62" Osage for 29" draw?

[cool_98_555]

Hello everyone,

I have a really nice 62" osage stave sitting in the corner that I want to start on.  My draw length is 29" and I want it to be a clean backed longbow around 80# (no sinew or rawhide).  Is 62" too short and pushing it for my draw length?  Any design recommendations to make these specs work?  I have made several osage selfbows like this, but they have all been at least 66".

Thank you

[huisme]

I wouldn't be too scared of that with locust. I'd worry about being able to see flaws while struggling with the weight but a proper tillering setup fixes that. I'd actually go with one of my skinnybows for those specs and cut it down to 58".

[bradsmith2010]

a bend in the handle will give you more working wood,, but I have seen handle bows of osage work with similar specs,, I would make the limbs a bit wider on stiff handle bow,,, but that is just me,,

[Badger]

  I built a 61" at 110# for 28" and have drawn it out to 29" a couple of times to check safety. As long as you have enough wood to do the job.

[cool_98_555]

What were your dimensions on that Badger?  You didn't have any sinew on it did you?  Is it a stiff handle bow?

[Badger]

 It is a stiff handle about 2 1/4 wide to about 1/2" tips. Not a pyramid , outer limbs taper rapidly in width. I am building a short 80# right now but only for a 26" draw. 1 5/8 wide if it holds.

[George Tsoukalas]

Make sure your shooting draw is 29". Not your pose draw. Have someone watch you shoot.
Badger and bradsmith have made a lot of bows. More than I have.
I have made 250-300...lost track...and a 62" osage stave would be just right for my 26" draw.
If I had a 29" draw, I'd want a 66-68" stave for a rigid handle bow.
But if I had a 29" draw and a 62" osage stave I'd make a bend in the handle bow and back it with rawhide.
Head'em up! Mov'em out! Rawhide!!!
Jawge

[PatM]

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,36176.0.html