Crabapple?

[Hawkdancer]

Got after the crabapple log yesterday and split out a piece that looks sort of clean and could make 2 or3 staves.  Is is better to split staves now or let it cure a while then split?  Take bark off now?  How to seal ends back and belly?  That is real tough wood!!
Hawkdancer

[DC]

With green Pacific(Oregon) Crabapple I take the bark off and seal the back and end grain with shellac.I clamp it to a 2x4 and try and take any bend out so it, hopefully, will dry straight. All the crab I've gotten around here is kind of ropey looking under the bark. It's a really cool texture but be careful when debarking or it's easy to scrape(mark) the back.

[vinemaplebows]

I would leave the bark on myself....

[Hawkdancer]

Is it better to try to split off bow staves, or cut with a circular saw?  Being a newbie at bow making, I would like to get as many to staves as possible without making firewood of the whole log !
Hawkdancer

[Pat B]

If you know for sure that the stave is straight and not barber poled then sawing is an option. If it twists at all and you saw it the sawed stave will twist and probably the bow it will be.

[DC]

I try to split the log at least once. This will tell you if it's twisted.  If there is not too much you can saw the rest following the twist.

[vinemaplebows]

If you know for sure that the stave is straight and not barber poled then sawing is an option. If it twists at all and you saw it the sawed stave will twist and probably the bow it will be.

That is not true on all woods....