Old Wormy Osage Follow Along Finished!

[SLIMBOB]

Yeah, the other one is short, maybe 45 inches long.  I make a good many kids bows so that one is for that.

[Blaflair2]

I'm in the same boat as u. I found 3 old osage fence posts, leaning against an osage tree. Gotta haul em out this weekend. The sapwood is all gone but the log is solid. So hopefully mine are as nice as yours!

[SLIMBOB]

Sounds like a nice find. Post pictures when you can on them. I'd like to see them.

[George Tsoukalas]

SlimBob, glad you got a nice back. I had an osage stave like that once. Must be tasty wood for the bugs. Looking forward to more. Jawge

[Blaflair2]

So this is on of the ends cut off the fence post. Tiny tiny rings.

[Blaflair2]

Can u use dead standing osage?

[SLIMBOB]

I would guess yes.  Never done so, so it's just speculation, but lots of people have made them from old fence posts. I recall someone helped sadiejane a year or so ago with one (53 year old memory).  It would seem to me to be a matter of how much decay had taken place.  The stuff is very resistant to decay and insects, I can attest to that first hand, so It wouldn't scare me to try it.

[PaulN/KS]

Can u use dead standing osage?

Yep, and don't let the thin rings spook ya . If it's straight and you can get a clean ring you'll be ok.

[RyanR]

This gets better as it goes, glad to see the two nice staves.

[tipi stuff]

Uhhhh, Slim, I need those pieces of wood back up here. Okay, okay,,,, keep em. I don't usually season my own wood that way, but I am certainly happy to see these pieces are going to turn out well for you. CC

[SLIMBOB]

Oh, hey Curt.  Funny thing, these are mistakenly NOT the ones you and I....well, you carried out of the woods the other day.  Those were junk I'm afraid.  Completely worthless.  Not worth the effort we, well, you put into shagging them across the creek.  As it happens, I, funny story, found these on the side of the road at an antique stand on the way home from your place.  I know, darned the luck.  Ok, none of that is true, except the part about you carrying them out and even that is a half truth, as I did carry the smaller one.   Owe you one! 

[SLIMBOB]

I took coarse sand paper and cleaned the knot up.  Really hard wood on the knot.  Took an awl and cleaned the punk out of the center.  Looks like it'll have a hole clean thru it.  Got my center line drawn free hand as it a bit snakey.  I'm throwing this out for suggestions...my thoughts on this one is a longish bendy handle.  The knot is an issue but workable I'm sure especially if I get it bending through the handle.  66 inches long, 1 1/4 to 1 3/8 inches wide for the middle third and taper to 3/8 inch at the tips.  That's the plan but, but it's open for debate.

I don't have the knot to contend with on the other sister, but it's a bit snakier.  It will be a Holmie at this point.

[Blaflair2]

I took a small sapling that was dead standing. Maybe 1" round. I couldn't break it in half. Even stepping on it. I'm gonna make a sweet walking stick with that one. But there is a load of fallen cut and dead standing trees I found! I'm gonna be a busy beaver dragging them the 1/2 mile through the woods!

[SLIMBOB]

Now people will ask you if they can use dead standing...and you'll have the answer.  Good luck with it.

[owlbait]

Thanks for all the info and pics slim.