Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Almostpighunter on January 13, 2012, 03:21:49 am
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Got some osage staves in the mail today and they have some bug holes in them. I planned to back these with sinew anyway (will be a first so wish me luck) so I'm not overly worried, but I can actually see a couple of bug butts in the holes (bugs are larger than I would have thought having never seen them before) and I was wondering if they pose any kind of danger to infesting the house? Like termites? I really want to make a couple of bows out of these beautiful pieces of wood but it isn't worth it if they could possibly infest the house.
Also they smell like manure, but I figure that is due to the guy I got them from having seasoned them in a working barn. If this is not the case please let me know.
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i found the same in some staves i got although i knew thisahead of time, the size of the still surprised me and scared me thinking of the wood holding the house together. so i lit an old junky candle and plopped them in >:D, no more bugs ;D
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I would just spay them with some good bug spray,some of the wood wasp[we call them ] are large and very ugly. I doubt they will infest the house but will get into other staves[bark on] if you have some close. Also they will keep eating till you kill them so I would do that ASAP. Even tho you are backing they will tunnel into the wood and give you weak spots. :) I have had them turn a whole pile of Osage into sawdust /swiss cheese. :) :) :) HATE UM >:(
Pappy
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Do they freeze out in the winter?
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"Do they freeze out in the winter?", no you can't count on that.
If you don't have bug spray a liberal dose of mineral spirits will probably do the trick...and keep 'em away from the fire ;)
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I am working hard to debark the staves I cut a year ago because some of the have worms and I am draw knifing them out. And making sure that they are all gone before I store them in the house.
My question is do do they weaken the wood if they have been removed because of some secretion or something or is the wood OK after they have been removed?
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I don't think they weaken the wood John. I've made lots of bows with bug holes in the limbs. Watch out for the ones that go sideways, they're the bow killers. I know it's weird, but I get some kind of perverse satisfaction when I'm removing wood and cut through them. >:D
George
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I would just spay them with some good bug spray
Any brand you care to mention?
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Also they smell like manure, but I figure that is due to the guy I got them from having seasoned them in a working barn. If this is not the case please let me know.
I cut some black locust that had some big grub or worm things eating it, and it smelled horrible.
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I do also G. I like getting them out! I have been making blanks out of the staves and checkin to make sure that none are still in. Funny how some have worms and others dont when stacked in the same place. It is a lot of work removing the bark from a pile of staves but that is a good problem. I know it has to be done this month before anymore damage occurs. I have been knifing one per day.
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As discussed above the small worm holes you can usually work with. Those 'grubs' that Toomanyknots mentioned were likely wood borers, they will destroy good wood, and they love locust.
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I just finished removing the bark and sapwood on this stave and found this guy on the side under a slab of wood I pulled off. I got luck because he only went 1/4 inch in on the side. I found most only went one or two rings in and stopped. I thought this was a good example of what we are talking about.
(http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m559/iowabow2/2012-01-13155702.jpg)
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Mine smell fine must be the barn thing. Here is a picture of the finished stave.
(http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m559/iowabow2/2012-01-13162003.jpg)
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Ya'll are making me wanna go cut some wood so bad... I have a love hate relationship with cutting osage,.. hate in the beginning, and then love at the end after it is cut sealed and seasoning in my work room upstairs.
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Bug damage normally looks worse than it is. Here's a billet I traded away last fall.
Before:
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6132/5955900617_24f573ca03_z.jpg)
After:
(http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6126/5956462034_bcf8aeed65_z.jpg)
Less than 30 minutes between those 2 pictures. Borers are just an annoyance. I'd never throw wood away from bugs unless it was just too shallow to make a bow from and still remove them.
George
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Thanks for all the replies guys!
@gstoneberg : Great pair of pics there, makes me feel that there will be hope for the staves.