Chasin osage rings

[bigcountry]

I have been chasing a ring on a osage stave.  I have been real careful with this stave as its tight ringed on one end and not on the other.  Figured it was part of a limb.  Anyway, do you guys go after a particular ring all at once or one ring at a time?  Or it depends?

I have only done this twice.  So sure no expert.  But I have been (up until now) taking off several rings down to the one ring above the one I want.  I then carefully remove the last ring.

Just wanting an opinion or two.

[Hillbilly]

It's probably better to go slow and carefully, taking it down a ring at a time. With that said, I usually take a hammer and chisel to the end of the stave right above the target ring to get it started, then attack it with a draw knife and peel off bark, sapwood, and the whole pile of rings at once. I pry under the wood and rip pieces two feet long off if I can as I go down the stave. I do occasionally gouge the target ring around a knot or something, if so, then I just take it down to the next one. Beats spending hours chasing a ring.

[JackCrafty]

I hate chasing rings...that's my opinion.

Seriously,  I do what you guys do:  take off a bunch of rings at first and then carefully remove the last ring.

[bigcountry]

I hate chasing rings...that's my opinion.

Seriously,  I do what you guys do:  take off a bunch of rings at first and then carefully remove the last ring.

Honestly, I find it theroputic.  Tillering can be agravating.  Sanding and finishing, tedious.  I love shooting.  But when I am in a bad way, I go out to my garage, and start draw knifing, I feel much better.

[possum]

I love chasing rings.  Besides, when you're new at it it helps to go one at a time to get used to it so when you get down to the one you want you have more practice.

Having said all that... I did have one stave crying and begging to be a bow so I went as fast as I could to the ring above where I wanted then took my time to get down to my chosen ring.

possum

[JackCrafty]

You know that feeling you get the day before payday....when you've worked your butt off all week (or two) and you got no money to buy lunch?  That's me chasing a ring.

[Okie]

I was once an extremely unpatient person... until I started chasin' rings on tight Osage. I love doing it... it is a challenge and an addiction. It has taught me more about patience than anything else in my life. Sometimes I just sit in my chair in the shop and stare at my stave. I keep saying "you're not going to beat me...I'll be back" then just walk away. Before bow building I would have stuck it through the wall of my shop! Go slow and be patient, that is the key.


John

[Bowbound]

Normally i find the first suitable ring then quickly take it down to the ring or two outside that then i work starting right at one of the tips in towards the middle then from the middle to the other tip. It took me a while to get it right but i enjoy it now. It takes patience though... Lots of patience.