Osage Buildalong **UPDATE** Finished Pic on p. 3

Bruce Martin · January 09, 2011, 09:58:00 AM

Great buildalong! I think this is the first one I've seen where you can see 'in action' some of the lessons Dean Torges wrote about using the fulcrum of the bow on the tillering tree and modifying the contact on the tree to mimic the pressure of the bow hand. Your buildalongs and advice on tillering in other threads have really been helpful in seeing how it is done. Thanks for taking the time, we appreciate it very much. Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out!

John Scifres · January 09, 2011, 12:19:00 PM

KellyG, I judge by eye and sometime do some digital tillering.

John Scifres · January 09, 2011, 12:35:00 PM

Thanks Jawge. Tough loss.

Ranger, nocks are cut. I used to just use a boot but now I cut shallow nocks at first.

Big Country, the nocks of each limb are equidistant from the fulcrum, so in one way the limbs are the same length. However, to accomodate for the rigid handle, the nock of the top limb is a couple inches farther from the center of the fade than the lower limb.

Does that mean they are different lengths because the working section of one is shorter than the other? Which came first, the fulcrum or the fade? When you pull from the center of the string, can you acheive an efficient and well-timed spring with different length working sections? Life is about balance.

John Scifres · January 09, 2011, 12:39:00 PM

Closer. 43# @ 22". 10 full length scrapes on the left and a little on either side of that knot on the right.

Closer. Limbs are pretty even but the middle of the limb on the right is pretty stiff.

Getting there. Left limb is pretty. 48# @ 24". A few full-length on the left and midlimb on the right. Maybe a touch in the fade on the right.

George Tsoukalas · January 09, 2011, 05:24:00 PM

Very nice, John. Jawge

John Scifres · January 09, 2011, 05:29:00 PM

Getting a bit closer. After a few full length scrapes on the left and again above and below the knot on the right.

John Scifres · January 09, 2011, 05:35:00 PM

She's really starting to come around.

She is weighing in at 50@ at 26". I am going to shoot her in at that length and then finish tiller by feel. We are going for 50# or so at 27".

I like to leave a bow a couple pounds heavy before shooting it in and finishing it. I seem to drop 3-5 pounds in that process. Tiller is mostly done at this point. I will shoot a bow in and then check tiller again. Then I'll sand it and get it ready for a finish and do a final check. Than I shoot it a bunch and see how it feels in the hand.

Tillering like this is really just the beginning. If I get a bow looking great but it torques in the hand or shoots weird, then some adjustments are necessary.

Bruce Martin · January 09, 2011, 06:35:00 PM

Please also show the finished bow and how you finish your handle, where you place the arrow pass (and why) and if you needed to adjust. Thanks again for the buildalong, it was very informative.

George Tsoukalas · January 09, 2011, 08:09:00 PM

Looks fantastic, John. Is the left limb your lower limb? It appears shorter. Jawge

George Tsoukalas · January 09, 2011, 09:47:00 PM

Never mind, John. I see you answered that. Jawge

John Scifres · January 09, 2011, 10:18:00 PM

I got a chance to shoot her about 50 times at 26". She's pretty sweet really. Here is the right limb overlaid on the left via some photoediting software.

They're pretty close but I see some opportunity for tweaks. I scraped just past midlimb on the lower limb. Here she is after some more shooting at 27" and sanding. She finished right at 50# @ 27".

A little bit of black leather dye as a nice fade from the handle and the tips, a shot of spray poly and here's what she looks like now.

I'll give her a couple more coats of poly and then do the handle wrap. I'll take a nice final collage after that.

Stiks-n-Strings · January 09, 2011, 10:39:00 PM

Nice John!

KellyG · January 09, 2011, 11:06:00 PM

that was fast, and what a nice bow you got there.

broketooth · January 10, 2011, 05:49:00 AM

wow that was fast. thats a pretty bow.when at full draw it doesn't look like an asymmetrical bow at all. the raw stave looked very clallenging too. very nice mr. scifres. ruddy

John Scifres · January 10, 2011, 07:03:00 AM

Thanks. It might seem fast on the internet

SteveD · January 10, 2011, 07:28:00 AM

Very Nice

ranger 3 · January 10, 2011, 08:19:00 AM

Very very Nice and thanks for the build along

Igor · January 10, 2011, 08:47:00 AM

Very nice...I really like the way you dyed the handle and tips...sharp!

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Glenn

1oldbowguy · January 10, 2011, 08:56:00 AM

Sure looks nice, congrats on a great build!

KellyG · January 10, 2011, 09:57:00 AM

No john I stared my tread before you and I just got the sap wood off.