Tom — I have built some three dozen backed board bows, most from Osage backed with pignut hickory or bamboo. While a few of the lighter-draw bows remain in use, most broke and didn’t take long to do it. For shorter hunting-weight bows (50-55# for me), I’m done wasting time and money on boards. Among that lot I built a couple of selfbows, and both came in too low poundage for hunting … but refused to break. That’s one guy’s experience–board bows OK for lighter draw weights and longer lengths, but inferior with shorter stronger hunting bows. The longer the bow, of course, the less likely it will break at a given poundage. But I find long bows awkward, at best, for ground hunting in forest and brush. If you do it, I’d back with bamboo rather than hickory. The building is fun no matter the outcome.

To learn about making self bows, working with board bows is a good way to go if you don’t have a ready source for osage. Osage is expensive when purchased as a stave.

Another backing option is just plain cloth. You can make a board bow that works pretty well with a simple cloth backing. This will allow you to learn the art of tillering without investing too much money.

There is usually a good hardwood store within driving distance of most places. These are the type of outlets that your local cabinet maker uses to get good wood.

There you will be able to find some nice hickory boards at a reasonable price.

finally, I would encourage you to read Dean Torges Book “Hunting the Osage Bow”, if you haven’t already. It’s a great read and gives you the practical knowledge to make a self bow.

I thought Hunting the Bamboo Bow is a really good video. I watched it many times and learned something from it every time.

His book goes into detail about self bows. There are some subtleties there and more info than was presented in the video. If you liked his video, you’ll like the book too.

I’d like to read Glen St. Charles’ Billet to Bows, but it’s no longer available it seems. Might get a used copy on Amazon though…

Good luck with your bow making! It’s a great Buddha exercise.

Tom,

If you can make it, I’d suggest going to the 16th annual Ozarks selfbow jamboree (MO-Jam).

Osage orange is hard to come by in MN but you’ll find enough at MO-Jam to choke a goat. There are vendors who sell staves that’ll easily make two bows starting at $40. If cash isn’t your thing there are plenty of folks willing to make a generous trade. The whole jamboree is based around learning to make osage self bows and the advice, assistance, and comradery is completely free. A person can walk in with absolutely no experience and walk out with a fantastic artisan selfbow and a mess of new friends without spending a dime. The “official” jamboree is a long weekend starting on Friday but I know folks who set up camp on Tuesday. It’s really worth it, man.

-Ben

In case you haven’t seen this series yet, there are 3 videos. This one just covers taking an osage stave to one ring which isn’t really very applicable for anything aside from osage. The next two though cover topics that can be applied to any wood.

Sorry, Tom. I don’t have any experience with that company and don’t know anyone who does. I’ve never paid for Osage because it grows wild all over the place where I live.

Clay, as always, that series of videos is excellent. I’ve watched them all.

Ben M. wrote: …I’ve never paid for Osage because it grows wild all over the place where I live…

And that makes me envious 😡 My uncle lives in Kansas and sent me some of his horse apples. I have 12 trees about 4 feet tall now. I figure by the time the grandkids arrive and grow up enough to hold a bow, I might be able to get some wood off ’em.

We have a few trees around here, but they are few and far between. I’d hate to cut one of those down.

Folks around here use it for fenceposts because it is so rot resistant. There are miles and miles (and miles…) of fence put up with osage. Sometimes I cringe when I see all the potential bow wood sticking out of the ground.