Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Rob W. on January 15, 2016, 05:10:17 pm

Title: short osage ?
Post by: Rob W. on January 15, 2016, 05:10:17 pm
I didn't want to post many pics of this bow because I thought I was about done with it. Now I'm not so sure.

What I have is a 57" NTN osage flat bow that holds 1.75" a little more than the last third. I have it tillered to about 55#@22"  I would like to get it to at least 55#@28.  I have a small stiff handle on it now. Osage Outlaw suggested making the handle bend if it was his. Now I'm looking at it wondering what I should do. I had already narrowed the handle down to an inch wide. What would you guys do try it with the stiff handle or make it bend.

Oh and thanks Osage O for your input. I just can't bring myself to take that handle off yet.  ;D

(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/20160115_164537.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/20160115_164537.jpg.html)

(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/20160115_164629.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/20160115_164629.jpg.html)
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: sleek on January 15, 2016, 05:19:54 pm
Deflex your fades dow so the tips are 4 inches below the back of the bow, then reflex your tips up so they rest 2 inches below the back of the bow. I have done this three times with outatanding results.make sure you are reflexing the tips and making static recurves or its not going to work. The tips must also bend.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: bradsmith2010 on January 15, 2016, 05:21:10 pm
these are just my thoughts,, and many ways to approach your 28 inch goal,,,
in my experience  ,, 57 nock to nock,, would be pushing it for a 28 inch draw,, yes it has been done,, and more,,
but you increase the odds of your bow failing,,
if you are in love with the handle,, I would rawhide back it,, or put a thin layer of sinew,, thats just me,,
if you reduce the handle slightly so the whole bow works,,, your odds of success will increase with more working wood,,
Keep in mind, that the guys that say it will work with stiff handle at the 28 inch draw,, are guys with exceptional skill in tillering,,and intuition about bows from making millions of bows,, that may be U i don't know your skill level,,
that being said,, I would not try it,, I would shorten the draw,,or bend the handle,, back it or all of the above,, I am a chicken sometimes,,  :)
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: JW_Halverson on January 15, 2016, 05:24:37 pm
Two light layers of sinew would give you plenty of peace of mind and you could pull the full 28".
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: sleek on January 15, 2016, 05:49:44 pm
Oh man, sinew with the deflex fades and refleslx the tips back to the the back again. Thats a powerful profile and low stressed from the fades already being where the need to be and not flexing much at all, and the limbs doing all the qork with sinew, yes. Please do that.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 15, 2016, 09:05:33 pm
You cant make that goal with what you have, alone. You need sinew to make that happen. Stop where you are and add 2 1/2 - 3 layers of sinew. Reverse brace the bow 6" and let it sit 4 weeks. Then finish tillering it out to 28". You will need the tips flipped, prior to sinew, to keep your string angle solid. Also be sure you get the limb working right into the fade. Even though you narrowed your grip, you still have depth. Between the two you can get that handle to budge a little with no ill effects. You want it to as a matter of fact. You need all the bend you can get everywhere you can get it. I made the same bow from yew, but 2" longer, which isn't much.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Floridabowyer on January 15, 2016, 09:20:24 pm
What PD said.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Floridabowyer on January 15, 2016, 09:25:11 pm
As a further note and more specifically. You should reduce thickness on that handle enough that you can feel it starting to move slightly in your hand at full draw.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Rob W. on January 15, 2016, 09:29:25 pm
Well, I haven't worked with sinew any. I guess I need to start reading.

Here is what it looked like before i started to tiller. It still has that profile with no set. And thanks for the help!

(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/20160109_220332.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/20160109_220332.jpg.html)
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Floridabowyer on January 15, 2016, 09:31:52 pm
TBB V1 and make sure you utilize the PatM method of "smooth sinew made easy" as it is the only way in my opinion.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on January 16, 2016, 06:51:45 am
I did a sinew backed hackberry. Its posted in the Build Along section with all kinds of pics. Have a read, it might help. It's just one way to do it.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: BowEd on January 16, 2016, 07:17:35 am
From experience here you'll be surprised how much it'll work into the fades with sinew on the back of it.Doing what Pearly said will make your bow closer to a little rocket launcher,but you've got a little more work ahead of you then.Many times bows morph into something that a person does'nt plan on.Just remember you'll be keeping this bow for the rest of your life more than likely.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Stick Bender on January 16, 2016, 09:09:07 am
Rob I just did my first sinew bow it's not very difficult just time consuming in prep,but made one mistake didn't weight what I put on so have no reference for the future also great chapter on sinew TBB 1 plus Jim Hamms book Bows & arrows of the Native Americans has a realy strait foward & easy way to do sinew  I think your bow with sinew would be wicked for its size & draw Good luck
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: perry f. on January 16, 2016, 09:49:40 am
Looks like you'll be up to borrow TBB I soon
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Rob W. on January 16, 2016, 11:12:04 am
It sounds like I need to figure out where to get some sinew. I think back to all the deer over the years that I have let the sinew go to waste.  :(

Should I be concerned with flipping the tips and reverse bracing this bow after all the heat corrections I have made? This is what it started out looking like.

(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee391/rjwalton8/20151228_160215.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/rjwalton8/media/20151228_160215.jpg.html)
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: osage outlaw on January 16, 2016, 11:25:35 am
You need to make sure the string alignment is good before you sinew back it. 
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Rob W. on January 16, 2016, 11:39:21 am
Everything string wise is good now. It does prop twist a bit out of the fades but evens out down the limb.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: simson on January 16, 2016, 11:45:12 am
If it were me, I wouldn't sinew back a 55" osage. If 50", o.k. we could talk about.
Here is a example 55" long, stiff handled and flipped tips and 55/28":
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,41176.0.html
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: bubby on January 16, 2016, 12:26:22 pm
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,31738.0.html
Here's pearls build
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: feral on January 17, 2016, 02:38:20 am
I have a 60 inch osage. Apart from a worrying splinter it is a beautiful shooter.. It is backed by fake snakeskin with horn tips. I shoot at 28" and I love it
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Rob W. on January 17, 2016, 02:08:27 pm
After much thought about this bow I started actually comparing my draw length from my glass bows to selfbows. My 29" draw with a glass bow goes down to about 27" on a selfbow. I can still touch feather to my nose and feel comfortable. So that said, if I tiller this bow out to 27" and make the handle work should I be ok? I want to sinew a bow one of these days but I'm afraid with the humidity around here and my lack of experience with it I would screw it up.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: sleek on January 17, 2016, 02:27:59 pm
You dont need sinew.  Have you any experience with heat bending?
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Rob W. on January 17, 2016, 02:47:16 pm
Yes. I usually straighten with heat, gently flip the tips and belly temper.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: sleek on January 17, 2016, 02:53:25 pm
Check this build out.

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,53940.0.html
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: Rob W. on January 17, 2016, 03:02:27 pm
That's impressive sleek. I'm  going to see what I can come up with. I'm hoping to use this little bow for turkey hunting.

Thanks.
Title: Re: short osage ?
Post by: bushboy on January 17, 2016, 03:06:26 pm
Here's an osage molly,i think 55" long.no sinew added