It's getting scary!

[Stiks-n-Strings]

Looks good Snag you just need to sneek up on at this point and excercise it plenty.

Stiks

[snag]

Thanks for stirring me in the right direction guys. I will try and be mindful of all your advice.

[George Tsoukalas]

Wait, snag. You want to draw a 61 inch bow 32 in? I'd be glad if I got 26 in. In fact I just bough a 60 in white oak sapling to 25 in and am pretty happy about that. Lord willing I'll ease it to 26 in as I shoot it. Drawing a stave more than 2 times its length is a recipe for disaster. IMHO. Jawge

[Walt Francis]

George, Dave is looking to draw the bow 28", Wile E is the one who made the comment about 32".  

You have built a lot more white wood bows then me so I defer to you regarding the length this bow (61") will safely draw.  With Osage, I routinely make stiff handled bows that push your 2 time the length rule, but not by much.  My favorite length is 58-60" for my 29 1/2" draw.  However, I have successfully built them as short a 56".

[snag]

32" draw length?! Wow, that sounds like Shaq's draw length...haha  
I did a little more scraping on the right side near the tip. I am surprised at how thin the area is out near the tip on the right side and it still is a bit stiff.  Also a little scraping on the fadeout of the left side. That helped with the hinge area mid limb. I'll try and post a pic tonight or tomorrow. I now have it on a short string and braced to about 4". Haven't checked the poundage after this morning's scraping.

[George Tsoukalas]

Oh sorry. LOL. Walt, I don't push limits unless I have to with osage or whitewoods. Never saw the point but I am glad it works for you. Also, the condition of the wood-knots, etc-is important. Jawge

[Pat B]

If you think it's getting too thin you can remove wood from the sides to preserve the thickness.

[snag]

Thanks Pat. I was wondering about that.

[snag]

I tried taking wood off with the Gizmo to get the right limb to bend like the left limb. The last 6"-8" to the tip on the right limb is getting thin...a little less than 1/2". Still not bending enough..I think? So, I narrowed the limb like someone suggested. Still not enough bend. The poundage is down to 25# @ 19"...definitely a kids bow it looks like. What is frustrating is I started out with quite a bit of wood and now I'm down to a toothpick and still not tillered and under weight. What a rookie!  I just guess I don't get it. Better stick to making arrows! haha I thought I was following instructions. Anyway, I hope the next attempts work out better. Don't know where to go from here with this bow.

[ChristopherO]

You've put a good effort into it so don't feel bad.  Most of us have had to make shavings a few times to get a bow were we want it.  
Do you have a youth or a small woman nearby that would enjoy shooting it?  That could be a great use for this pretty piece of wood.
Your other idea of heat treating or sinewing is something I would avoid.  Heat treating as much as it would take to make your draw weight means a very charred stick and sinew is too time consuming to add as a bandaid.  Save that application for a bow you will really be proud of. JMO.
Take care, Christopher.

[Red Tailed Hawk]

I feel your pain. They dont always work out, at least not for me. I always have fun trying though and love shooting the ones that do work.

[KellyG]

Heck at least you have a bending stick. Mine have not made it that far. Better luck next time.

[vanillabear?]

[snag]

Thanks for the input guys. I think you're right Bear about getting it on the short string earlier. I got it to bending to 21" today. I'll keep at it and see where it goes.
I'm already eyeballing the osage stave by my workbench...haha

[broketooth]

got it lookin good snag whats the rest of the stave lookin like. ruddy