Second Osage harvest (with pics)

[Will H]

Definatley bring some of that to the classic That is VERY nice wood!

[Gsulfridge]

You got it Will! I can't wait to get there. My dream is to have a bow similar to "Ole Al", cause Pappy's design just seems "right". See you guys in May!

[Eric Krewson]

When I use a stave with that much twist I cut them in half remove the twist, now 45  degrees instead of 90 in each billet, and splice them back together perfectly orienting the backs to be in the correct plane. Sounds like a lot of work but I think it is less than taking 90 degrees out of a full length stave. Excessive untwisting can cause some tiny longitudinal fracturing in osage, not fatal stuff but visible.

[Sidewinder]

Nice haul. I used to get intimidated by twist too but osage really does respond well to the heat gun. You should have no prob with it once you get comfortable. Gonna be about time for me to get out and get this years osage harvest. I've got several spotted that look good.   Danny

[Gsulfridge]

Lot of difference in that with nice rings and what I harvested today. Tiny, tiny rings in it, but it is straight. Soon I'll have enough to get me through the learning curve. I'll start with my worst stave and work up to the cleaner ones. That way if I screw up, I have not destroyed a nice stave. I've never chased a ring before.

[Gsulfridge]

Check out these tiny buggers!

[gstoneberg]

I love tight ringed osage every bit as much as the easier, fatter ringed stuff.  Season that stuff a year, get yourself some sinew, and build one of those recurved shorties that have been popping up here lately.

George

[Gsulfridge]

Sounds like a plan George!

[osage outlaw]

Try to pay attention to where you are cutting the better stuff.  Is it near a water source or at the bottom of a hill?  Look the bark over very close and you should see it spiral some if the tree is twisted.

[Gsulfridge]

Good advice Outlaw, all of my harvests have come from one area along a creek.  All the staves with good color and nice rings are twisted and all the straight staves have tiny rings I ain't complaining, cause until this past weekend, I had none at all!

[Gsulfridge]

Here's a shot of the first ring under the sapwood. It's darker than other pictures I've seen.  Is this odd? Sorry for all the questions, but I am trying to learn and appreciate everyone getting me up to speed.

[Buckeye Guy]

blackhawk already told you it was good dark stuff !
Any of that stuff you don't want, take to the classic we will gobble it up like a punch of hogs at the feeding trough !!
sure hope I am there to see ya unloading it !!
I have a similar situation with the hickory where I cut if it ain't twisted it is full of problems I just look for the twisted ones anymore , it is a lot easier to untwist than deal with the other issues !! 
Good score !!
Have fun !!
Guy

[Gsulfridge]

I'll be toting some down there for sure, both for some advice and help with the ones I do keep and also some for trading around.  I think I have 10 or 12 with the wide rings.  No way I could use all that personally.  I wish they had a Classic every month!

[osage outlaw]

I've had some with the dark streaks in it before.  It makes a cool looking bow.  Make sure to seal up that back super good where you chased that ring.  If you don't you'll have checks in it by morning.

I'm assuming you won't be needing me to bring you a stave to the Classic 

[Gsulfridge]

Hey Outlaw, I sealed the backs on the three staves that I debarked really well. And as for the stave I asked for, well, things have changed so to speak .  Im sure you will find someone who needs a stave worse than I do.  If not, just look me up at the Classic and we'll talk trade.