First Osage harvest (picture added on page 2)

[Gsulfridge]

I just harvested my first Osage log today.  It yielded 4 really nice stages. I have the ends sealed with TB II. I am wondering if I need to peel the bark or not. I realize this may be a dumb question, but I'm a nube, so any advice is greatly appreciated. And yes, Briarjumper21, I did think of you when I saw how nice,clean, and straight it was, but just for a minute.

[Gsulfridge]

That's Briarjumper12,  not 21. I'm sure he'll know. Sometimes my fingers are lysdexic.

[ionicmuffin]

hey, if you choose to remove anything you have to remove all the sapwood except a bit where you might want a handle bump on the back, that aside dont remove anything if you arnt willing to remove the sapwood as well, and if you do remove the sapwood you will have to put tb2 on the back as well.

[Bryce]

Take the bark off to get rid of the borer larvae. And you can leave the sapwood on for now just seal that back real good with a layer or 2 of glue or wax. Osage sapwood is notorious for checking almost as soon as the bark comes off.

Can't wait to see what you get out of them

-Pinecone

[Gsulfridge]

I'll get the bark off tomorrow, I guess.  I still havent figured out how to post pictures on here yet and have been unsuccessful in finding a how-to.  Maybe it will be easier from the PC instead of trying to use my phone.  Thanks Pinecone, and I hear you got lots of nice extras in your Christmas boxes (pinecones!).  That had me tearing up!

[PEARL DRUMS]

With osage its a good idea to take it all off down to heartwood and seal it complete, or leave it intact and simply seal the ends. Most take the latter route. Spray it a time or three for bugs.

[Eric Krewson]

If you take the bark off and leave the sapwood you will regret it later............
Anybody that tells you different hasn't cut much osage.

Shellac is the best sealer for the ends and backs, anybody that tells you different hasn't ever tried shellac, easy to apply and easy to scrape off.

[osage outlaw]

I prefer to remove the bark and sapwood as soon as I can on osage.  It takes a little less space to store the staves, its cleaner, you don't have to worry about the borers, and you can get an idea of what kind of bow is hiding inside.  Like others mentioned, seal the back as soon as you get the bark and sapwood off.  I put 3-4  layers of shellac or polyurethane on the back and ends.  That's probably overkill, but the cost of a gallon of shellac is less than one ruined stave.  Post some pictures of those beauties 

[tgtmatt]

Are these osage trees?

[tgtmatt]

this one too.

[osage outlaw]

It doesn't look like osage bark for one that size.  And they typically aren't that tall and straight.  Any leaves or large green balls around them? 

[tgtmatt]

Do the leaves fall off in the winter? And no. I guess I have to keep looking. I just can't identify the tree. I'll probably go to the book store and look in the books.

[osage outlaw]

Yes, the leaves fall off in winter.  Here are some pictures of osage trees.





The bark on bigger trees will be rougher.



Leaves and fruit.  Not every tree will produce fruit.

[stringstretcher]

What you don't want to do is cut your wood, seal the ends, and then leave it on the ground for a year or so.  If you do, this is what you will fight.

And you will find lots of these.

[RidgeRunner]

tgtmat:
your tree looks like a tulip poplar from here.  It it is, it is NOT bow wood.

David