Got A Osage Log; Looking to go Primitive

[scooter135]

So here in KS Osage is everywhere, I have a 6' log of Osage that I was thinking of trying to build a primitive long now out of it. Never have done it before but with as much wood that I have from that login figured I have enough for at least 3 attempts. Anyone have any good resources for this type of build. I know I need to let the log dry and to seal the ends. I also have read that doing a Osage primitive bow is harder than doing a Hickory on due to the rings and also having to find and chase a single ring. Thanks y'all.

[J.F. Miller]

buy a copy of "Hunting the Osage Bow" by Dean Torges. covers the process from start to finish. from selecting a tree, drying wood, design and tillering, finish work. it's all there. I use it like a textbook when I have newbies in my shop.

[Pat B]

I agree about Dean's book. It covers it all.
 I'd split the log in half, seal the ends and set it aside to season. Be sure it is off the ground and under cover. After a month or so you can reduce each half to staves. You can remove the bark and sapwood, seal the back, reduce the stave to almost bow size and it should dry quicker.

[John Scifres]

Splitting:   http://sticknstring.webs.com/wood2009.htm

Roughout:   http://sticknstring.webs.com/roughout.htm

Let it dry.

Practice on a board bow or two while you wait:   http://sticknstring.webs.com/ferretsboardbow.htm

Tiller 101:   http://sticknstring.webs.com/tiller101.htm

From Blank to Bow:  http://hedgerowselfbows.webs.com/fromblanktobow.htm

Finishing:   http://web.archive.org/web/20080302114913/http://residents.bowhunting.net/sticknstring/finish.html

[KellyG]

Where are you in KS?

[Eric Krewson]

Better get some bug spray on the bark of your log or it will look like Swiss cheese when it is dry enough to work.

[scooter135]

I'm in wichita ks, Im gonna try and split it today. I think I may leave it in the bed of my truck under the bed cover over the summer. The temps reach over 100 on summer days and it will stay dry in te bed

[scrub-buster]

That will probably make it check like crazy.  Osage can crack easily if  you try to force dry it like that in a hot vehicle.  I would split out a stave and get it down to rough bow shape and then put it in your house for a while to dry.

[ColonelSandersLite]

It's winter, the vehicle won't be hot.  The forcast in this area (I'm only a few hours away) for the next month is ranging from the low 10s at night to the upper 50s during the day.  Still, no doubt that inside would be better.

[scrub-buster]

He said he was going to leave it in his truck over the summer with temps over 100.

[ColonelSandersLite]

Oh, yeah, guess I should have read a little more closely.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Id listen to scrubby's advice. Nobody knows more about cutting, storing and seasoning osage than he does. He cuts and handles hundreds of osage staves every year.

[John Scifres]

If you take it down to a ring and then rough shape it now, shellac it and leave it somewhere dry and cool until summer, it will lose enough moisture that you can get force dry it.  I do the same thing except in my attic or a hotbox I made that is heated with lightbulbs.

Dean's book tells you how.  Get it.