Easy Diy project

[Grumpie]

This was a real simple project. Some of these miners picks are ridiculously overpriced. I made this one for under $10.
The wood handle is made of Osage orange from my firewood pile the pick head is made of 3/16 steel that was cut by my hand grinder and the tubing was the only thing I bought. I Just through a quick bead around it to secure it to the head.

 

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[Grumpie]

Just wanted to show you what the handle looked like yesterday am.

 

[kcm]

I "LOVE" Osage Orange wood!! Is the only wood I know of where all you need is sandpaper and water to get a beautiful finish. Tough, strong and beautiful. Makes me sick that it's being burnt in a fireplace...but oh, well.

 

[Grumpie]

I cut the Osage down myself and design and make custom hunting bows out of it. These are left over scrap that can't be used to make a bow but I'm finding ways for it to be used.

 

[DizzyDigger]

I cut the Osage down myself and design and make custom hunting
bows out of it. These are left over scrap that can't be used to make a bow but I'm finding ways
for it to be used.

Was going to ask that very question!

Osage can make awesome selfbows, it's finding a good stave that's a
always the issue. Up here I've used Pacific Yew and backed it with
a hickory laminate to make a couple bows, but even with the best
of tillering I still wind up with some strong hand shock.

Gotta ask..are you a Bowsite/Leatherwall member?

 

[delnorter]

Hey that's cool you make bows out of the Osage Grumpie. Can we see an example of one of your bows? I really like the pick.

I recently had to clean up some fallen trees from the highway out here in Northwest California. One of them was a Pacific Yew tree. I was able to keep a couple 8' sections about 12" in diameter. Traditional bows are made from this species also. I was thinking of making one or two with my Tolowa (native American) friend.

Mike

 

[Grumpie]

g
This one has been shot but still needs a leather grip. The bow came from the same Osage stave on the right.

 

[Grumpie]

 

[Grumpie]

 

[N-Lionberger]

Wow Nice work! I have been thinking about getting into archery hunting to expand my season.

 

[kcm]

If you want an Osage Orange bow, you'd better either have deep pockets or be prepared to make one. Personally, I'd make one.....or five or 20. You'll keep getting better, plus it's simply amazing to watch Osage Orange go from rough wood into this beautiful, glowing masterpiece.

 

[delnorter]

Real nice Grumpie.

Mike

 

[Grumpie]

Appreciate that thx

 

[russau]

I made my pick from a old broken leaf spring and welded a steel handle to it. Cost: zippo

 

[goldenIrishman]

Really nice work on the bows and pick Grumpie. I went to traditional gear years ago after I found that I no longer needed the "Training Wheels" out on the bow tips. I haven't shot in a long time but still have my Bushmaster (60 lb draw) and Howett Hunter recurve (65 lb draw). Because of the difference in how they stack at my draw length I went 5 lbs heavier on the recurve so I can use the same shafts on both bows. Kind of worried about setting up compressed hay bales target butt here at the house. Room isn't the problem, rather not wanting to attract vermin which will in turn attract rattlers.

 

[arizau]

Osage orange trees were known as Bodark or horse apple trees where I grew up in S.E New Mexico. They were originally planted as wind breaks I think. Here is an article about them and how they became known as Bodark. Side note: I still have a sling shot that I carved from a Bodark limb close to 60 years ago.

http://boileddownjuice.com/the-seed-and-the-story-bodark-trees/

 

[Bejay]

Years ago I was making some recurve bows...(my Dad use to work for Bear Bows...so he taught me). I used yew wood & glass in the limbs (yew wood does not take a set as do other woods). I made raised layered/laminated nocks and the final nock layer was osage orange...I have never forgotten that wood.....as it is not unique to Oregon. Tks for the info.

Bejay

 

[deserdog]

Never made a bow, found a couple of books on making them: Bowyers Bible

 

[Grumpie]

Never made a bow, found a couple of books on making them: Bowyers Bible

That's a good start, another one is "hunting the Osage bow" by Dean Torges.