Found a BIG Osage.....

[highpoint forge]

Gonna do that.

[Eric Krewson]

I use shellac exclusively for sealing ends and backs. I have found it to be the best sealer for a number of reasons.

[red hill]

I also use shellac. In a spray can, it's easier than brushing and faster.

[scrub-buster]

With a tree that big you would spend a fortune on spray cans.

[highpoint forge]

I hate the overspray on my hands and watch, and up my nose!

[John Scifres]

Eric nailed it on starting at the first limbs.  You'll definitely maximize yield.  

You will have some bug damage but they generally stop after a inch or two of the heartwood.  But some bugs seem to go right through it.  I see bug holes in places.  You might want to cut a section that is in the area that won't make it for bow wood (like past the limbs) and then explore how much damage they have done.  Find a bug hole and saw an inch or two in and see what they have done.

You can thin store bought shellac by half and still seal the wood.  Use denatured alcohol.  Good tip on searching for mis-tints (often called "Oops"es) at the hardware store.  I got a $60 gallon of polyurethane for $7.50 doing that one time.

Good find.  Take pics of the process.

John

p.s. 66" circ. is 21" dia.  That's a huge tree!  I would never cut one down that big but I sure would try to salvage one.  Save the firewood too.

[highpoint forge]

Cool! I'm in contact with the proper individual to rescue it. Shouldn't be long now. What do you think about that gnarly base?

[red hill]

Haven't found a tree that size. Tie a bandana over my face. And I don't where a watch. LOL!
You're right it isn't cheap. But it is quick and easy.

[Eric Krewson]

Cut your first log where the base turns into a normal trunk without all the gnarly stuff.

On the tree in my pictures I had the same type of base but good straight wood above the stump. After I got all my straight logs loaded I went back and cut the gnarly part off the stump.

I made sure I could cut a billet length section of the gnarly base or about 42". I later split the best parts of this base into billets, trashed the unusable stuff.