Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: _Jon_ on January 18, 2012, 05:25:32 pm

Title: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 18, 2012, 05:25:32 pm
I’m working on a new Osage bow.  I built one last month for my brother  Dan, and so I started another one for myself.  I don’t own an Osage bow at the moment.  It’s kinda like most of the things I build, I tend to pass em along to friends.  With the help of Pappy and Gary Davis I have this one looking ok so far.  It’s really lucky for me I can do my bow building at Twin Oaks.  All that knowledge hanging around in one place is a wonderful thing for someone new to building bows such as myself.   This one I hope to sinew back and then start looking around for a set of skins. 

Anyhow I figure I’d show you how it’s going so far.  Working towards a 47-49# @ 27”  It’s currently 62 TTT and 60” ntn.

Thanks for looking.

 (http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew17.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew16.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew4.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew5.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 18, 2012, 05:26:46 pm
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew8.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew6.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew9.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew13.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 18, 2012, 05:27:20 pm
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew12.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew11.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew10.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew14.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 18, 2012, 05:27:53 pm
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew14.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew13.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew15.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew13.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 18, 2012, 05:28:38 pm
(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew2.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew3.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew15.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew7.jpg)





Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: nlester on January 18, 2012, 05:51:39 pm
Looking good so far.  Does Gary know anything about building bows??  :o  You're a lucky man to have all that knowledge around.  Might I ask, what is the notching in the handle all about?
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 18, 2012, 06:02:34 pm
With the way the back of the bow was if you tried to straighten it with heat you'd break it at the fades, so when you cut it that way and put in a splice you control where and how much it will travel.  Gary was showing Pappy and I how to do it, because we've run into that before and never tried his method.  It worked like a charm.  I'll get a finished picture of how it sanded and turned out.  It's a neat technique.
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 18, 2012, 06:04:19 pm
If you look in this picture you'll see just how much the back of the bow humps out at the fades and handle area.  Look at the bow where it's at the jaws of the vice and I think you'll see what I mean.

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/Osagesinew7.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: Bevan R. on January 18, 2012, 06:06:01 pm
With the way the back of the bow was if you tried to straighten it with heat you'd break it at the fades, so when you cut it that way and put in a splice you control where and how much it will travel.  Gary was showing Pappy and I how to do it, because we've run into that before and never tried his method.  It worked like a charm.  I'll get a finished picture of how it sanded and turned out.  It's a neat technique.

Has anyone ever tried this but using some contrasting wood? I can see some real interesting possabilities here.
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 18, 2012, 06:44:19 pm
Gary done a Hickory for me 7 years ago and I put Osage in the to contrast it.  He did it again for me and Pappy because I didn't watch as closely the first time around.   ;D
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: Ifrit617 on January 18, 2012, 08:07:43 pm
Looking real good so far..  It would be cool to put a purple heart or paduak insert in the riser to spice it up...  ;D ;D

Jon
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: gmc on January 18, 2012, 08:51:32 pm
Well I be darn. Never thought about the wedge trick.....

Very nice looking bow so far.

That's gona make a good one.
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: Will H on January 19, 2012, 03:18:57 am
Im glad to see you posted this one John! That wedge trick needed to be shared. I think its gonna turn out to be a sweet shooter for ya buddy. To bad we'll be workin to hard splittin wood this weekend to get work done on it  ;D   ;)
~Will
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 19, 2012, 05:29:23 am
Yeah your right Will.  I might get an hour or so early on Friday but Saturday's a meeting working day for Twin Oaks. 

Pappy will have us all breaking wood and loading and stacking from dawn till dusk.   ;D

That fella just sure does like to see a man get an honest days work in let me tell ya.  I never seen a man shame so many grown men into getting back to work on the quick time like he does.  He won't say a word but he'll start to stacking and sweating and in about 10 seconds you see everyone throwing wood and breaking back once again.  I tell ya it's priceless to watch it happen.  You said last weekend to me a man couldn't pay to have as much fun as we do, and I've got to agree.

See ya at the farm. and bring your gloves this time.  That splinter what went under your nail was sure enough funny to watch you pull out.  Nothing worse then a splinter 3/4 of an inch under your nail to bring out the laughter. >:D   
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: Pappy on January 19, 2012, 06:53:33 am
Looking good Jon,you will get there ,slow and steady. :) :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 19, 2012, 11:58:22 am
So thats where Gary is escaping the cold! I met his son Steve last Saturday, he seems to be a good man as well!
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: Pappy on January 19, 2012, 12:11:07 pm
No I wished he was closer,he comes down the week after Christmas to hunt with me,also the Classic/IBO world and usually once more during the year.We always do a lot of bow work when he is in. Ya Steve is a great guy also,good selfbow builder as you would expect and hunter. He spent a lot of time with Jon on the last trip,helping on this bow and showing him how he prepairs sinew.  :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 19, 2012, 12:34:49 pm
Im confused on the handle wedge. What is it doing exactly? I didnt see a before pic so Im lost..........not uncommom!
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: blackhawk on January 19, 2012, 12:38:16 pm
So that's why you Tenn boys make some nice bows.....Cus you got a michigan boy showing ya how >:D.... :laugh:.....looking good Jon....keep it coming :)
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: blackhawk on January 19, 2012, 12:42:10 pm
Im confused on the handle wedge. What is it doing exactly? I didnt see a before pic so Im lost..........not uncommom!

Pearl...if you didn't see the whoopty doo on the one limb coming out of the handle at the fade...it was cut to be able to be heat corrected over the form....you know trying to heat correct those areas tend to go craaaaaack.  ;)
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: Pappy on January 19, 2012, 12:53:40 pm
What blackhawk said,you can control the crack if you cut the wedge and get the hump in the handle flat. I have sometimes just left it their and tiller around it and I have also tried to bend it out and cracked it right up through the handle. This works pretty sweet if you want to start with a flat even back which is what Gary preaches. I tend not to worry as much about it. :) It is easier to tiller one that is flat with no humps and he is usually working with beginners,that is why he wants them flat/longer than most and a little over built,less room for error or chance of breaking. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 19, 2012, 12:54:27 pm
Ahhhhhhhh.....makes sense now. Simple and brilliant at the same time. Thats going in my sack o' tricks for certain.
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: Pat B on January 19, 2012, 01:42:28 pm
I was wondering about the cut out wedge but now it makes perfect sense. This old dog just learned a new trick!  ;D
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: Bevan R. on January 19, 2012, 01:48:40 pm
Kind of makes me want to find a stave that needs that done so I can try it. :o
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 19, 2012, 02:08:33 pm
My Twisted Sisters bow would have been a perfect canidate for that trick. I left it alone and made the bow as is.
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 27, 2012, 05:41:17 pm
Here’s what the wedge looks like sanded down now.

Thanks for looking.

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/103.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/102.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/101.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/100.jpg)

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/098.jpg)

And working the tips.

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/105.jpg)
Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: Bevan R. on January 27, 2012, 06:33:11 pm
You should drill a couple of holes and fill them with dark filler. Make something like this

 8)


Title: Re: Osage Twin Oaks Bow in Progress
Post by: _Jon_ on January 27, 2012, 08:48:03 pm
Gary says to maximize the potential of any wood, try to get it as straight as possible.  Not to mention it makes it a lot easier to tiller.   :)

That's what we were working towards on this particular bow.