Author Topic: Osage backing for ERC?  (Read 1441 times)

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Offline Stickhead

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Osage backing for ERC?
« on: June 05, 2023, 04:55:08 pm »
I’m close to committing to putting 1/8th inch strip of Osage over an ERC roughed out bow (about 50/50 heartwood/sapwood).  Anybody ever tried this combination?  My last experiment, a hickory backed ERC, blew up.  But the hickory was questionable, so I’m hoping the Osage will have enough tension strength to hold it together.

Yeah, I know, you want me to back it with sinew, but I’m not ready to go that route yet.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2023, 06:26:12 pm »
I think I'd back an ERC bow with osage sapwood but I don't know about a 50/50 combo. Elm or maple might be a better option. IMO
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Stickhead

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2023, 06:51:52 pm »
I think I'd back an ERC bow with osage sapwood but I don't know about a 50/50 combo. Elm or maple might be a better option. IMO
I meant that the ERC is 50/50, and the Osage strip would go on top of that.  The Osage strip is 1/8” of heartwood.

Offline Kidder

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2023, 10:05:45 pm »
Would you be thinking of a single growth ring on the Osage or decrowned?

Offline Stickhead

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #4 on: June 06, 2023, 07:53:20 am »
Would you be thinking of a single growth ring on the Osage or decrowned?
Neither.  It’s edge grain, cut perpendicular to the rings.  The lines run pretty straight.

Offline Pat B

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #5 on: June 06, 2023, 09:01:08 am »
My concern about osage, whether it is bias or edge grain is it is brittle and the possibility of a splinter lifting as a backing is higher. IMO.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline Stickhead

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #6 on: June 07, 2023, 08:08:08 am »
My concern about osage, whether it is bias or edge grain is it is brittle and the possibility of a splinter lifting as a backing is higher. IMO.
Hmm.  Duly noted.

Offline Eric Krewson

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #7 on: June 07, 2023, 08:32:00 am »
Unlike other woods the early wood ring on osage is very weak and chalky. I haven't tried an edge grain osaeg backing so I am just speculating, a thin edge grain backing may be very weak.

Offline Mo_coon-catcher

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #8 on: June 07, 2023, 11:15:31 am »
I don’t think you’ll Have an issue. Cedars compression Strength comes in its resilience and ability to spring back. But is very soft and is made to take that compression easy. So I don’t think you’ll be stressing the edge grain Osage enough to hurt anything. Especially considering edge grain Osage will make a solid bow in its own and it’s own compression resilience is higher than the ERC, so the back would be under more stress as a selfbow than as a backing in ERC.
I say try it and let us know how it does.

Kyle

Offline airkah

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #9 on: June 07, 2023, 01:59:44 pm »
I've had the same experience as Pat. Tried it a couple times a few years ago and never had any luck with it.

Offline Stickhead

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #10 on: June 08, 2023, 05:30:52 pm »
Well, I reckon I’ll try it as an experiment

Offline Hamish

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Re: Osage backing for ERC?
« Reply #11 on: June 08, 2023, 07:15:16 pm »
edge grain/quartersawn, carefully check the grain(not growth ring run, which is more prominent but can give you a false reading) on the side. Grain will be hard to see but it tells whether the board is actually straight grained, and not cut from a twisty tree, or out of parallel with the trunk.