worm holes in osage

[d frana]

I have a couple of osage staves, nice thick growth rings, straight, but the worms must have been really hungry, cause some of the worm holes go way into the heartwood so far that I can't get rid of them and still have working limbs.  Will sinew or some othe
type of backing save the bow?

[Ryan_Gill_HuntPrimitive]

i made a nice osage bow that had 2 worm holes all the way through from back to belly. they didnt seem to effect it too much and one day a tiny splinter lifted up from one so i glued it down with titebond 3 and wrapped both of them in sinew and coated the sinew with glue as well, it has not given me a single problem since. the 2nd hole never splintered but i wrapped it for good measure.
    you should be just fine if you wrap the limbs with sinew just over the holes and 3/4 inch above and below the hole.- Ryan

[El Destructo]

I have also used Osage with Holes....it seems that if they go straight in they don't bother the Limb as much as if the go through on an Angle....I would Back it just the same....use a thin Rawhide....Like Goat or deer to back it with....should be just fine......JMO

[venisonburger]

What about filling the holes with  super glue or epoxy, I have some oak that I left the bark on, I have worm holes going towards the belly and some tracks in the back. I was going to try filling them. or can I get by without.
VB

[Gordon]

I made a bow from osage that was full of worm holes. I filled the holes with a slurry made from superglue and sawdust. It worked beautifully and that bow is still shooting today.

[Pappy]

I've done the same as Gordon with no problems.
   Pappy

[TRACY]

I've used the dutchman's plug method also with good results, TB3 and fine sawdust. The sinew wrap and rawhide is is also effective choices. Just depends on what you want.