Start of an osage ALB

[Pat B]

I turned the stave around on the form to work the other limb. This limb wasn't off by much so mostly adding the reflex...


...and removing a little twist from the tip...


so I oiled and heated the limb and clamped to the form...


As I'm heating the area to be adjusted I hold the heat gun about an inch above the belly and move it back and forth over about a 6" area, get it hot enough and clamp it. Then I move down the limb 6" at a time. The dark spot on the limb is a shadow not a scorch. I don't like to scorch the limb while making corrections. If I'm going to temper(heat treat) the belly I do that separately and without oil so it does scorch the belly.
 The last adjustment of this limb is getting the tip twist out. I do this by adding a beveled pad under the down side of the twist and clamp the other side to twist the tip the opposite direction...

[bentstick54]

Watching intently Pat. Thanks for taking the time to photo.

[M2A]

Looking good so far. Thanks for bringing us along on the build. Looking forward to the finished product.
Mike

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks great, Pat. This is a great teaching tool. Jawge

[Will B]

Great build along. Thanks for taking the photos and explaining the steps you take along the way.

[Pat B]

Did a little more today. Took the stave off the form after the 2nd limb cooled. This limb didn't take as much reflex as the other but I'll take care of that later.
 

...but I did get rid of most of the tip twist...


Then I developed the back profile, 1 1/2" at the fades and out 4" before tapering to 1" about 7" from the 3/4" tip(for now).


now it's time for the temporary string nocks. I go down 3/4" on the back and 1" on the belly and put a pencil mark...


...and cut the grooves with a chainsaw file to about 1/2 the diameter of the file...


...and make sure to go around to the belly to guide the string...


Then I put on a string just a bit longer than the bow...


...then a little short exercising and a short hold to get a view of the initial tiller...


That's it for now, more to come...

[bradsmith2010]

thats looking great, nice profile,,

[gifford]

Enjoying the build-along. Thanks for posting it as you go.

My basement shop is similar to yours, cool in the summer but frigid in the winter. I solved the latter with a little electric oil filled radiator. It's on wheels so I move to where I'm working. I really use the heck out of it in the winter months.

[Pat B]

Thanks guys.
 Gifford, my basement has never been below 40 deg, generally in the mid 40s in the winter. Only the south wall is exposed to the weather, the other 3 are mostly underground. I used to do all my bow building in the winter because of the cool basement. But in the last few years the cold gets into my bones so I only spend a couple of hours down there. The oil filled radiator sounds like a good idea I may have to try.

[Deerhunter21]

Another option to an oil radiator is a space heater. but an oil heater seems to be the better option with the con that it takes longer to heat up. A space heater will heat up instantly but is more a fire hazard compared to an oil heater.

anyway, im really enjoying this build along!

[Tradslinger]

don't blame you on the cold, I no longer like it. something about aching all over and just freezing anymore. 40 degrees seems doable for a while. But it looks like you are very productive in your time down there.

[George Tsoukalas]

She's sitting well in the cradle. Looks good. Jawge

[Marc St Louis]

Starting to look good Pat

[Pat B]

Thanks everyone.
 I did a little more today but my camera ate the pics. I'll get more done tomorrow.

[Allyn T]

I've already learned from this. I'm excited to see the tiller progress