Author Topic: lighter colored outer rings of osage  (Read 1975 times)

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Offline d frana

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  • Posts: 23
lighter colored outer rings of osage
« on: December 02, 2008, 04:30:48 pm »
A friend and I have started work on an osage bow.The growth rings are all good and the same thickness.  We took off the
sapwood  and the first layer of wood under it looks good except it is a paler shade of yellow than we are used to using.  Looking at the edge of the stave we can see there are darker layers several rings under it.  It also has some grayish streaks in it that can be scraped right off but my friend likes them.
   My question is if you think the pale yellow wood will be strong enough, or if we should go down farther into the darker wood?

Offline Ryano

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  • Ryan O'Sullivan, North Western Pennsylvania
Re: lighter colored outer rings of osage
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2008, 09:10:48 pm »
It'll be OK. The tree was probally just turning that ring from sapwood to heart wood as it grows bigger.  I've seen plenty of Osage bows with actual sapwood backs with no ill effects so I would say it should be no problem.
Its November, I'm gone hunt'in.......
Osage is still better.....