Fresh cut osage

[carpholeo]

So i just cut a nice piece of OO down, which isnt easy to do in S Cal. So now do i split and rough out, or grease the ends and wait?


Its the heartwood thats the good stuff on osage right?

[Dvshunter]

Seal the ends.  Split it and take the bark and white sapwood off and then seal the back. You can work it down to near bow dimensions then and it will dry faster or be patient and just wait it out. Nice log. And it's all good stuff for bows.

[okie64]

You'll get lots of different opinions on this so I'll just tell you what I would do. First and foremost seal the ends, split it in half and then let it sit for a year or so. And yes the heartwood is the good stuff if you have enough wood, if not a ring or 2 of sapwood on the back is fine too.

[Joec123able]

Ohh wow what a gorgeous piece of Osage

[osage outlaw]

Seal the ends.  Split it and take the bark and white sapwood off and then seal the back. You can work it down to near bow dimensions then and it will dry faster or be patient and just wait it out. Nice log. And it's all good stuff for bows.

I agree with DVS.  The sapwood is easier to remove when its fresh cut.  I usually put several coats of shellac or polyurethane on to seal up the ends and backs.

[Comancheria]

Nice log.  How long is it?

Russ

[carpholeo]

Thanks for info, the log is 70" and theres plenty more where that one came from. I think i counted 3 good size trees, but with all the big shoots its hard to tell where one tree stops and another starts.

[Aaron H]

I didn't realize osage grew in S. California.

[Comancheria]

From what I have heard, ANYTHING--with the possible exception of Reindeer Lichen-- will grow in Southern California--if it gets a little water.  In the Nineteenth Century, people planted it everywhere.

[carpholeo]

Im suprised it hasnt been spiked yet by some Habitat Restoration group

[carpholeo]

Got it split and roughing out, i love the color of this wood 

[osage outlaw]

Oooh    That's a lot of sapwood     Make sure and seal that baby up good or it will check on you.

[carpholeo]

They are usually mostly heartwood?

[osage outlaw]

On small diameter pieces like that it can vary.  The thicker the sapwood the more work it takes to remove it.  You can also leave a couple of rings of it on the bow if you want.  I've never done that but I've seen others who have.  Makes a nice color contrast on the bow.