Thin and deep limbs?

[owlbait]

Due to a lot of borer damage and after working on this stave for 2 years (I'm slow) I found more damage that has my limb width 1/2 of what I started with. Can I make up the width by making the limbs deeper? I still have a small tunnel on the side of the stave. Do I try to shave it flat or fill it with super glue, or save it to beat the fella from New Mexico that sold me this great stave for a beginner?

[Buckeye Guy]

Well at least it was not a total lie, it did teach you something!
How much width do you have yet?
what kinda poundage you hoping for?
Yes Osage can make a bow that is narrow and thick
It doesn't take much Osage to make a bow so maybe we can get there yet!

[owlbait]

Unfortunately, I'm a slow learner too! 5/8" wide X 3/4" deep. She won't hardly budge with pressure either.

[Buckeye Guy]

Whooo horse
that may be a tad narrow for much of a bow
I think that I will be in Michigan for the GLLI can you get there?
if so maybe I can find a stick of wood to trade you out of this one and get you back on track
I always need another kids bow

[owlbait]

I can make the GLLI if your offering help. I don't know how you feel about sassafras, but I'm willing to include a stave of that also. Thanks.

[Buckeye Guy]

I wil try to let you know for sure but it is normal for me to be there, and if I am there I would be glad to help you out !
plan on see you there !
as far the Sassafras, be glad to have it, not sure why.

[Del the cat]

That's too thin for even an English Longbow style, unless it is down to kids weight.
A bow that narrow will be trying to bend sideways as you make it... mind that is an option, just turn the stave sideways.
Mind, it's still only 1/8" wider
Del

[DarkSoul]

A bow can't be thicker than it is wide. Than it will be laterally unstable and twist as you apply pressure on it.
I haven't seen the stave of course, but it's a pity that the stave was so heavily damaged by wood borers. Perhaps there was a better way to conserve more of the width...such as a hard backing or plugging the holes with Dutchmen plugs.
How long is the stave? The lack in width can be compensated for (to a small degree) by extra length. An osage longbow of 74" with maybe 35# draw weight at 28" might work. Or a kids bow, which is the other alternative...

[owlbait]

Thanks guys. As many changes to my plans to get a bow out of this stave, it seems I just kept running into obstacles. I didn't give up, and kept at it, although slowly. I've read about the Dutchman plugs and maybe someone with more expertise could've fixed/saved this stave. I do know I'd like to make a New Mexican plug with the widest end of this stave though!

[DarkSoul]

Contact the seller and send him some pics. Let's see what he says. A serious seller that wants to keep a reputation will send you a replacement stave. Perhaps the seller couldn't even see the bug damage, if the bark was still on?

[Badger]

  One thing about wood that amazes me is that proportionately it is just right for bow making, I kind of look at it as a gift form our creator. The strength, the depth, the weight, the flexability it all falls into place and almost could not be better. No other natural material on earth quite like it, very unique in its own right. So I would say make it wider even if it means starting over.

[PatM]

What about bamboo?