Cleaning petrified Osage staves...

[Cloudfeather]

I've been cleaning these staves from my Osage haul and am wondering if there is a better way. The first was done with draw knife only, no thanks lol. I did a couple by trying to split the outer, rotten/petrified layer off of the staves but this proved somewhat unpredictable. Any suggestions? I don't have access to a big bandsaw. Lol

[Springbuck]

If you can see what you are doing, cut some shallow kerfs across the sapwood with a saw, like a pruning saw, every couple inches, and then knock the sections between the saw marks off with a machete or hatchet.  Then work down below the marks with the drawknife.

[Cloudfeather]

Thought about doing that but haven't attempted it yet, thanks.

[osage outlaw]

I've split and used the draw knife just like you have tried already.  It's a lot of work but worth it for some good osage.

[bradsmith2010]

shallow kerfs and hatchet comes to mind,, as stated with be worth the effort,, osage,, no easy way about it,,

[Cloudfeather]

Definitely worth it. I've chased rings on a couple. My draw knife is very sharp, once past the outer layer, cuts like butter.

[Will H]

Osage and a draw knife will make a man out of ya.

[blackhawk]

Osage and a draw knife will make a man out of ya.

+1 

[PEARL DRUMS]

Osage and a draw knife will make a man out of ya.

+100

We don't all walk around with sore shoulders and elbows for nuttin'!

[Onebowonder]

Osage and a draw knife will make a man out of ya.

+100

We don't all walk around with sore shoulders and elbows for nuttin'!

So - if i understand correctly - building bows out of petrified OSAGE is a good way to build guns?

OneBow

[koan]

Ive built one bow out of that ancient stuff, made an awesome bow. I absolutetly could bot get a drawknife thru and the hatchet just richachede off of it....but a few minutes woth a flap disc grinder and i struck gold, lol... Brian

[Badger]

  I just ordered a 60 year old stave, supposed the be pretty hard. Looking forward to seeing how it responds to the draw knife. I am wondering if Sled here isn't the guy I ordered it from?

[JW_Halverson]

Osage and a draw knife will make a man out of ya.

+100

We don't all walk around with sore shoulders and elbows for nuttin'!

We all know why you have sore shoulders and elbows!  And we are NOT discussing this on the forum.  This is a family site and we do not want impressionable young minds polluted with all this nasty talk about drummers. 

[Cloudfeather]

My draw knife makes minced meat out of osage, this petrified shell is not of this earth. I swear. lol

[JW_Halverson]

Have you found the elusive Kryptonite stave?