Dubois I like to try and keep anything from messing up my bow wood so I seal the ends immediatley and split them aand debark them as soon as possible for a couple of reasons.
1) Splitting soon because the more mass there is especially on larger logs the more likely they are to check on the ends even if sealed and I don't want the log to determine where I take the best possible stave out of it. 2) I split soon because I want the stave to dry out faster and if I give the moisture a belly to release in it is less likely to check and it will have less mass and therefore cure sooner.
Debarking I do as soon as possible because I want to elimnate the chances of bugs and once again I want there to be less mass in the wood when I store it so that it releases the moisture sooner. Another side benefit is that once its debarked and sealed, there is less work to do when I get ready to make a bow with it some time in the future. I know its alot of work but its worth it.
Blackhawk your right...it is fun
To those of the rest of you that don't live in osage heavan I understand your pain and am very grateful to live in a bow wood oasis. We literally have all sorts of different kinds of woods around here that will make servicable bows. Oak, ash, hackberry, osage,sycamore, ERC,pecan,walnut, both black and honey locust, hawthorne, mulberry and elm. It is not like that everywhere in Kansas but I know down here in Southern Kansas along the rivers and creek bottoms its a veritable smorgashboard of possiblities in these riperarian environemnts. Thats also why the deer and turkey hunting is so good.
Country....pecan is related to hickory, albeit not qutie as tough but it'll still make good bows. I am only interested in working with osage and hackberry at the moment . Where abouts you at? You might wanna come down and shoot the course with us some weekend when we get together to make bows and have fun. We host a couple non publicized events each year for a select group as well as shooting the course just about every weekend. The course I'm talking about is our stuffed animal course. Its a blast.
Rob I guess if it were me I would be doing some networking with someone in an area that has good bow wood and plan a trip once a year to gather what I thought I might need.
Greg....I am subconsciously planning my next foray already. Gotta keep that thing going like its on auto pilot. That way you never run out.
Thanks turtle and your welcome Chuck
