Checking

[Wiester]

I took the bark off of the osage and some pieces started to check. Is this because the wood is drying too fast or what?  Thanks for any help

[Dano]

When removing the bark off a freash cut or cured stave, it is a good idea to seal it with shellac, elmers glue, Tite bond, whatever. Also it's a good idea to remove the sapwood and chase the first growth ring before sealing.

BTW, I've had cured staves check when I got them out here to a drier climate, now I wrap them in plastic for a while to slow the dring a bit.

[George Tsoukalas]

When chase to the ring I want I seal with the same material I'll finish the bow with. Jawge

[John Scifres]

Checking occurs when the wood on the ends or outside dries faster than the wood on the inside.  As wood dries, it shrinks.  Uneven drying causes internal stresses which often result in cracks or warping.  If you remove the bark from a stave, the outside dries very quickly.  

It is best to remove the sapwood on osage at the same time you remove the bark.  This is because sapwood contains a lot of moisture and loses it very quickly.  

It is also best to either let the stave dry for a very long time with the bark on or seal the outside and the ends with shellac.

I highly recommend Dean Torges' book "Hunting the Osage Bow" (www.bowyersedge.com) for great instructions on how to take osage from tree to bow.  Spend the $20 or so and really learn this.

Have fun.

[Don Stokes]

Ditto on Dean's book. I'm re-reading it now, having just bought one of Dean's bows. Mine was made while the book was being written, which gives it added relevance for me. Dean is a master of the language, and his book is worth reading for the entertainment value, whether you want to build a bow or not. I think I'm the third owner of this particular bow, and it shoots just like I hoped it would. It was made in '96 and is still going strong. I have arrows for it in the fletching jig right now.

[Roy Steele]

I make sure my staves are well seasoned before I start.When you take the bark off you also need to take the sap wood.Then just keep it out of the sun.You never have to seal the back if it's well seasonded.If the back gets cracks then it was'nt seasonded enough.