First osage effort...with 15+ year old billets

[Del the cat]

Looks like I'm too late, but I'd vote against pinning. I can't really see what it's supposed to achieve, unless it's carefully done so that it closes the joint as it's pressed in.
Great looking billets.
Del

[sleek]

I wouldnt worry about them, they are so small of a surface area, it will be ok. I have bows with violations like that, and I blend the violations into the back ring with a medium grit sandpaper to prevent sharp edges or stress risers from forming. It will be fine. However, if you still worry, wrap it, the mass wont matter on the fades, and wrap the other side for visual ballance.

[Carson (CMB)]

Thanks sleek. That is the reassurance I was looking for. 

Del, I did not pin it.  I think Pinning the joint could help hold alignment if you are using play in the joint to get tip aligned during glue-up.  Sounds like most here are against pinning. 

[Carson (CMB)]

Full draw pics.  It is pulling ~45-50 @ 28 after ~150 arrows.  Shoots great off the knuckle. Asymetrical tiller.  top limb + 1 1/2".  Sturgeon skin backing with sturgeon skin glue.  Lower limb took about 1 3/4" set and the upper limb about 1" resulting in about 1" string follow on both limbs, closer to 1 1/2" just after shooting. Just need to add a grip wrap and call it done.   

I did have little trouble tillering with the lower limb being what it is.  I was aiming for higher weight, but I took what she gave me.  Overall, I am really happy with it.  I will have to get some close up pics of the skins once I get the handle finised I can't wait to start on the sister billets, which are much cleaner and have a nice matched natural recurve towards the tips.

[lesken2011]

Good job with that wood, CMB. That's what I call patience!!

[coaster500]

Good work staying with that one...  looks like you got rewarded very well

[Carson (CMB)]

Thanks Lesken and coaster.  I am really pleased with this bow.  The more I shoot it, the more I like it.  I do have to admit I still want to work on that lower limb.  I feel like I could take off some mass from the knot on out, and I have even been fighting the urge to pick out the glue and sawdust filling to expose the natural cavity...am I crazy!

[TurtleCreek]

Nice work!!!  Love the bow.

[Dean Marlow]

That is a real nice bow CMB. A  challenging piece to work with. Thanks for sharing. Dean

[gstoneberg]

I like that bow a lot.  That last full draw picture is especially nice.  Good work.

George

[Carson (CMB)]

Thanks TurtleCreek.  Dean, thanks.  I am starting in on that #1 osage stave you sent back in winter.  I have a feeling that piece of osage will be a little less of a nail-biter than this one was. 

I like that bow a lot.  That last full draw picture is especially nice.  Good work.
George

Thanks George, I think the last photo shows the tiller best.  The angles in the other two pics tend to make the lower limb look stiffer than it really is.