Self Bow Build Along

[David Flanrey]

Okay, back to it.  Here are some of my tools.

[David Flanrey]

Worked my stave down to almost floor tiller.  Dimensions are 54" end to end.  1 5/16" at center, 1 1/4 at 4" past center to 5/8" tips.  Grip area is 1" thick.

[David Flanrey]

I know there may be some fellows like me out there that do a lot of looking and reading on this site but didn't post for a long time.  It is a lot more fun if you post.  Please feel free to offer me any and all suggestions.  I need all the help I can get.  Also, don't be bashful to ask questions.

These selfbows are a blast.  I have learned a ton from many on this site.

[David Flanrey]

Here I have marked up the stave to keep me on track.  Center, handle area, facets and so on.

[David Flanrey]

Here it is all slicked up and almost floor tillered.  Now I will primarily use a second cut rasp and home made scraper to get to floor tiller and low brace.

[David Flanrey]

I don't think I will heat anymore reflex into it.  It has 3/4" of natural reflex and is pretty even end to end.

I have a question..... I have a knot and a little dipidy do.  Would you heat this area and take some of it out?

[RiverRatXJ]

I have no idea. As someone that has some osage "staves" in the rafters of the barn drying out waiting to be ruined by me this summer, i'm all ears (eyes) on this one! Looking great so far though!

[Roy from Pa]

Looking nice, David...

[Mad Max]

NO
leave it alone

[John Scifres]

NO
leave it alone

[Bowjunkie]

I agree, leave it as-is.

[Mad Max]

[David Flanrey]

Been slacking off some.  But got the sawdust going again.

I decided to try and take out the roller coaster on the limb.

[David Flanrey]

Floor tillered, low brace, medium brace 5".

[David Flanrey]

[David Flanrey]

I am a little concerned about the knot area that I straightened.  It it bending more than I expected.  Looks a little hingy to me.  Also the other limb seems a little stiff.  

What do you all think?

[jhk1]

I agree with you-- the straightened spot does look a little hingy in the last pic-- especially when you compare it to the low-brace pic.  In the low-brace pic, that area looks straight; then it picks up a lot of bend when you go to medium brace.  You may need to weaken the rest of that limb (and weaken the entire other limb)to distribute the stress better.  Or maybe the selfbow gurus following along (I'm not one of them) have ideas for reinforcing that hingy spot.

[John Scifres]

I would let it rest for a week or more after heatgunning.  I have killed a couple after not waiting but none if I waited.  Not scientific but good enough for me.

[David Flanrey]

Thanks John.  I'll do that.

[KellyG]

David did you use any oil on that spot when you heated it up? Looks a bit scorched. it should scrap out as you go but oil helps stop that. Well that is what PatB told me and I believe him. So I use it if I am not trying to toast the belly.