Osage ring density

[Stick Bender]

I'm working on chasing a ring on what seems like a nice stave I got out of Mo. The early/late ratio seem fair this one is only off the stump 1 yr but I noticed this is one of the easiest ring chase I have ever done the early wood comes of real easy in the past some staves feel like your peeling off epoxy I'm wondering if any thing can be inferred about the wood quality because of the ease, as this stave is going to be under heavy stress as a short self bow , the early wood is slightly thicker then I normally like maybe that plays a roll ? I have other higher quality staves but wanted to test a design on this one !

[Pat B]

Looks like a good stave to me. There are different densities in osage but generally you can tell by the physical weight of the stave.
If you are concerned about this being a shorter bow then use it for a longer bow and find a better one for the shorter bow.

[Marc St Louis]

I was given some Osage from Va several years ago that came from a dead tree.  The wood was noticeably softer than Osage I was used to working but it sure was elastic wood, wish I had more of it

[Stick Bender]

This is the second stave I used out of this Mo. Hedge it just seems so different from the Il. Or Ind hedge that it's a hard call but my gut is telling not to trust it for a self bow at least a short one but 57 in. is all I have on it , I think I will go sinew on this one , I look at these staves on the wall thinking about what bow is in them ,but you never know what you got tell you chase a ring ! This wood has more of a green huge to it then others it's hard to see in the pic but defiantly there !

[osage outlaw]

How old is that stave?  I've noticed chasing a ring feels different on staves that are pretty old compared to one that is only a couple years old.  Judging by the way it looks I would trust it.  Can you cut a small sliver piece off one end and do a bend test?

[Stick Bender]

Clint this one was cut last September , I don't have enough length to make a test peace maybe I'm paranoid I had one bow blow last winter out of this stuff for no detectable reason so I'm pretty cautious with it plus this one is short & going to be stretched far but have good width 1 7/8 in. But if you think it's good I trust your Hedge Head...lol

[BowEd]

I'm with Clint on this one.Old hedge ring chasing can seem pretty tough or just plain hard stuff.Even though it's been a year off the stump I'd let that roughed out bow acclimate to the inside at 50% humidity.

[Stick Bender]

Ok thanks fellas  this one will give me a good reason to built a real hot box maybe put it in there for a bit and bring it back in ,I'm in no hurry on this one not much time this time of year any way but would like to get it ruffed out this week end & let it set for a bit !

[George Tsoukalas]

Looks like a really nice stave to me. Jawge

[Stick Bender]

Thanks George I chased that down today and I think Im going to let it set for another year and pulled down this Indiana stave I got from Clint about 20 months ago its been chased and inside for over a year its a no question asked kind of stave

[Stick Bender]

Top view

[BowEd]

That's a beauty!!!

[George Tsoukalas]

Sure is! Jawge

[bradsmith2010]

you can send that piece to me and let it cure in the high desert,,,

[Stick Bender]

I would Brad but this one wouldn't be challenging enough for you no knots & to smooth of back