Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stick Bender on December 09, 2015, 09:16:01 am
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Hi I have a newbie question about seasoning osage ,I have a new stave that Im taking down to the ring above the one I want & ruffing to ruff bow dimentions so my question is how long at room tempreture will I have to season the ruff bow , any help is apreciated ? It was cut 12-3-15
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How old is the stave now ? I like at least a year from cutting but prefer 2 or 3 years or more. Don't get me wrong you can make a bow from it sooner I just rather not myself. :)
Pappy
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It was cut 12-3-15
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Be sure to seal the back/sides and ends good or it will likely check and I would give it at least a year if it was me. :)
Pappy
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Yep, like pappy said, one year minimum
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I am a very inexperienced new bowyer and have made two bows from Osage so far. The first from a one year old piece of Osage the second from a fifteen year old stave. I will definitely be seasoning all my staves at least two years or more from here on out.
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Like I said you can make a decent bow from less than year old wood ,and some will argue dry is dry but as for me older is better. If that is all I had to work with that might be another story but in my case it's not so I like to rough them in and give them a year or 2 and most time even more. :)
Pappy
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I made a bow a few years ago that was 2 months off the stump. The results were less than optimal. It can be done but you will get a better bow from seasoned wood. At least 1 year and more is better.
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I have another question for you guys appreciate the help this stave had the bark & sap wood on if I let this one set for a while should I debark & take the sap wood off or can I season as is ?
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Get the bark off to prevent borers setting up shop out of sight. Debarking and glue or some sealer to prevent checking is the safest bet.
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It has to be stored in a low humidity area. One year in 60-70% humidity isn't dry wood, 5 years in 60-70% humidity still isn't dry wood. 8-10 months in 30-40% is dry wood. The actual date cut and age is irrelevant if its not stored properly.
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Get the bark off to prevent borers setting up shop out of sight. Debarking and glue or some sealer to prevent checking is the safest bet.
Yep! I agree. Also leaving the sapwood on is just that much more wood that has to dry. Josh
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Ok thanks I will debark & take the sap wood off seal it & put this one in the bank I have three osage staves but only one is ready to go but its slight side ways bend & propeler twist been kinda hesetent to work on it at my skill level only made 5 bows but it looks like all roads are leading back to that one.
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Also was wondering if those same times apply to hickory or ash ruffed down to bow dimentions ? Im trying to get another bow up & running this winter & dont want to make another board bow. And have those staves cut last month.
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O'sage staves is like most bow woods. They season better with time. Like pappy
said you could make osage bow perty quick. Exspecially If you cut it down to bow fourm and finish drying it in a hot box.
This is how I made my first osage bow. From the time I cut split, cut it down,hot box. I was shooting a osage bow in 7,8 months. Then 23 years ago I was like you now. I just could'nt wait.
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I have made some good bows from wood not seasoned so long,, now that being said,, it will probably pick up weight as it does season,, and I think it depends on the wood from tree to tree,,seasoned is preferred,, but an osage bow made well from just dry wood,,,, can shoot pretty darn good,, at that time I didnt have any seasoned wood,, so I did the best I could,,, it will try to check in the handle and fades,, so you have to coat it with glue every time you work on it,, till its good and dry,, if you need something to kill a deer,, I promise he won't know the difference,, seasoned or no,, :)