Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: FRITZ 86 on April 12, 2014, 09:25:50 pm
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Just got back from the land of Oz and managed to find and cut these two osage logs. They are 70" long and 6-7" diameter sealed with three coats of shellac. I looked long and hard for these as an "osage newbie" they were not easy to find! Bark runs straight, no obvious cat faces, and no large limbs. I was going to let them set awhile before I split them, but am unsure how long. Just trying to keep them twisting and warping too much. These didn't come from a hedge row, but from a "osage orchard" according to my farmer friend. All of your opionions and comments are appreciated. I am really excited to try my hand at some yellow wood even though it will be awhile before it's dried.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/20140412_163354_zpsu0krb43l.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Fritz86_bucket/media/20140412_163354_zpsu0krb43l.jpg.html)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/20140412_163502_zpsfkrylmtr.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Fritz86_bucket/media/20140412_163502_zpsfkrylmtr.jpg.html)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/20140412_163411_zpsooig8zq7.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Fritz86_bucket/media/20140412_163411_zpsooig8zq7.jpg.html)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/20140412_163453_zpsyr3mceai.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Fritz86_bucket/media/20140412_163453_zpsyr3mceai.jpg.html)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/20140412_163428_zpsmch9soql.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Fritz86_bucket/media/20140412_163428_zpsmch9soql.jpg.html)
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Looking at the bark, I don't think there is a lot of twist in those two! I like'em for that!
Early to late wood ratios are amazing, I love'em for that!
Well done, young Jedi!
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I would at least split them in half now or they might start splitting in ways you wont like.
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Looks like some good stuff. They are telling you where they want to split. Listen to them and half them at least. If you take the bark and sapwood off seal the backs just like you did the ends. Keep them out of the sun and heat or they will check no matter how much sealer you have on them.
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Looks like the logs are showing you where to split. OO 's advice is the same as mine. Curious as to what the center of the heartwood looks like with those dark splits on the end.
Tracy
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Thks fellows! I will half them tomorrow and move them indoors. Probably wait awhile to remove bark and sapwood too busy! Guess that's ok?
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It will be fine to leave it on. It will be harder to remove when it dries
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Those look like some great osage logs. That dusty Kansas osage is supposed to be some of the best. When you do get around to removing the bark and sapwood, seal the backs as best as you can.
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Thks . One question should I try to split the one with 3 cracks in 3rds?
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You can if you want. It won't hurt anything. The splits should be big enough to where they won't warp or twist to bad.
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You did terrible! Mail those to me at once so you won't have such an eyesore laying around! Doubt there's a bow in any of that stuff. ;)
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U a hoot bro! I shed alot of sweat and some blood for those two! Come hell or high water I'm making some kind of bows out of them. Thks for the comments fellows. Will post some more pics after I get to work on them.
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Fine logs. Split into quarters, as osage doesn't like being left in log form. Start wedges on the black splits in the end grain. They should be pretty darn perfect.
Hamish.
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-YOU- are a lucky man. They call California the Golden State but all the GOLD is back east. :-\
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Got up and got them split into halves. I think the grain runs pretty straight. The halves came out pretty equal. Pretty humid here in Louisiana so I'm bringing them into my central air house. I was thinking about leaving it in halves and letting it dry awhile before splitting into quarters. Trying to keep them from bowing and twisting too much. Is that the right train of thought with osage? That's how I do with my hickory.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/20140413_093038_zpsc23xqjxl.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Fritz86_bucket/media/20140413_093038_zpsc23xqjxl.jpg.html)
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/20140413_093000_zpsschrqmrq.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Fritz86_bucket/media/20140413_093000_zpsschrqmrq.jpg.html)
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They look great, let the wood rest in the halves for a while.
Patience, "Grasshopper", patience... ;)
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Thks Paul! I'm beginning to learn that patience and building self bows go hand in hand.
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Patience is one of the most important tools for building wood bows but one of the hardest to learn. I know this for a fact from first hand screw-up. ;D
I would not bring the halves into your controlled environment of the house. Let them find moisture equilibrium in H/R of your area for a few weeks at least before you split them down into staves. Once the are drier you can reduce to bow size staves to cure out more. At that time take a stave or two and work them down to bow "preforms", to use a knapping term, and let them dry a bit more before building a bow.
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I'm envious brother, those are some sweet Osage halves. I hope the ones that I'm going to cut next weekend are that nice. I have been following this post and have learned a lot, thank you all for sharing all of your knowledge. Patrick
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Keep them cool more than dry now. If you let them cook in a garage or shed there is a very strong chance you get laminar cracks, they can and will ruin your entire stash. Trust me....
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Ok Pat and Pearlie I will leave them in my shop for a few wks. It doesnt get to hot this time of yr in there. By the middle of May the temps start to rise. Thks for the advice. I don't want to ruin this great wood before I even start.
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That red streaked sage is usualy the best of the best. Great haul!
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1/2 splits look good. If you want to insure success against bug damage and checking I would still split them into 1/4's, remove the bark and seal the back with 2 coats of pva. 6-7" is a really good diameter for bows, by splitting into quarters you will actually remove stress, yet the quarters will be still be meaty enough to resist twisting when drying. The only drying stresses you would now get is backset, which is a desirable quality in a bowstave. I have only had ever had trouble with twisting on really small dia 2-3" sapling staves, that got split into halves.
You don't have to take them to one growth ring yet, just get rid of the bark as they can hide bugs, buy the time the staves are seasoned you can get disappointed when you remove the bark to find holes into the heartwood.
Once you get them to this stage they will dry quicker and you can decide on a good ring, and learn how to follow one ring, at your leisure. You can work on a unseasoned stave, as long as you reseal the back if you working on a growth ring.
They are good staves.
Hamish
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Thks Hamish. I will work on them some more this wk.
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-YOU- are a lucky man. They call California the Golden State but all the GOLD is back east. :-\
Funny, hard to think of Kansas as "back east" but I guess it's all relative... ;)
There was a fellow used to drive out to Mojam from the pacific north west . He'd bring yew and vine maple and trade for osage. Good trades for all involved.
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Wow, that looks like some beautiful Osage. Way to go and congratulations.
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I found this orchard while hunting on a piece of my farmer buds land. What really excites me now after hearing that these are good quality logs from you guys who know, is that there is a whole lot more from where that came from. I will be trying to bring some back every trip up there now. Thanks again for all the comments and help along the way. I will post some more pics when I quarter them and rip off the bark. :)
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Finally got time to get the halfs split into quarters. Got the bark off but didn't have time to get all the sapwood off. Sealed the backs with shellac will continue to work down to one ring on the quarters as I get time. Hopefully, I can get 5 or 6 bows out of this haul.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p195/Fritz86_bucket/20140417_1806581_zpsfc286d67.jpg) (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/Fritz86_bucket/media/20140417_1806581_zpsfc286d67.jpg.html)
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Those are looking good man! I'm sure you will get some good boys out of them! Nice job! Patrick