Since the snow has melted enough Robin and me went out shed hunting on our piece a while ago.While looking I rechecked on an 8 to 10 inch diametered osage I had been eye balling in the past. I cut it/split it and got 4 nice staves from it.Good thing about this time of year a lot of the sap is in the roots yet.
Here's my process:
After some trimming on the band saw I just lean them against a tree.Use a draw knife and a pocket knife and start in the middle of the stave.Pull bark and sapwood off while identifying the ring I want.I clean it up out to a foot from either end both ways.
![](https://i.imgur.com/3F4VSDn.jpg)
I then take it inside on my vise and clean up the ends.
![](https://i.imgur.com/YAKuURp.jpg)
Shavings and trimmings go into unloader bucket
![](https://i.imgur.com/btWn5sG.jpg)
One stave is a natural D/F with a huge knot in the center of stave.Look forward to that one.
![](https://i.imgur.com/FFv1RN9.jpg)
Here's the difference in color between freshly cut osage and 3.5 year old osage.
![](https://i.imgur.com/VwDwpbb.jpg)
I trim these staves up nicely on the band saw and shellack the ends and backs on all these staves and put them away in my shed.
PS....We found 3 large sheds.