Sucker Bow (Pictures added)

[Jack Skinner]

I have two sucker staves. They are at least 2 inches wide and plenty long. I was thinking of making a couple of D bows from them. Anyone have experence making bows keeping some of the sap wood on osage. They are not very deep in cross section, and have a pretty high crown, thought I might try and make them similar to a yew bow with some sap wood left on. Would you then also back?

[Pat B]

This is the Trade Bow I just sent off to Kenny M. It was from a 2" diameter osage pole. I removed the bark but not the sapwood. I did add the rawhide backing for protection.






This is what it looked like just before starting the bow...




 Shortly after I got the osage pole I cut it in half, lengthwise with my bandsaw, put spacers between the 2 halves and bound them together with twine. I did this to give the wood good air circulation and keep the reflex and twisting from getting out of hand. I sealed both ends and down the belly about 4" and I left the bark on the pole until just before building the bow.

[Jack Skinner]

Thanks Pat

That is what I was thinking. Bark off then D-bow with backing. Yours looks like a white wood bow. Maybe I will make one of each with the two staves and see which shoots best.

Thanks again. Did you get to try those trade points? I took a nice little doe with one this past fall.

[Keenan]

Wow I read the title and thought someone had tried a fish skin backing that I hadn't tried yet. Got all excited over nothing!  

[wood carver 2]

Hey Keenan, you can always go catch a couple of suckers.    
Dave.

[kennym]

I'm really diggin that bow Pat!!          

[KellyG]

I just thought it was another bow for me.  

But let us know how it works out.

[Keenan]

I was diggin it as well Kenny,,,,,,,,until it went to the wrong door,,,,,,,,        Just kidding,very happy for you

[Pat B]

Great Kenny. Makes me feel good!   Did you ever check the draw weight. It might be heavier than marked.

[kennym]

I haven't , but will tomorrow. My scale is 3# off too, according to the local pro shops digital. (and a couple others)

[Osagetree]

Sapling Sisters

[fujimo]

WOW!!!

[Pat B]

I'd forgotten about those two bows, Joe

[fujimo]

hey joe - did those heavier tips contribute at all to any handshock- on such slim, light in hand mass bows.
they sure do look really neat!!

[Diamondback59]

hey jack have fun  im out there on that job sorry i never made it down cuz of the snow keep me posted bro  lookin good brock

[Osagetree]

I couldn't tell if it increased hand shock any.

[Jack Skinner]

Looks good Osagetree you and Pat both recurve tips I am going for good old eastern woods bow (D bow). Of course the staves dont always seem to know what I want but what they want.

And who knows they could end up with a fish backing, carp not sucker though. That is if and when spring gets here.

Will try and add pictures as I go.

[Pat B]

This is probably what was used for the Eastern Woodland style bows.

[George Tsoukalas]

Sure leave the sapwood if you don't have enough heartwood. One of the best bows I ever made was from an osage sucker. Jawge

[Jack Skinner]

Here are the two sucker staves with the sealer still on. They are not as long as I thought. 63 inches, I would prefer the d bow to be 68 or so. Sorry for poor pictures there was a lot of light coming from window in garage/shop.
 
[/IMG]
Scraped off sealer and some inner bark and laid out bows. One about 1.5 wide with slightly narrower handle. Other 2 inch with narrow stiff handle like a white wood bow. Will probably take down to 1 3/4 or so before finished.
   
Didnt take long to get down to lines
   
Thinned up and about ready to heat and straighten a little. See sap wood, thinned it some with spoke shave on wider bow.

   

After straightening I will add rawhide backing to both.