Got a question for you gentlemen

[Dave 55]

I got a real nice clean piece of osage and was wodering what you think the optimal ntn length would be for a 26 inch draw.Ill try to get 55 to 60# draw,13/4 inch at the fades 1/2 inch at the nocks,probable back it with rawhide or sinew if I cant chase one of the thin rings,any suggestions welcome,thanks Dave.

[Pat B]

I build bows from 60" to 66" for my 26" draw. If the rings are too thin to chase cleanly, I do the best I can and then back it with rawhide. 1 3/4" is too wide. Go 1 3/8" at the fades and a gradual taper to 1/2" tips(for now; reduce to 3/8" less later). With this design you can easily hit 60# or more.

[Kegan]

66-68" should be perfect. If it isn't heavy enough you can still birng it down to boost weight, but if not it will be really stable. As Pat said, you can get the tips much narrower, as small as 5/16" is good.

[nickf]

According to Tim Baker, 65-68" is ideal for a 28" drawlength. So for 26, you might go for 61-64".

I'd rather go for 65, though.

Nick

[Justin Snyder]

I would go on the shorter side with osage, maybe 60-62.  I build most of mine at 62-66 and I draw 29". 

[mullet]

 If it's the clean Osage I'm thinking of, I'd go 62, to 64 inch.

[Dave 55]

Thanks for the replys guys it was what I was looking for.Id like to go around 60 or 61 inches with it to use in a pop up blind,appreciate it ,Dave.

[Hillbilly]

I draw 26" and like to make osage bows about 60"-63" ntn. I'm with Pat, it only needs to be 1 3/8"-1 1/2" wide at the fades.

[Eric Krewson]

I draw 25" and always make my bows 64" long. You might want to reconsider an 1 3/4" wide osage bow, 1 1/4" is plenty.

[newknapper]

What would happen if you did make one 1 3/4 at fades??? Never ha any osage so I am tring to learn myself

[Hillbilly]

What would happen if you did make one 1 3/4 at fades??? Never ha any osage so I am tring to learn myself

Nothing would happen, it would just be overbuilt to the point that it wouldn't perform nearly as well as it could. On the other hand, your grandkids would probably still be shooting it when they were on Social Security.

[Eric Krewson]

Your limb would be very thin with 1 3/4" fades, not much wood to work with and harder to tiller evenly side to side.

[Eric Krewson]

Here are two I am finishing up today and one I will finish up this next week, 1 1/4 " wide with slightly rounded bellys. Nice sleek looking profile easy to tiller and plenty of wood to make any poundage.

[newknapper]

oh ok, makes sense.