I posted about this fence post i found about a year ago i was gonna use for firewood (even tried to cut a slice off with my hand saw . . . see below), and a couple months ago i decided to take a closer look, and yup it was osage.
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/bodarkpost1.jpg)
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/bodarkpost2-1.jpg)
So i began the process of cutting away all the rotten stuff and found this underneath:
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/bodarkpostcleand2.jpg)
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/bodarkpostcleand.jpg)
She's about 2-1/4" wide down to about 1-1/2" at the end, 30" long. Do you see a bow in there?!?! She's screaming for it
![Evil >:D](http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/evil.gif)
I considered finding another billet, but i really wondered if i could rip down center and splice for a symmetrical character bow. Now, how do you mark a clear line on something as wavy and dark as this? My solution was i put my pencil on a roll of masking tape at the center, then spun the tape to make a center line all around, pulled the tape off, and repeated till i had about 30+ inches of centermarked tape. Then i applied the tape down the center, being careful to follow the natural grain of the wood, Presto!
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120326_001.jpg)
Now to the bandsaw!
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120326_002.jpg)
This is what i envisioned when i first saw her raw beauty . . .
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120326_003.jpg)
Now there are some problem areas, a borer at the handle section:
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120330_003.jpg)
Solution? I conveniently laid out my splice so it came off
![Grin ;D](http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/grin.gif)
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120330_001.jpg)
Did I mention this is my first splice? Well, this is my first splice. You more experienced folks will probly say it needs some work, but I'm ok with it
![Wink ;)](http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120331_005.jpg)
** You can see at the bottom of the above pic, and the right of the below pic where my saw reached down when i thought she was firewood. This is gonna work into the fades and may be completely gone, or left as a beauty mark and reminder of where she came from (as if she needs any more of that)
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120403_001.jpg)
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120403_005.jpg)
Here is how the splice looks after working down some of the wood on the belly and the last ring on the back . . .
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120406_002.jpg)
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120406_003.jpg)
I went with a W splice for maximum gluing surface, even though it's more difficult.
There's a little of the old ring left on parts of the W, but it's gonna be a stiff handle so no biggie.
Here's where she stands now, you can see i induced a touch of backset in the handle with the splice, the rest of the curves are au naturale!!!
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120407_001.jpg)
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120407_003.jpg)
![](http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd374/k-hat/120407_005.jpg)
What i'm shooting for is a D cross-section bow (somewhat anyway), she's gonna be about 1-1/16" for most of the width in the limbs.
Well, that's all for now. I'll post more as she progresses.