bending osage bow finished

[ohma2]

I just started at the middle got it heated and clamped it fast.after that I would heat a area and clamp it as I went ,I just laid the heat guns on the bench and blew into the spot I was working on.i was using two guns.i had pretty much set all the clamps before hand.i don't do things orthodox most of the time but I usually get It done.ive got another form made the other way your talking about but it was to short.

[SLIMBOB]

Cool.  If it works it works.  I think I would have pulled mine into 5 separate pieces doing it that way.  With dry heat I apply the heat, bend a little, sand a little and repeat.

[ohma2]

well you do fine work your twisted sister bow makes that very plain

[SLIMBOB]

Thanks omah2, I appreciate that.  I like the bow a lot myself.  Truth is I'm just a journeyman bowmaker who keeps pluggin' away at it.  That's all.  I learn a lot from these guys, you guys, that I just keep trying myself.  I pick up more on here than I'm able to give back.  Nice work on those bends.  Keep it coming.

[ohma2]

You are so right there are some real artists on p.a. and for the most part very giving and I thank them all.

[Blaflair2]

Man I keep looking at those bow, it's sweet looking, but it scares me lol. Did u rub oil or crisco when u heated?

[ohma2]

Yes I did , will need a good scrubing to get the crisco off .

[ohma2]

first off I just want  to say this is pretty much out of my comfort zone but im giving it my best.just wingin it. I got sinew on the bow and let it dry, put some underlays on the tips to help retain shape.i should have picked a problem free piece of wood cause the large not on the back of one limb is not as smooth a bend as I would have liked and the other limb had some snakey the last 6 inches of limb ,,, gave me trouble with stringing. so I have put some shoes on each limb and very carefully heated some of that snake out.bow draws and tracks straight now.heres a few pics of where im at now braced at 5" drawn to 17" the measurements ive taken are all even and it don't look to bad.any  coments are welcome , I would say as a guess it around 55 to 60# @ 28  now will work on the bend and get it down to 45# @ 28"

[BOWMAN53]

saweeeeettt

[ohma2]

thanks bowman im givin it my best

[BOWMAN53]

thanks bowman im givin it my best

thats all you can do

[lebhuntfish]

This inspires me to actually try this soon! Thanks ohma2! Patrick

[simson]

Now that are some curves, watching with interest!

Looks good so far

[ohma2]

Thanks leb thanks simson baring any more surprises it should be shooting soon.

[ohma2]

 well I got it done. finished with thin pig skin over the sinew, poly sealed, hemp grip wrap.tips are purple heart,wrapings are red thread. the bow is very consistent from one shot to another and after many arrows shot it is quite accurate if I do my part.very quiet with zero hand shock the draw is as smooth as any bow I have ever shot.it shoots average speed for its 45# @27" 146 fps with 460 grn. cedars. I am a bit baffeled at that cause I thought performance would be considerably better.just glad it came out a good shooter.strung length is 57". thanks for looking.