Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Goose Gossett on July 23, 2010, 11:01:00 AM

Title: Glue up R/D Question
Post by: Goose Gossett on July 23, 2010, 11:01:00 AM
So I've made a couple of red oak bows and found a bow in an Osage stave up at MoJam.  For my next bow I was thinking about gluing up something.  I know I saw some HBO bows at MoJam and I liked the way they looked but I don't have a bandsaw but I do have a table saw at my disposal.  

Here's my question.  Despite all of the personal opinions what would be a good glue up to start with?  Also, what would be some dimensions to shoot for a 50 lbs bow with that suggestion?
Title: Re: Glue up R/D Question
Post by: Goose Gossett on July 23, 2010, 11:27:00 AM
Oh and osage isn't something I have an ability to find very regularly.
Title: Re: Glue up R/D Question
Post by: Dean Marlow on July 23, 2010, 11:38:00 AM
Goose if you got a good Osage stave I would make a good selfbow out of it. You can get a good 50lb. draw weight out of a good Osage stave easy. If you want to do a glue up get yourself a Osage slat somewhere. Dean
Title: Re: Glue up R/D Question
Post by: Bob Barnes on July 23, 2010, 12:49:00 PM
I thought I saw you working a nearly finished osage bow before I left!  way to go Goose!  It sure makes it hard to go back to bows from Lowes... :)
If you find some good hickory that has grain like you were looking for in a board bow...and you can rip about 3/16" off it with your table saw...then do the same for the osage but maybe 9/16 for the osage...sand the 2 mating surfaces to make sure they are flat...using a coarse grip belt...it should get you there...add a piece for the grip...try a power lam if you want or maybe on the next one...
Bob
Title: Re: Glue up R/D Question
Post by: Goose Gossett on July 23, 2010, 05:23:00 PM
Dean, I got my feet wet a bit last weekend with an osage stave at MoJam so I guess I should have been more specific with the post but that makes complete sense not to ruin an osage stave.  

Ahh that helps Bob.  I did hear that you make handles for recently built osage bows  :notworthy:  Where would I go about finding an osage slat in the Arkansas area?  I know where I can get some hickory and other power lam options but as far as the osage goes I have a single stave from MoJam and that's it.  That guy I might start getting some dimensions on and letting it dry a bit quicker in the attic but that's it as far as any osage options currently.  Yeah my Lowes days might be over after dying my hands yellow and green from that osage stave over the weekend.  
 (http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/goosegossett14/IMG_0564.jpg)
 (http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy316/goosegossett14/IMG_0573.jpg)
Title: Re: Glue up R/D Question
Post by: Bob Barnes on July 23, 2010, 06:10:00 PM
ask friends in your church if they have any "horse apple" trees...everyone knows where there's a few that need cut down...  :)
Bob