Should I buy this Osage board?

[Whiskeyjet]

Here is an Osage board for sale at a woodcraft store. Fully 1x4x72.5.  It is very straight, I would try to resaw it into 4-6 blanks.  Any bows would of course be backed, either bamboo or hickory I'm thinking.  Should the pin knots or the grain dissuade me from buying this or should I just go for it since it's just lumber anyway?

On the wide shots, it's the piece in front of the bubinga.  I darkened the exposure to make the grain and knots more visible.

Thanks!

[George Tsoukalas]

For what purpose? Knots and board bows don't mix well generally. Jawge

[gfugal]

I say go for it. If it doesn't work, at least you learned from it. I figure the pins in stuff could work if you're backing it with another good piece of wood. maybe if its right on the side it could be a big problem, but I'm no expert when it comes to knots, pins or wood backing so take what I say with a grain of salt. Plus I've never worked with osage.

If you got it are you saying you would cut it into 4 or maybe even 6 billets? that seems like an awful lot to me. I would just do two so I had plenty of material, maybe 3 max.

[Pat B]

I'd look for a better piece. Too many knots and too much grain swirl.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Depends on who you ask. I wouldn't use it and I won't use swirly grained boards........still.

[mikekeswick]

Pass on that board. Swirls and knots ain't good on lam bows, these flaws will always fail eventually. Always look for only the very best boards for lam bows.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

It looked like it wood make for some pretty riser wood with he swirls and knots, if nothin else. Maybe even some handles, buttons, and other whats-it's.

Kyle

[Onebowonder]

I would not likely use it for bows - due to the aforementioned knots, swirls and grain run-outs - but I'd certainly need to see the end of the stock to make a choice.  If it is well cut Quartersawn wood, (which it does not appear to be), then it might be useful as a board for an edge grain bow.  However - like kyle said, it would be useful for lots of other stuff!  I have used a lot of sketchy Osage to make camp spoons, canoe paddles, hand drum rings, and one pitiful attempt at a wooden flute.  I have a buddy that turns pens and such out of some of my off-cuts.  He tells me that the Osage I've given him makes wonderful turning wood. 

OneBow

[LittleBen]

Definately buy that ... as long as you have another use for it.

Make a nice broadhead box, some chisel handles, new scales for your 1911 .45acp, a seat for a new shop stool, or any other cool non-bow use.

Too swirly, and knotty to be worth wasting a nice backing on.

I've heard argentine Osage is good material and as I understand it you can buy boards online and it tends to be better grained than American Osage.

[Selfbowman]

Sounds not hopeful! Arvin

[TimothyR]

Only way it might work is if you put it under the dreaded fg.

[Whiskeyjet]

Thanks for the advice one and all I did NOT buy it