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Author Topic: Trying a Kids Selfbow  (Read 2172 times)

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Offline bowhntineverythingnh03743

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Trying a Kids Selfbow
« on: March 28, 2013, 04:25:18 pm »
Hey PA-
     I wanted to try again with another selfbow. I wanted to start this thread on here to get your guys help. I haven't been able to get the selfbow mastered yet or even to stay as a bow. Today I pulled out a 52 inch osage stave which has been in my pile for about four years. I figured I would try this stave before starting one of my better ones. I wanted to have this bow a little over built so I made it 1 1/4 inch at the fades all the way out to about 3/4 of the limb, then to a straight taper of 1/2 inch tips. It felt good pulling out the draw knife today.

Anyways here is some pictures of where I am at....



Now I have some straightening to do... Should I use dry heat to straighten this out or steam straighten it for the first time?
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Offline tanner

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Re: Trying a Kids Selfbow
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2013, 05:03:05 pm »
I actually don't have any answers for you, but I'm interested to watch for whomever chimes in. I'm doing the exact same thing right now - it's actually my very first osage bow. I just landed my first osage staves this month and in my post-splitting process I ended up with a 36-40'' piece that I roughed out for a bow for my 4-yr old. The bending thing is my next step because the wood was (according to my cheap moisture meter) about 21% when I roughed it out and dropped to 16.5 in a couple of days. What started out straight is now twisted kinda funky. I have read about both dry and steam heat for osage, but was considering steam for my first real bending try. I've read some opinions that it's a little harder to screw up so long as you use a metal covering on the limbs while you're bending them (splinter prevention).
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Trying a Kids Selfbow
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2013, 05:21:37 pm »
Dry heat Justin
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Offline bowhntineverythingnh03743

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Re: Trying a Kids Selfbow
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2013, 05:28:34 pm »
Thanks Chris I was thinkin dry but thought you would strata me in the right direction. I want to try the elm recurve next so I thought I would give this lil bow a try first since my last did not make it.
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Offline SLIMBOB

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Re: Trying a Kids Selfbow
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2013, 05:28:55 pm »
My opinion, dry heat (which I prefer with dry Bodark).  Looks like you need to move the tips about 4 inches????  I would try and get a lot of that out of the center (handle).  Hard to say looking at a picture, but that's my take. 
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Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: Trying a Kids Selfbow
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2013, 06:05:08 pm »
Dry heat the handle.  You won't need much correction in the handle to really move the tips!  Good luck and keep posting pics of this little cutie!
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Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline MWirwicki

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Re: Trying a Kids Selfbow
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2013, 08:48:08 pm »
Dry heat on the 4-year osage.  What works for me is parallel to mid-limb then straight taper to 1/2" at the tips.  Kids bows can be harder to make than full length adult bows.  Just a word of caution.  Stiff spots are tougher to see.  Also, belly wood removal to make tiller corrections will be less than with a reasonable poundage adult bow.  Good luck on your venture and be sure post pics as you go.  Can't wait to see your progress!
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Matt Wirwicki
Owosso, MI
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