Adding overlays to finished bow

[BarredOwl]

I am wanting to put a fast flight (d97) string on an Osage bow that I have been shooting with a B50 string.  I suppose I could still flatten the back of the nocks and add overlays?  Or are overlays needed?  I don't want to take too much of a chance in adding overlays or using FF without overlays.  I have heard about padding the loops with  B50.  Would that likely be the easiest, most risk free way to go at this point?

[bubby]

Yup that will work two 8"pcs per bundle each end is all i do

[Pappy]

Either way is fine, I shoot some [ Osage ] with FF and no overlays but have added many over overlays through the years after the bow was done, not much risk putting tip overlays on if you are careful.
 Pappy

[simson]

Osage needs no overlays. I use 2x3 ff + 2x2 B50 (6" long) for padding the loops. Over 70# I go with 2X4 ff.

[Eric Krewson]

I like overlays, this one has a stringing groove added so I can use my parachute cord stringer on the bow.



Instead of flattening the back of your bow, cut the shelf for the overlay at an angle toward the belly. This way you will have a graceful overlay instead of a big hump on the back of your bow.

I replace an overlay on a finished bow occasionally. The overlay in the picture is a replacement, you can see the a little bit of the overlay that broke under the new overlay.

I did another replacement last week after I dropped a bow that hit on its tip on a concrete floor and cracked the overlay.

[Pat B]

I have a couple of osage bows with no overlays and they have FF strings.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Osage doesn't need any help. Heck a lot of us have used osage as overlays.

[Willibow]

The bow I'm currently using has Osage overlays, and I'll be making up a FF string for it eventually.  I always thought the real dense woods didn't have anything to worry about with FF.

[BarredOwl]

Thanks for the reassurance with Osage.  I was sifting through some old threads where someone wrote that they wouldn't consider using FF without overlays because he had ruined too many bows by using FF without them.  He didn't say anything about what the bows were made from,  just made that statement without any other info.   Can't wait to try it out.  It seems like most that have used it won't consider using B50 if they have FF available and a bow that is made to handle a FF string.

[BarredOwl]

Osage needs no overlays. I use 2x3 ff + 2x2 B50 (6" long) for padding the loops. Over 70# I go with 2X4 ff.

Am I understanding correctly?  Two bundles of 3 strands for  a total of 6 strands not counting the padding.

[bushboy]

I favor skinny tips so overlays are a must.i only file the back side off the tip.also important to use rift or quarter sawn 4 this.