Ring question

[sleek]

In the last 10 years of me making bows, I only had this happen maybe 3 times. I got an osage stave that there is almost zero crunchy wood, and good amount of dense wood. You would think thats great! But..... no. Usually the rings peel off in long splinters shavings. These rings are flaking off in 2 and 3 inch sections before snapping brittle like. Im certain I can make a bow of it, but I will go wide and low poundage.  Yall ever have this happen?

[mutt]

I just chased a ring on a piece of Osage with super thin rings, both early and Late wood,
I was not getting any long splinters either. Just bits and pieces. The only way I could tell I was getting any progress at all was to look at the stave six different ways in six different shades of light.
Very tedious. Maybe your stave is very dry?

[gutpile]

wood must be extremely dry... gut

[Pat B]

Will you post a pic?
 When you get near to the ring you want to chase use a scraper instead of a draw knife. It may take a little linger but it may eliminate your problem.  Being too dry is a possibility also. Where are you and what is the average humidity?

[sleek]

The average humidity is 70.6% and the staves are stored in a non climate controlled, drafty barn.  Here in the image you can see how the shavings have just broken off rather than tearing and splintering like is typical.

[Pat B]

If that is osage I'd say that rot has set in. For one thing the color is way off from any osage I've seen.

[sleek]

Thats the sap you see there. It is rotted and bored through with wasps. The yellow wood still does that flaky stuff too. I didnt think heat wood could rot. Especially since the stave is probably 6 or 7 years old.

[Selfbowman]

I to think rot or decay. Arvin

[Pat B]

Every wood can rot. Some are more rot resistant than others.
Will you post pics of the heartwood?

[gutpile]

osage that old turns dark on outside.. yellow to peachy color to purple still bright yellow inside though...this kinda looks like black locust... definitely looks like bugs got into it.. can you chase down a few more rings?...gut

[Will B]

I had one osage stave (belly split) like that and had to go down a number of rings till I felt good about the back. It eventually failed on my tillering tree before I got it to full draw. The wood seemed exceptionally dry.