Osage Width

[DC]

I have one Osage stave that I got from Goat. I think I will try to make an RD like the last few I've made. I've made one Osage bow before so very little experience with it. What I'm wondering about is width. For a 64-66" 40# bow like the picture, what kind of width am I looking at? Is there a way of comparing Osage to Yew as far as dimensions are concerned?

[NonBacked]

DC –
For a specific draw weight, the limb width is dependent on the draw length, working limb length, and the SG of the wood (0.82 for Osage). Your design bow lengths (assuming 8in. for handle and fades) should allow 40@26 with the “rough-out” width of 1in. I’ve made several in the 45lb. range with these dimensions – so you will probably end up around 7/8in. wide.
H

[DC]

Thanks. Is there a formula for that? My stave is 1 1/2" wide. If I was to rip 7/16" off one side I could make a bow for my grandson. But that would be pushing things. I hate "almost".

[Badger]

   i would start off between 1 1/4 to 1 1/2" wide. You could make it narrower but why risk it taking undo set.

[BowEd]

It should end up in the 1 and 1/4" width range at 64 to 66 inches at 40#'s.

[NonBacked]

DC –

Here’s the PA link to the original thread. Not much discussion, but pretty good stuff. I worked-out an Excel spreadsheet (took about two days). You can work through the formula if you have a Scientific Calculator or a Nerdy friend.  I’ve used it a couple of years. It works pretty well, if I do my part right.  H

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,53529.msg725728.html#msg725728

[Selfbowman]

Not to start anything! But I agree with Badger. Cause what he said makes sense . lol Arvin

[Badger]

   I just finished a 42# bow that was going to be a 50# bow but it started to take set so I dropped the weight. This bow is 1 1/2" wide.

[DC]

OK I'll start with the full width

[BowEd]

A longer osage bow can be narrower and thicker and a shorter one wider and thinner.

[DC]

I wonder which is better. One must have a mass advantage but there's a few factors to figure in.

[BowEd]

I've always took the saying with osage as thicker and narrower is quicker seriously but incorporate that into making the outer limbs that way.

[Danzn Bar]

I've always though osage is better (has better cast) thinner in width and thicker.  But osage is great for a short wide thin limb bow toooooo.
Guess that why it's King of the bow woods.
DBar

[Badger]

   I give minimum set priority over everything else.

[George Tsoukalas]

All osage is not created equal. I once made a 48# bow from a heavily reflexed sucker that had around 4 inches of reflex.

Anyway, I can only tell you what I do, DC. I start on the wide side. If I find the stave not responding to width removal (that is I feel the limbs are getting too thin) then I begin to narrow them.

Jawge