59” Osage in the works…calling it finished

[Parnell]

I haven’t done a bow for myself in awhile.  This is underway, a 59” Osage.  It has that slight bulged handle that I’ll get just breaking at tiller.  Such a gorgeous day down here today...perfect weather.  It was a fine morning laying down the sinew and listening to the mocking birds putting on the show.

I half tillered the bow to about 16” before doing the sinew, so now It’s time to wait. 

I’ll post up with the finish work when it gets there!

[Parnell]

Also, the sinew is being recycled.  Made one for my nephew last June, or so but it had a stringing accident!  He is young...
Anyhow, the dark spots are from the last job.  Not first used sinew.  I’ll be interested to see if it makes a difference.

[bjrogg]

That one is going to be interesting Steve. Don’t forget to show us when you get back to it.

Bjrogg

[Will B]

I’m getting ready to do my first sinew-backed Osage recurve. I’m hoping for a 64” long bow and ~60# @ 28”. Do you recommend only tillering to about 16” before applying my sinew?  Thanks for the build.

[Parnell]

I won’t, Brian. 

Will, I’m looking to preserve as much of this reflexed profile as I can through the tiller.  I can’t say that I know definitively if applying mid tiller is better than after completing tiller.  I’ve just done it this way in the past.  Maybe others will chime in with their thoughts?

As far as what you propose, my initial thought is that once the bow gets much past 60” in length the sinew begins to become counterproductive for performance due to the additional weight, I believe?  I think I recall this from the BB reading years ago?

That said...build what makes you happy!  Right?

[Pappy]

Nice Steve , look forward to seeing it . Pappy

[Will B]

Thanks for your thoughts Steve. I might save my sinew for a shorter bow.

[bradsmith2010]

 I think alot depends on how far you plan to draw the bow,, as far as the length of a sinew bow,, I think your bow is a nice length and will have a wide range of draw length that will shoot good,,

[Parnell]

2 more layers of sinew over the week.

[bjrogg]

Still watching 
Bjrogg

[Hamish]

cool so far.

[Parnell]

5” of reflex.  Going to lay down rawhide and then see from there.  I am wondering about soaking the stripsin a stained solution of oak bark and ash to darken it before I put it on with hide glue, this time.  Thoughts on this?

[PaSteve]

Great looking bow. I've used water soluble dye or food coloring mixed in my hide glue with good results. Maybe some really dark coffee would darken it up too.

[bradsmith2010]

leather dye after it is on,, water color,, thinned down acrylic,,I guess instant coffee mixed real thick,, oil paint,, free sample house  paint home depot,, brown ink watered down,,

[JW_Halverson]

What do you plan to treat the arrow fletching with to make them fireproof? Cuz you know that one is gonna fling arrows so fast the fletching is gonna catch fire!