Straight osage shoot: how to use it?

[andreax1985]

Dear Friends, I seldom write on this forum but I read it regularly. I've always loved the idea of making selfbows and the "science" behind it, even if I have scarcely had the opportunity to practice by actually making bows (excluding naive attempts when I was younger and I didn't have access to the wealth of information I have now). I bought online second hand reference books (The bowyer's bible, The art of making selfbows, Hunting the osage tree) even if I have still to receive them.

Long story short, I've recently noticed a row of relatively young osage trees growing along a railway fence near to my workplace (osage is not that common where I live in Europe). In particular, I've noticed a quite straight, small diameter shoot sprouting from a big (not-so-straight) branch. Here's a picture of it:



This shoot is around 3 1/4" in (average) diameter at the lower end and it's about 74" long. I have a couple of questions for anyone of you who can help. Considering the relatively small diameter:

1. Is this a good place to start for building a bow?

2. Should I split the log just after having cut it?

3. If yes, in how many parts? Two? Or more?

4. Should I leave the bark on? Or should I remove bark and sapwood?

P.S. The big "knot" in the front of the shoot actually it's a snail, so don't worry about it 

[Stick Bender]

The grain looks pretty strait on that, I would cut it full length debark & take the sap wood of and give a lot of coats of shellac, splitting it in to 2 staves would be pretty tuff I would just use it as is I would let it set sheltered for a couple months then ruff out a bow and bring it inside 50% RH for a year others might have different Ideas but thats my 2 cents

[andreax1985]

@Stick Bender: maybe this is a stupid question but let's say I don't split it into two staves and I only remove bark and sapwood. If I coat it everywhere with shellac, how can the wood dry out and season? How can humidity find its way out?

[FilipT]

Are you from Hungary?

[andreax1985]

@FilipT: no, northern Italy. What makes you think I'm from hungary?

[Pat B]

I would cut it as long as possible, saw it in half, bind the two pieces back together with spacers between the 2 halves and set aside to dry.
Seal the ends and if you remove the bark, seal the back well. The small diameter osage poles I've made bows from usually don't have much heartwood. The sapwood will make a good bow. If there is enough heartwood, remove the sapwood, seal the heartwood well and set aside to dry.
 If you don't bind the 2 halves back together or otherwise restrict the movement the splits will twist and curl while drying.

[Eric Krewson]

I agree with Pat, good advice.

[andreax1985]

@ Pat B: thank for the advice. Do you suggest to saw it in half (with a bandsaw) or split it in half (with wedges)?

P.S. How do I know if there is enough heartwood?

[Pat B]

You will see the heartwood on the ends when you cut it.
 I would pick the best sides and saw in half with a bandsaw. Trying to split small diameter can cause problems with runoffs.

[andreax1985]

But how much of it is "enough"?

P.S. What if I don't have a bandsaw?

[osage outlaw]

Seal the ends really good when you cut it.

[Pat B]

2" of heartwood is enough.
 What power tools do you have? With a circular saw you could cut a shallow kerf on either side of the pole then split it. The kerfs would help guide the split.

[George Tsoukalas]

If you don't have enough heartwood you can leave a layer or 2 of sapwood.

Jawge

[GlisGlis]

Hello Andreax. We should be pretty close.
I sent you a PM

[andreax1985]

I'm afraid I only have this one. It's a circular saw but it's hand held:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Professional-Hand- Held-Circular-1400/dp/B002X68KAQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=diy&ie=UTF8&qid=1507297463&sr=1-1&keywords=Bosch+circular+saw

can it be of any help?