yep, my name is Jerry and I hate thin rings. I am a ring chaser but I have grown to hate thin rings. I am the King of Ring Violators, I am able to do it without any help at any time.

Yes, I am trying to salvage a bow out of another lousy piece of Osage. It will only make a 40" bow at best and is intended to be a kid's bow. The rings are of course, very very thin. This in itself is challenging but the numerous knots have added to it big time.

Yes, most knots are not a big deal but every once in a while on a more narrow piece, they can add to the confusion. Several times I have thought that I had it whupped but this knot six inches from the end has kicked my butt and I find out that I am now two rings violated.

I have a lighted magnifying lens which helps my poor vision but I seem to get burned on what I think is a high spot but is not around the knot. So I am again slowly chasing two more rings again. Twice I have walked away for a couple of days as I have just done. I mean it is just a stupid kid's bow.

These super thin rings on twisted gnarly Osage are beginning to get me to wondering about something like hickory again. I just hate not trying to make a bow out of a piece of wood that is just lying there in the corner. I can't imagine what a thick ring would be like, must be a super highway LOL.

The shop inspector has been okay so far, he just lies below me and gets covered in yellow shavings. Then shakes off and finds something to chew on. I do have to keep an eye on the what he is chewing on. I have to admit that he is a relaxing factor in the "shop". I guess later this evening, I will chase again for a while, it is what I do these days LOL.

How about some photos of the goings on and the SHOP INSPECTOR? GOOD LUCK!

I am with you on that Jerry!

I finally gathered enough patience well into my fifties to chase thin rings- now my vision won’t allow it lol. Some of my best bows are from thin ringed Osage.

It can get confusing at times. Usually the more confusing it gets. The more I use my scrapers and I clean up everything good as I go to make sure I stay on the same ring.

I like to go around knots first finding my ring all the way around them and then getting it from over top of the knot.

Bjrogg

I don't deal with thin rings any more. I run a hack saw blade on the back and ,sinew back them. For me it works every time. No failures to date.

I've found the trying different lights can make them much easier to see.

I guess the first step for everybody and everything is admitting you have or there is a problem. Take it one day at a time and good luck Jerry!

And that is why I let others build my self bows. Which technically makes it their self bow I guess.

Sunlight helps. I slow way down and use a pocket knife like a scraper. Thin rings are a challenge.

Out side in the sun and an orbital sander is the only way I can do it. I have cut some of the sorriest osage ever. There is always rawhide backing.

I would try sinew if I had plenty of it but I don't have enough for that. So I will keep plugging away at it as is for now. I used to do the Celebrate Recovery for Men locally, dealing with many forms of addiction LOL.

Well if you get the chasing thin rings of Osage down. You’ll be addicted to the yellow wood.

Bjrogg

patience, patience and more patience plus a smattering of resolve to be more patient

After many years of chasing rings, I'll take thin rings over thick anyday. Just my personal preference as I've noticed thin rings make better bows. Again my personal experience.

2x I make them from saplings now. To old to stock pile wood. a sapling can make a very good bow. Most are really thin ringed except black walnut which still can make a good bow.

How many growth rings per inch in that bow?

I am working a stave that has nice uniform medium sized rings on the one end and sliver thin ones at the other - not sure what was happening with that tree as it grew? Anyway, I breezed through the first 3/4ths of the stave and then realized when I was almost to the end that I had blown through my ring - Arrgh!! I think a got a little too confident in how well it was going and didn't take my time. I have plenty of stave to work with, so I'm starting over, and think I'm going to start from the thin ring end this time.

I just got to within an inch of the end of the stave and thought that I had it finally done but no, so it may end up being 39" end to end bow. At this point I am ok with that. So then I went to split the stave to get rid of a lot of excess and allowed for over 1/2" for the handle. But, the split ran closer than I had wanted and so I stopped and split from the other end. It will still make a kid's bendy bow. Yeah, rings / grain can run crazy sometimes.

If you’re within an inch of the end, it may not be the end of the world because there’s not much ending going on the last inch. Just a thought?

I actually got it to the long string and thought things were going good. had a big knot that I was worried about but as I attempted to string the short string, the crack of doom was heard very clearly. So, a very short walking stick for the youngest grand daughter was made. That was the last piece of osage that I had. may in a week or two go see if I can find a decent hickory

Their is no doubt that Osage is the king of self bow wood ,but a clean piece of most any bow white wood can make a nice bow, and that includes birch, and walnut. Remove the bark ,and their is your back. Then you can focus on all the other aspects of making a good bow. Saplings make good bows too, and you can reduce them green much easier than a seasoned stave. Get them to floor tiller ,and clamp them to a form, and let them dry. Later when you gather some good Osage you can get back to learning how to chase a ring.

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