Latest bows.....boo/osage recurve and boo/hickory longbow

[Flntknp17]

I haven't posted in a while and have finished two bows in the last two weeks, both bamboo backed boards from the local hardwood lumberyard.  The recurve is 62" and 53#@27".  The longbow was built so I had something for some friends with long arms to shoot and is 55#@30" and is 68" long.  The longbow holds 2" of reflex after shooting in and being left strung for 12 hours.  The bamboo on both is dyed with leather dye on both bows and the belly left natural. 

Matt

[Kidder]

Those colors are fantastic but the tiller on the recurve could be in a textbook! Great work Matt!

[Pat B]

Two beautiful bows with beautiful tiller. Well done.   

[PaSteve]

Great bows Matt but I especially like that recurve. Very nice.

[Digital Caveman]

Nice bows,
You can get Osage at your local lumber store, wow!

[organic_archer]

Nice work! Some fine weapons 

[Will B]

Great looking bows with very nice bend. I especially like that recurve!

Can you explain how you prepared the bamboo and Osage to allow it to be recurved. Did you use dry heat on both on your caul prior to glue-up?  Also what type of glue you used. Thanks

[Flntknp17]

Can you explain how you prepared the bamboo and Osage to allow it to be recurved. Did you use dry heat on both on your caul prior to glue-up?  Also what type of glue you used. Thanks

The osage was steamed in a pot covered in on my stove top for 45 minutes on one curve and 60 on the other, then bent over a caul made with scrap lumber.  Pretty traditional method for osage.  They should have both been 60 minutes.  The first one cracked a little, but the crack worked out as I thinned it.  Then I used the bow as the caul for the bamboo.  I’ve done this a number of times and it works well.  I use dry heat from a heat gun to warm the boo and then clamp it on the curved ends of the bow.  Not sure if that’s the right way, but it works for me. 

Matt

[bjrogg]

Two very nice looking bows. Gotta agree though I really like the boo backed recurve. Nice bends. Well done.
Bjrogg

[Will B]

Thanks for that explanation Matt. I will do the same. Congrats on two beautiful bows.

[Swampman]

 Great looking bows Matt!  I love both of them.

[silent sniper]

Great work Matt, those are beauties!
-Taylor

[Lumberman]

Wow I really like the dyed bamboo, looks great

[DSP1]

I've always been partial to the recurve design and yours is gorgeous, beautiful work.

[Parnell]

Beauties!  Nice work.