Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Sidewinder on March 09, 2012, 01:00:57 am
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I figured that with turkey season only a couple weeks away, I had better get off my butt and get this years bow wood harvest underway. The bugs and snakes are still in their dens and the foliage is down, so nows the time.
I have been looking at this tree for the past 4yrs. Its osage orange, about 16" diameter. It is straight for about 7ft and has one clean side for that length. I decided to talk to the land owner and asked him if I could harvest the tree and take the trunk for bow wood and the rest will heat our home next winter. He not only said yes but he also agreed to help my drop it, as it would require getting it to fall on the trail, away from where it would normally want to fall.
It was in a draw that is a dry creek runoff most of the time, but during the wet season runs a little stream down hill. It was tucked away with protection from the prevailing north./ south winds and was at one time under the growth canopy of a very large elm ( that is now all gone except the 28" stump). I think that is what caused it to grow straight.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg233/KsDanny/Pleasantvalleyhedge.jpg)
Heres the log on the ground
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg233/KsDanny/076.jpg)
Here is the shot of the butt end. It looks about 86yrs old. It also looks like the first 18-20yrs were pretty lean for it while it took root under the elm. The middle growth rings were micro thin but after about 20yrs it started putting on some really nice 1/8-1/16" rings.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg233/KsDanny/077.jpg)
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It looks like it will yield 7 nice staves and a fat couple of billet splits that should yield 2 sets of twins.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg233/KsDanny/079.jpg)
I will get them debarked in the next week or so and then they will go into the wood shed with the rest of their cousins and await their turn at becoming bows. Here is the shed.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg233/KsDanny/079.jpg)
Here is a view of some of my stash in the shed
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg233/KsDanny/086.jpg)
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg233/KsDanny/087.jpg)
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Hear is the shed I dry my wood in. At one time 60yrs ago it was a full time cattle feeder, but now its the best wood shed I could ever hope for.
(http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg233/KsDanny/083.jpg)
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You can get belly splits off most of those staves. It don't take much osage to make a good bow.
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Yeah Pat, I figured I could but since I have'nt yet I figure conservatively I would get 7 for sure. I'm not normally too hot on billets but I just could'nt pass on these. I have an abundance of full length staves already but the billets look so clean I figured "maybe takedown material".
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Yes Sir!
That's some Purty Wood!
And a Darn Fine Stash!
:)
-gus
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Very nice stash!!!
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Nice! Let me know if you're willing to part with a stave :laugh:
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Hey, if you arent too very attatched to those billets... We could work something out? Serrously...
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Thanks guys, theres a lot of work in them there staves. I suppose we could work something out on a set of the billets and maybe a stave or two from the stash. The staves would be good workable stuff but not without a bit of twist or a knot or two. I did'nt really post this for that reason, but if a guy r two was running short we could work out something I'm sure. Danny
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Good looking haul,ought to make some mighty fine bows. :)
Pappy
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Sweet haul danny...im jealous cus I've been dying to go out n cut some serious wood...spring is almost here...its so close I swear I can taste the chips from my saw ;D
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I have found matched billets to be the best bow wood out there. Pretty easy to get 40" of clear wood out of an osage tree, 65"-72" not so easy.
Mike McGuire told me they didn't fool with billet wood and sold truckloads at very reasonable prices. Wish Mike lived closer so could relieve him of some of his unwanted wood.
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Very nice, looks like you've got a real nice spot there.
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Nice haul Danny. Looks like you are set for a good year of bowmaking. I'm sure you will turn them into some fine bows. Now the fun part of removing the bark and sapwood starts. :)
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Thanks guys. I'm pleased. do I have a takedown somewhere in my future. I've got the sleeve just haveont tackled yet. so I will probably hang on to one of them.
Clint you are right. when it comes time to debark thats when the real work begins. I kinda enjoy it so long as I don't have to do 30 of em. Gets my midsection firmed up a little after a soft winter. Its good low impact resistance excersize and so long as you let the draw knife do the work and not try and over power it it can be a reasonabley good work out. If any of my buddies come by I challenge their man hood and try and get some labor out of em. You know how it is.
Now that I can post pictures I may post anopther topic on my last bow and the one I am finishing. Danny
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That's about as clean as osage comes. Nice haul there and stash!
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Thanks Paul. I try to be reeeeal selective on what I cut so that I'm not putting tremendous work into marginal bow wood. As I look through my stash I see alot of marginal stuff and remeber how much work went into it. I figure it takes as much work on great stuff as it does marginal so I might as well be picky if I ican. Danny
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wow that was a great looking log. Nice stash. Enjoy yourself and I look forward to seeing some of the bows you get out of that.
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thanks Gaur. I have been doing a little debarking last couple days. I will probabely post the final #'s on stave count when I'm done. Then I can get back to finishing my little hackberry project. i had hoped to have it all done before OJam next week but I'm running out of time. Danny