RE: Osage Build
 

Some day, ill break down and make a bow horse. I keep putting it off because Ive got a set up in my shop that works well, except I have to stand to work. Every time I start to make a horse, I get caught up on something else. I was going to break down and make one two weekends ago, except I broke my lam grinder, so I put the bench to the side and started building a new lam grinder. Im about to have a little more free time, so I think Ill make one. Ive got two bows to finish right now, but once they are done, im going to make a bench. (lol. isnt that always the proverbial last words. Ive been saying that for years.)

RE: Osage Build
 

Oh, yea, one last question. Do you plan on heating in any reflex? If so, just be aware that it will increase weight by up to 10lbs per 1 inch.
that is just in general because other things are in play here, but is a general rule of thumb. And for the set time, it will be shot in by about 60 to 100 arrows. You will see little to no more set.

RE: Osage Build
 

I need to learn more about heating out twists and stuff it sounds like if I plan on making alot of osage.

I would kinda like to heat out the propeller twist. Just need to learn more about it.

Thanks burnie

RE: Osage Build
 

Its real easy. Get some mineral oil and a heat gun. All you need for getting twist out. Oil it up, put the tip in a vice, and heat and slowly twist it straight. Key is to let the wood tell you when its ready to bend. As for reflex, simply cut a caul (board the shape you want your reflexin.), drill a hole in the end so you can clamp your tip down to it. Oil up the tips, heat and slowly bend it down to your caul. Once its down to the caul, clamp it down and let is set a bit. Ive done it using the back of a kitchen chair and used steam to bend it. Yea, the wife did not like the idea much. Didnt hurt anything. I think it made her mad because I waited for her to go to work before I did it, and she came home from work and found me bending a bow in the house using her nice pots to steam the ends, and her kitchen chair as a caul. Yea, I got that look all through lunch.:D

RE: Osage Build
 

Hey burne, I heard you don't to steam osage, only whitewoods. Is that so in your opinion? When you said, let the wood tell you when, are you kinda hand twisting? How long does the process take?

RE: Osage Build
 

Good job bigcountry. I'm really getting the urge to build one this year. My son still shoots the one we made for him two years ago, though not as much since he got the Bear recurve for his birthday.

How many hours went into it? We had ten-twelve and didn't do as many steps as you.

RE: Osage Build
 

32 hours is what I figure. 6 hours to get used to the tools and remove back and some sap wood. Another10 to get to the growth ring I wanted and clean up around knots. About 10 hours to design, rasp profile, and rasp handle and little floor tiller. 8 hours to cut nocks, make my own string, floor tiller, and final tiller. The bow went from 70lbs to 55 in short time. One guy there was doing hickory and I was so jealous. No ring chasing, no knot cleanup. I am doing hickory next.

RE: Osage Build
 

That's a lot of work. I'm sure you will get a lot out of the bow considering how much you put into it.

RE: Osage Build
 

Yes, thats true. You would oil and heat it. I was bending a white oak self bow. Sorry for the confusion.

Oh yea. as for hand twising. Put the tip in the vice, after oiling it. Hold the bow in one hand and start heating the limb. Put a little torque pressure on the limb as you heat it. Heat by running the heat gun up and down the length you want to twist. You will feel when the wood starts to give. It will let you know. Dont over heat it to where you get bend in the limb. Just enough to where the twist starts to give.

RE: Osage Build
 

You got a better bow. Hickory is ok for a self bow, and is great to learn with, but osage is the best. ;)