Stave sources drying up

[JW_Halverson]

Between shipping getting so expensive and my stave sources drying up, I have kinda run out of osage sources. I found one guy on Facebook, but he's asking $190 a stick and that's for run-of-the-mill stuff, nothing special!!!

It is at the point that I am looking for someone that has a large stock and I'll drive to get it! I figger that if I drive somewhere with this new KIA that gets pretty good gas mileage, I will come out well ahead of the game buying a dozen or more staves.

Anyone got a stack they wanna sell or know of someone?

[bjrogg]

I really miss the primitive archery meet in Michigan for so many things I bought and traded for. Shipping is so expensive for stuff like staves and rock. I learned after my first meet. Take any fun money I could scrape together. Fill the tank with gas when I get there so I have enough to get home . And spend the rest.

It’s so much nicer to see what you are getting. To talk with the people. Become life long friends. It’s the best way I know of to buy or trade for stuff I can’t find myself.

JW I don’t really have any Osage I d be willing to give up, but if you want to drive the KIA here I can hook you up with some pretty nice HHB

Bjrogg

[scp]

I would love to visit a hedge post company somewhere, but the one in Kansas is over a thousand miles away from me. I sure hope its owner to get interested in wooden bow making or to go into bow stave business.

[Eric Krewson]

Driving to Mojam would be your best bet for picking up a lot of staves, of course you will have to wait until next year now.

[PaulN/KS]

Driving to Mojam would be your best bet for picking up a lot of staves, of course you will have to wait until next year now.

Yep, plenty of hedge at Mojam... there's also Ojam in March down in Oklahoma.

[osage outlaw]

I haven't cut much osage for the last few years.  I kind of got burnt out on it.  I've sold most of the good stuff I had on hand.  The new shipping charges on long packages has made me want to not ship anymore staves. 

[JW_Halverson]

Driving to Mojam would be your best bet for picking up a lot of staves, of course you will have to wait until next year now.

I was told not a single stave dealer was at Mojam this year. The person stated that they thought the gas prices kept them away. That leaves me scratching my head since they probably didn't have to drive over 200 miles and I was looking at dropping at least $1K on staves after driving for a minimum 12 hours and 800 miles one way! But now I have started a new job and have no availability for time off until winter and I just need to get my plans made.

SCP, Kansas is some of the closest wood to me, care to divulge your source?

Bjrogg, HHB is a wood I have always coveted and have never used. I am interested, that's for sure. Hit me with a private message, let's talk. Who knows, I might do an extended trip through Illinois/Indiana and up to Michigan if I have to!

 

[JW_Halverson]

I haven't cut much osage for the last few years.  I kind of got burnt out on it.  I've sold most of the good stuff I had on hand.  The new shipping charges on long packages has made me want to not ship anymore staves.

That's tough news for me, for sure. I have always had implicit trust in your judgment in wood. Every stick from you has been reliable stuff. But I get it, I understand being burnt out. Even becoming burnt out on something that you deeply love and kind of defines you. I have not told a whole lot of people this and I have certainly not gone into depth with more than three people, but this spring I resigned from the nonprofit I started and I am no longer associated with the Black Hills Raptor Center whatsoever. The wound is still fresh and bleeding, but I am not regretting the decision since it was what I had to do to save myself.  Clint, do what YOU have to do to maintain your mental health and balance. You ain't no good to yourself and those that count on you if ya don't.

You have my utmost respect and admiration, as well as brotherly love.

[PaulN/KS]

Driving to Mojam would be your best bet for picking up a lot of staves, of course you will have to wait until next year now.

I was told not a single stave dealer was at Mojam this year. The person stated that they thought the gas prices kept them away.

There may not have been any "dealers" but there were plenty of guys,myself included, who had staves for sale. if Ojam happens next March there should be some guys selling staves there.

[bownarra]

Think yourself lucky...getting osage here in the UK is no longer worth it. If you are just making bows for yourself fair enough....to get a stave here is best part of £150. Then is it going to be any good???

[JW_Halverson]

Think yourself lucky...getting osage here in the UK is no longer worth it. If you are just making bows for yourself fair enough....to get a stave here is best part of £150. Then is it going to be any good???

Yeah, there is that one stave dealer in Hungary that has loads of it, but you are too far to drive over in the evening after work and pick through his pile. Though I have heard his quality is pretty good.

[JW_Halverson]

Driving to Mojam would be your best bet for picking up a lot of staves, of course you will have to wait until next year now.

I was told not a single stave dealer was at Mojam this year. The person stated that they thought the gas prices kept them away.

There may not have been any "dealers" but there were plenty of guys,myself included, who had staves for sale. if Ojam happens next March there should be some guys selling staves there.

I am gonna keep OJAM on my radar, but that is getting to be a VERY long drive.

[Flntknp17]

This is what drove me to start working mostly on bamboo backed bows several years ago.....I can run down to the local sawmill or hardwood lumber store and find excellent hickory or hard maple for maybe $8 per bow stave or so.  I know it isn't quite as "cool" as osage staves, but it keeps me making durable bows for small $$

[bownarra]

Yes ipe boards will be available for a while yet
BBI will make any bow.

[bambule]

Think yourself lucky...getting osage here in the UK is no longer worth it. If you are just making bows for yourself fair enough....to get a stave here is best part of £150. Then is it going to be any good???

Yeah, there is that one stave dealer in Hungary that has loads of it, but you are too far to drive over in the evening after work and pick through his pile. Though I have heard his quality is pretty good.

I´ve bought from that hungarian dealer some years ago - we bought a 1/4 truckload of staves with some friends - costs have been ~ 80 ,-€ per Stave an you could get 2 bows from one stave in most cases. One of our best professional Bowyers here in Germany gets his stuff from the hungarian source. It`s up to premium quality - even the normal once are pretty good.
But I´m not longer interessed in paying a lot of money for staves when I can get other wood for free or less money. I try to get the best out of the wood and I use methods like firehardening to get better wood. That work fine for me even that I know that Osage is fantastic stuff for wooden bows and as I always say: Osage likes to bend :-)

Greetz
Cord


PS: sorry for hijacking this thread