Dead Osage any good?

[Brian CS]

Is the dead Osage any good like this piece? There is a ton of it where I'm at.  

[Pat B]

As long as it is sound it will be good bow wood.

[scrub-buster]

Osage will last a long time.  I found a tree that my Brother-in-law cut several years ago in a creekbed.  All the bark was rotted off of it.  It had some bug damage, but turned out to be some great wood.  Right now I am trying to finish splitting up a giant of an osage tree that fell over at least 4 or 5 years ago.

[Brian CS]

Wow that's great I have a lot of bows sitting in front of me. Thanks

[Shaun]

Yes, better than fresh wood. The drawback is that you will have to work your way down a few rings into the heartwood to get below borer damage. There may be some checking too. But the wood underneath is very stable and lively.

[KellyG]

I have read where some have used 80yr old fence post.

[Dave Bowers]

Hey Brian gimma a shout if you need help chopping some up. I only seen a few osages in this god forsaken state   :p

[Brian CS]

Originally posted by Dave Bowers:
Hey Brian gimma a shout if you need help chopping some up. I only seen a few osages in this god forsaken state    :p  

Ok will do.

[red hill]

I've read the same about osage fence posts, Kelly. I've also read that any wood good for making fence posts, rot resistent wood, is good for bow making.

[Bowjunkie]

I made my first selfbow from an osage tree that was standing dead. The bark was off it and the heartwood was dark, already had that aged osage look. It was like it was petrified wood. The drawknife would barely dent it. That was the hardest bow I've made to this day.