Osage boards

[Steve Milbocker]

I have some osage logs a guy gave me. They have been cut for a long time and are very twisted. Do you think a  a guy could saw them into board staves then back them with something and be able to build a bow from them?

[Stingray45]

If you can get them in board form you should be fine, wouldnt need to back them unless you wanted to. I have been trying to find a lumber yard here in NOVA with osage lumber for a while, its hard to come by. If you want them in board form and dont want to work with the stave you could always take it to a saw mill and have them rip it down for you. I will say you get the best looking character bows from those twisty logs. Theyre fun to work with.

[Frode]

Any chance of some pictures?  As a new convert to straightening, I couldn't help wondering if they couldn't be untwisted, if the grain was good.
Frode

[Steve Milbocker]

I'll try to post some pics in the next few days.

[Pat B]

If they are too twisty for staves they are probably too twisty for boards. You will have a lot of waste.   Pic will really help!

[wundabred]

definitely mill it up, man.  Use hickory backing strips about 3/16 thick.  Use quarter sawn or rift sawn...the twist or swirly grain will give you some hassles but improve your skilz.