Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: carpholeo on March 14, 2015, 12:29:02 am

Title: Question about Osage
Post by: carpholeo on March 14, 2015, 12:29:02 am

So i cut this really nice straight  unknoted osage log which was growing almost horizontal, my question is where would you take your stave out of this piece, the area i circled ?  or  from another part of the log.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v603/r33s33/stuff/osagestave_zpsr8iw8w8s.jpg)

Title: Re: Question about Osage
Post by: Sidewinder on March 14, 2015, 02:09:44 am

Whats the diameter? If its 4" or better you can get 3 easymaybe 4. I would take mine first good ring past the sap wood but then you'll probabley have Sleek jump in there and say " use the sapwood"  :)and thats fine if'n your looking to make it look like yew with the sapwood/heartwood thing going on but I like heartwood on osage because its just flat out prettier and I think stronger than the sapwood.

Might wanna seal those ends with something I think I see a check starting to develop.

Title: Re: Question about Osage
Post by: Chief RID on March 14, 2015, 06:58:05 am

I want to watch this thread.

Title: Re: Question about Osage
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on March 14, 2015, 08:35:10 am

Green are split lines and red is the bows back.

Title: Re: Question about Osage
Post by: Pat B on March 14, 2015, 09:24:53 am

If it is 2" to 3" I'd split(or saw) it in half. The way I've done osage poles is to saw it in half(if not twisted) and bind it back together with air spacers between and let it dry.

Title: Re: Question about Osage
Post by: Dances with squirrels on March 14, 2015, 09:29:45 am

I would take one right where the red circle is. That would be my #1 choice. That's the tension side and if you remove the bark and sawood, and the bulk of the excess while it's green, the stave can pull itself into considerable reflex as it dries. If you dead-center that stave on the tension side, the reflex will pull straight. The transition wood on the sides? Not so much.

Title: Re: Question about Osage
Post by: crooketarrow on March 14, 2015, 10:28:22 am

 I cut all my osage staves 2 1/2, 3 inchs. So I'd  SPLIT as many out of the log as I can. Osage when seasoned can lose 1/4,3/8'' in 10 to 20 years. Even if you seel the whole bow.

Title: Re: Question about Osage
Post by: carpholeo on March 14, 2015, 03:47:55 pm

This log is 4" on one end and 3" on the other and 7' long , I just want to make sure i get the best stave possible from this piece of wood.

Title: Re: Question about Osage
Post by: dbb on March 14, 2015, 06:00:25 pm

Ii looks like the log have a start to split it at 7 o clock unless that is a sawmark....

Title: Re: Question about Osage
Post by: bradsmith2010 on March 14, 2015, 06:51:10 pm

i would like to know the diameter and see a pic of the whole log before I make a suggestion on how to split :)