Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => English Warbow => Topic started by: luke the drifter on June 05, 2011, 08:25:08 pm

Title: spliced osage billits
Post by: luke the drifter on June 05, 2011, 08:25:08 pm
i have two very exceptional billits of Osage orange about 48 inches long at 1.5 inches+ wide.  i plan to splice them using the double fish tail splice about five inches long.  has this ever been attempted to get a bow of warbow strength.  any advice or opinions welcome.
Title: Re: spliced osage billits
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on June 05, 2011, 08:48:53 pm
If a splice is done correctly they are exceptionally strong, but I have never built a warbow before. I would add a solid wood lam over the splice and use Urac for the glue up and see how it goes. A backing wouldn't hurt anything either.
Title: Re: spliced osage billits
Post by: CraigMBeckett on June 05, 2011, 09:31:20 pm
i have two very exceptional billits of Osage orange about 48 inches long at 1.5 inches+ wide.  i plan to splice them using the double fish tail splice about five inches long.  has this ever been attempted to get a bow of warbow strength.  any advice or opinions welcome.


In theory a splice can be stronger than the original wood, but I would be worried about the back giving way at the splice if the bow were made to bend through the handle, so instead I would make a stiff handled bow and would probably wrap the joint with some form of cord.

The "100lb" spliced bow I made did not last through the tillering process, it broke apart at the joint just as I reached 105lb at 32" . May have been my bad workmanship, may not.

Best of luck with your build.

Craig
Title: Re: spliced osage billits
Post by: adb on June 07, 2011, 02:25:47 am
This is a 100#@32" tri-lam with a spliced osage belly.
Title: Re: spliced osage billits
Post by: Del the cat on June 07, 2011, 04:43:08 am
A couple of weeks ago I saw a 170# warbow being shot, it was of spliced billets of Oregon Yew.
Del