You know, the stave that frustrates you from the get-go. Yeah, that one.
Started one today. The osage rings are narrow, but the early growth is almost nonexistent...ratio of early to late is good. But the back is concave on much of the stave, meaning chasing a ring with a drawknife is useless. I dug out a 3/4" beavertail gouge and went at chasing a ring. It kinda felt like doing a lifesize chainsaw carving of a grizzly using nothing but nail clippers. I jabbed a knife blade into a finger all the way to the bone while scraping early growth, then ran a sliver into the palm of the other hand (mmm, love that sting of osage oils), and then cut another finger on the sharp 90 degree edge of the stave.
But it seems that staves like this make me slow down. They almost always bring out the best in me.
The game plan is 64" nock to nock, stiff 4" handle, 1.5 inch fade outs, 1.5 inches wide at the fades tapering down to pencil thin tips. I will need to heat treat to remove some twist and I might bake in about an inch of reflex when I get to floor tiller. Not sure, but I might do this one as a straight taper pyramid since I seem to favor that design these days.
Will take some pics tomorrow.
