How to cure saplings?

[stringstretcher]

When cutting osage saplings, what is the best way to treat them and cure them. Never worked with saplings before, so be gentle....lol

[John Scifres]

The only way I have gotten them to make a bow is to saw them in half and rough out the bow right away.  Tie them to a 2x4 and let them dry for a few weeks or months or years.  Sapling bows are tough out of osage.

[NEProf]

I am working on a sapling bow right now. I followed Jawge's advice. I removed the bark and roughed it out to bow dimension and floor tillered it immediately. Then I let it dry for about 4 weeks by my water heater.

[Osagetree]

They'll most everytime split along the length in several places around the length of the log if you dont split them down the middle. I believe it is due to the thinner bark and so much whitewood or lack there of,,, depending.
You must seal the end fast too!
They can make very nice bows with lots of little pin knots. As they age, the knots become very distinct and really make the bow.

[Ed Isaacs]

Glad to see this topic, as I had a couple of very nice saplings split badly in the corner of my basement, ends sealed immediately.  I'll know better next time.