I haven't made an osage self bow for at least 3 years.  I had a stave ready to work from last winter and deer season is over, so I thought now is as good as time as any.

Here is the stave.  Pretty good stave with a little wiggle and a few humps, but decent rings.  

 

 

looks good- whats the plan?
skins- flipped tips?  

see a nice fat ring six down!!

looks good nice ratio on the rings nice thin early wood should make a nice bow with nice character

I'll say it has nice rings..

fujimo - nothing too fancy.  Straight limbed rigid handled longbow.  Want to end at about 46-48# and 28".  This stave could do way more than that, but that is what I like.

Roughed it out and did a little heat bending to line up the tips.

Nice piece, be keeping an eye on your build.  How long,?  I sure prefer the longer ones like 66-67" NTN.

It is 66" ntn, 1.5" wide to midlimb then tapered.  I have made several selfbows over the last 8 years or so mostly white woods (around 40 I would guess) and my tillering skill are still "average" at best.  I am try to tiller as described by "Badger" on PA - using what he refers to as "no set tillering".

Had a little time to begin some tillering. Here are some shots of the progress so far.  Suggestions welcomed.

Thanks!



Unbraced:


Close up left limb - has slight kink below the 20:


Pulled to 21" - the left limb is further away from the wall than the right.


After pulling to 21"

Nice, Mitch..

Time to get off the long string but first get the outer limbs bending more. A long string is good just so far then you get false readings.

Stiff looking outer limbs IS the false reading a long string gives. When you brace it with a shorter string, the outer limbs will bend more. I think it's time for a low brace.

Thanks for the input.  Low brace was my plan.  May go another inch or so to lose a little more weight then try to brace it.  My desired final weight is 47-49# or so.

I wouldn't pull that bow farther without getting the outer limbs bending better. The hinges outside of the fades could become permanent.
If you tiller out to your intentional draw weight, inch by inch you should be able to brace your bow at the appropriate time.

Thanks Pat - will do.

Got it braced up Sunday night, but had to do a little heat bending to get the string to line up a little better through the handle.

Just took it off the caul this evening and did a little more tillering.  Worked on the outer limbs to get them bending more as was suggested.  What ya think?  Thanks for the help.

Here it is pulling to approximately 21"

Bottom limb to left -


Bottom limb to right -


Unbraced after immediately after pulling -

Mitch, it looks a lot better than before. I still think you get the outer limbs to bend a bit more. I leave the last 4" to 6" stiff but like a little bend coming up to that.

Thanks Pat.  Will get them bending a little more.

Finished this one up.  Thought I would share a few pics.  She is not perfect, but I think she will hunt.

Nice looking bow , I like it !!

Gotta love that Yellow... Nice work!  I like the antler on osage look.