Osage with sapwood?

[Blaflair2]

Has anyone ever just peeled the bark and used that as the back? Just thought the color contrast would be cool. Experiences? Knowledge?

[HickoryBill]

I have used the sapwood before as a back..But never just under the bark on an actual stave(usually to thick and weak)..Always chased it down to the trasition ring,or the "Creamcicle" ring..I did just use the sapwood directly under the bark for the back on a lower poundage "D" bow made from a large Osage sapling. Some guys on here have used the sapwwod for a back on Osage with no problems..In my expierence the sapwood on Osage is , for lack of a better term,soft and chalky...As long as the sapwood is sound and you use the right design,draw,and weight..etc. Ya might be ok..But why take the chance on a good piece of hedge...Just my 2 cents tho..

[JonW]

here's one I have pics of
http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,26379.msg354408.html#msg354408

[Blaflair2]

How did it shoot?

[George Tsoukalas]

I've only used sapwood when there was not enough heartwood as in saplings. No reason not to remove sapwood if you can. Jawge

[Blaflair2]

It just looks cool

[Pat B]

If you are sure the sapwood is sound it will work fine on the back of the bow. I would take it down to 2 or 3 sapwood rings but not just under the bark unless the sapwood was thin.

[Blaflair2]

I'll probly take it off. Was just curious as to opinions about the subject. I recall seeing a osage bow with sapwood and skins that made almost a white border around them. It was aweet

[Bryce]

I've got a few osage bows roughed out with thin sapwood. I love the sapwood, it's good stuff:)

[Josh B]

The sapwood is fine if the stave was appropriately stored and cared for.  The sapwood doesn't have the same rot resistance as the heartwood does.  That's where most sapwood problems start.  Josh

[okie64]

http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,36278.msg477374.html#msg477374

[George Tsoukalas]

One of the attractions of using usage is watching the color change with sapwood. Jawge

[Blaflair2]

Sweet little bow!

[okie64]

Thanks blaflair. Im pretty sure i just peeled the bark on that limb and used that for the back. My tiller wasnt great on that bow but Ive hunted with it for 2 years and it still shoots great and still holds the same 1.5" of reflex. If I have enough heartwood I usually chase a ring just because I like the color of it better. Maybe toomanyknots will chime in on this one, Hes made quite a few osage bows with sapwood.

[Blaflair2]

I was just wondering after cutting that osage tree. I had some nice pieces with sapwood on after I peeled the bark.