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BBO Selfbow

R

R.H.Clark

Joined
Aug 23, 2007
Messages
771
I'll try a picture or two of my new bamboo backed osage selfbow.It's 66" NTN and 60lbs at 29". The limbs ate 1-1/4" wide fading to 1/4"at the string grove.Sorry for the poor quality.I'm just learning how to use a digital camera and photobucket.It started to rain and I was rushed.

If you folks will forgive me I'll be posting some great pictures of all WSS material very soon.
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WOW...:eek: nice work man... that came out great...:thumbup: :thumbup: looks like a sweet shooter.. bamboo and osage make such a great combo on bows...:)
 
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Sorry this one is so out of focus.I'll work on that later.Have to see if the camera has a macro setting.I posted it so you could see how tiny the tips are.The overlays are very nice Osage burl.
 
R.H.Clark said:
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Sorry this one is so out of focus.I'll work on that later.Have to see if the camera has a macro setting.I posted it so you could see how tiny the tips are.The overlays are very nice Osage burl.
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That is beautiful work. Looks like something I'd like to make someday. When you say the wood is osage is that wood from the same tree as we in oklahoma call Bois De Arc or Bodark. The wood looks like it to me and I've always wanted a bow out of bodark because when it seasons it is like iron making for a very strong bow.
 
Yes, it is Bois De Arc just bamboo backed in this case. One of the best bow woods in the world.It responds very well to a heat gun when working it.

If you are going to cut some get rid of the bark right away.It carries borrers.Shelac the ends and under bark side within hours.The staves must be split out to follow any snakey grain.You want something with good 1/4" thick late wood rings,the dark ones.Then set it up to dry for a year.I use an old broke down van.

This bow was made out of wood that a friend threw away.It is two billets spliced in a Z at the handle but even though it may never have made an unbacked bow the local free bamboo made it into a very nice selfbow.
 
R.H.Clark said:
Yes, it is Bois De Arc just bamboo backed in this case. One of the best bow woods in the world.It responds very well to a heat gun when working it.

If you are going to cut some get rid of the bark right away.It carries borrers.Shelac the ends and under bark side within hours.The staves must be split out to follow any snakey grain.You want something with good 1/4" thick late wood rings,the dark ones.Then set it up to dry for a year.I use an old broke down van.

This bow was made out of wood that a friend threw away.It is two billets spliced in a Z at the handle but even though it may never have made an unbacked bow the local free bamboo made it into a very nice selfbow.
Click to expand...

Thanks man, I have some wild bamboo growing in my area too. I just love the color of that wood. I'm saving your instructions for the next time I find a likely piece of bodark.:D
 
99f250 said:
That's an awesome bow, I tried to make one once, was nothing like yours.
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All you need is the right recipe.Shoot me a PM, maby we could exchange numbers.I could talk you through the whole process.

Be a while before I could invite you over.I'm sort of in the process of apprentice knife forging.I'm spending most of my free time out of town.I have phone time every weekend though.
 
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