Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: hilltophickory on June 06, 2013, 10:16:22 pm
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I recently purchased an 8ft osage post off a fence builder it was cut in February this year and someone debarked it , QUESTION IS its got cracks throughout the length of the post on the exposed sap wood will I be able to chase the cracks away ? most of the time I get my own wood and don't let this happen is all well still with it I haven't cut it into staves yet?
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Only one way to find out.... ;)
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Should be able to get under them. Pics?
Tracy
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What soy said. ;)
Pappy
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Ill try get pics on .
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Be sure to keep the shellac handy and coat any place you remove the cracked sapwood from quickly or you will be chasing more cracks down into the heart wood.
I fill any cracks I find on green wood with super glue even if I plan to go down a couple more rings later. The super glue stops a crack from expanding as the wood dries. Often I will wet a staves back to make even the most insignificant crack show up so I can give it a dose of super glue.
If you don't get all the way through the cracks you will probably still have usable wood. Longitudinal cracks in osage aren't a problem. Fill them full of super glue and proceed with your bow making. The oldest bow I still have in my possession has 13 drying checks down the back, all filled with super glue and almost invisible now that the wood has turned dark chestnut.