49 inch osage

[Osagetree]

I'd go no more than 1 1/2"  wide. Really 1 1/4" and a D shape cross section rather than a flat bow design.

[Axes bows n knives]

Allright. I will do that. thank you osagetree.

[Axes bows n knives]

Does anyone know if polyeurathane will come off in a steam bath? and will it help prevent checking when bending the osage after the steaming if it survives the steam bath?

[DVSHUNTER]

I've had bad luck with steam and poly. Use shellac. It holds up to steam like a champ.

[John Scifres]

You can put the shellac right over the poly.  It'll do the job.

Osage can have sapwood looking stuff mixed in the heartwood, usually in younger rings or those close to the bark.  It also frequently happens around knots and forks or where two trees grow together.  However, I am working a tree now that has super thick rings and I am finding whitewood throughout its almost perfect 19 years of growth.  Go figure.

I'd get rid of that knot at midlimb.  How wide is it there?  It will casue problems with a bendy handle bow.

Also, I would not leave sapwood band-aids around knots.  I have had them pop and lift a splinter in the heart.

Good luck.  Keep posting.

[Axes bows n knives]

It is 2 3/4 inches where the knot is. I Will try to make the bow around it

[Axes bows n knives]

For my bow making process once I have the stave in the general shape of the bow im gonna put some shellac on it and steam it to flip up the tips. After this I am going to apply the sinew and let it finish its drying process. For applying the sinew with TB3 do I need to sand off all of the shellac or can the sinew go ontop of the shellac? And once I am finished with the bow I intend to put shellac ontop of the sinew. Is that ok or does shellac cause problems with the sinew?

[John Scifres]

Is the stave dry?  If so, you'd have better luck using a heatgun.  It takes only a few minutes to do a tip and is much more controllable.

Don't sinew the stave until it is dry.

I would not sinew on top of shellac.

Shellac on top of sinew will be fine.  I prefer spray polyurethane though.  Shellac is too shiny.  But, you can put a light coat of satin spray poly on top of shellac.

[Art B]

I don't know about sinewing over shellac with the TB3 but I use either tru-oil or spar urethane under my sinew jobs using that glue. This prevents any moisture from enter the wood. Believe it or not, but the TB3 sticks better to some type of a varnished surface better than the wood itself (just make sure to scuff up the finish before gluing).......Art

[Axes bows n knives]

Thanx guys. How would you sugjest scuffing up the sinew? with sandpaper? If so what grit?

[hova]

use yer teeth




-hov

[Art B]

I was referring to the glossy surface on a varnished finish. I use a piece of worn 18o grit for that......Art

[Axes bows n knives]

Thats what I ment, sorry. Thank you for the advice.

[Axes bows n knives]

[Axes bows n knives]

[Axes bows n knives]

[Axes bows n knives]

[Axes bows n knives]

[Axes bows n knives]

[Axes bows n knives]

        those lines on the back are where im going to recurve the tips