Author Topic: Osage ELB  (Read 149 times)

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Offline Muskyman

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Osage ELB
« on: March 16, 2025, 05:53:41 pm »
Just in the beginning of trying to make an English longbow. Started out with a pretty good piece of Osage. Only been working on it a couple days.  First thing I found out is that making the D shape isn’t easy. I went down easy limb with a contour gauge and have it working my way, but still have some shaping to get done. The stave is 75 inches long and about 1-1/8 wide at the handle.
Lots to do yet and if anyone has any tips or advice I’m all ears.
Also if anyone has any place to get some cow horn tips for a decent price. Looked a while back and they were pretty pricey 

First pic is the stave I started with. And of course where I am now.

Offline Pappy

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Re: Osage ELB
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2025, 06:31:48 pm »
Good looking stave, looks like you are making some good head way. :) Looking forward to seeing it all finished up.  :)
 Pappy
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Offline Hamish

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Re: Osage ELB
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2025, 07:27:15 pm »
Looks great so far. D sections can be tricky, if you start to get lateral bend. If the limb bends sideways , remove wood from the opposite side of the belly to correct the twist.

I usually put the horn nocks on when the bow is at full brace height and bending about 20-22" on the tillering tree. I do this because by this stage you should have sorted out any potential problems with twist, string alignment and narrowed tips. I prefer tillering to full draw with the nocks on rather than adding them after, as small inconsistencies can change the tiller. These days I use a small taper reamer from Veritas/ Lee valley, to form the tapered hole.  Before the reamer I use regular drill bits to remove most of the waste.


Offline Del the cat

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    • Derek Hutchison Native Wood Self Bows
Re: Osage ELB
« Reply #3 on: Today at 06:24:37 am »
Don't worry about a 'D' section, an 'inflated rectangle' is maybe a better description. You don't want the belly dead flat, by a gentle curve in fine. You'll want it a bit fatter and rounded at the grip to make it comfortable.
The picture is of cross sections of a Mary Rose bow.
Del
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