Osage Board thickness

[NTD]

When doing HBO's or BBO's what is the minimum thickness for the osage core for a bow up to 55lbs?  I guess it would differ depending on backing thickness huh?  I'll be using 1/8" hickory backing.

And not sure if it matters but the core will be spliced.

[hedgeapple]

I'm working on a couple HBO bows.  So, I'm interested in any info this thread produces. 

[bcbull]

I USALLY USE 1/2-5/8 DEPENDIN ON HOW GOOD IT IS  BUT USALLEY  1/2 AND THE BOO GET S 60# OR BETTER

[Grunt]

Rip a 5/8 slat on the table saw with a fine blade for Argentine Osage. I then usually clamp it to a 6' piece of angle iron, use masking tape on the edge so I can see the line and draw a taper from the center 5/8 to 3/16 on each end. I then bandsaw outside the line and the bandsawn surface is the bows belly the tablesawn surface is for the glue.

[denny]

Something that is important is what length the bow is to be and width, and style. I build a reflex , deflex bow and it is usually is 5/8 to 3/4inch and 72 inches long. The handle has to be considered at this point . It has to have some what of a fade out and a step up from the main limb, or it will pop off.So when i grind in the fades, I end up with a 1/2 inch board. that when tapered right it should give a 55/60lb bow. Hickory will not make it as heavy as bamboo. so I would stay with 3/4inch. I hoped this helped Denny.

[Grunt]

Denny's right ,i forgot to move out from the center and leave a parallel section for the handle (4") and the fades (1  1/2 ") plus 1 inch on each side for a total center length of 9 ' parallel in the center of the slat before tapering to both ends.

[hedgeapple]

Scott, a powerlam question or 2:
How far out pass the tip of the handle taper do you extend the powerlam?  Or do you at all?
From what I can tell from bows posted here, the powerlams are thicker mid handle then tapering to nothing out the limbs.  How thick do you make the center of the powerlams?

[luke the drifter]

i have spliced two real good osage bow billits, using double fishtail finger splice.  would this effect the thickness of the bow core if you were wanting to still be in the 40 to 50 lbs range of a longbow.  i will be using hickory backing about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness.  it is a okay splice which is why i am hoping a backing will compensate. 

[NTD]

Thanks for the info guys.

[hedgeapple]

Thanks, Scott.