They all broke near the arrow pass out to the fade.
Sudden complete failure.

Haven't been using a power lam may have to rethink.

So have I Mac...

Sanded my lams to width. Cut and sanded riser template to fit the form. And shredded one tire tube.

Got a batch of snapping turtle skins started into the tanning process... for bow grips if all goes well.

Anybody have experience turning turtles into soft leather? I'd welcome your input as I've endured limited success up to this point.

I've only made 10 bows - 6 shooters.

Fortunately I've had a success between each fail and have had two successes in a row, twice.

If I'd had 4 in a row fail I might have given up.

I think that I could probably cope now, but hopefully I won't have to.

Good luck with your next.

Sprayed a second coat of buffalo hide on this bow I'm making for a guy in Arkansas.  Not really my "cup of tea" but it's what he wanted. Going to have a black beaver tail handle wrap.  

I definetly have depressed fealing after 4 failures.
I don't keep track of how many I have made somewhere between 75 and 100.
Mostly light weight short draw bows, the easy ones.
This one is a long draw for me, 29",.
Realy think my wood is bad.

Time to order more step back and then get back on the horse.

Realy think my wood is bad.

Oh Mac, lmao..  

Little bit more and this one is done. Osage belly, red elm core, boo backed. 64 tip to tip.

Have it to a 6 1/4 inch brace height.



Pulled to 21 inches on the tree.

Got the riser block for my boo backed ipe glued on and started a project I'd left alone for a while - 3 piece takedown, totally experimental, but it will give me something to work on as a project I can do to occupy the glue setting downtime that bows lead to.
If it works, great, if it doesn't I'll at least learn something.

She be purty Roy

Mac, Roy,

I don't like ipe because I've found that you can get a flaw in the wood that's all but impossible to see until the bow is done. I think when they fall those giant trees, the uneven ground or other trees they land on can cause fret-like damage that's all but invisible. If you get one in your board, every bow you make from that board will break in the same place.

Of course if you get a good ipe board, the material is flipping awesome. If I ever build with ipe again, I plan to examine the wood very carefully after scraping to a glossy finish before I glue up the bow. After that, if I do get a failure, I'm throwing the whole board away and using a new board on the next bow. It's too demoralizing to have bows just keep breaking. Especially in the same spot.

I hate IPE. It messed me up bad years ago, so now it's forbidden in my shop.

Got an Osage heatbent yesterday and started on this wicked cool little snaky Osage. Got it all cut out, thinned down and ready for some heat correction. Gonna do that in a little bit.

Canopyboy, I think you are right on all levels.
Love the IPE whenmit works.

My problem is finding affordable osage.
And I am  no longer capable of harvesting my own.

Let is see the snakey bow John

Today I cut some bow wood.  This tree has been laying over for a few years.  I got 2 full length logs and one billet size off the base.  



I was happy when I saw the rings



My redneck log sled got the job done but it was worn out by the time I got the last log to the house.  It's lasted 3 or 4 years.  I'll make another one before I cut anymore osage.




I noticed this tree a few yards away.  It's been dead a long time.  It's still good and solid inside.  I like using dead laying wood like this.  It seems to be a little harder than living osage.  




There are some bows in that old log




I was happy with what I got done in a few hours by myself.  

Osage Selfbow Project: Layout and Ring Chasing

Got two bows off my bench. One for my wife and one for my buddy who does all my clear coat spraying for me. I'll post pics tommorow.