osage, staves?

[wapiti1997]

Will this make staves?  There's about 12 feet here that is straight, the top half no limbs. It was one of many trunks that split at the base and fell.  This one is about 16-18" in diameter.

It is actually straighter than the wide angle lens leaads you to think..

 

[John Scifres]

Looks good enough.  Bark runs pretty nice.  They always look straighter before you cut them though.  I'd surely try.  But be forewarned that splitting an 18" osage is a job!  Splitting around branches is especially hard.  If I had smaller trees to choose from, I'd take them first.  I like 10-12" diameter better.

[Dan Landis]

I'd say go for it.  If I lived closer I'd cut and split it for Ya for half the staves, LOL.

[DVSHUNTER]

That's good bow wood right there.

[PEARL DRUMS]

John isnt lying, its going to be back breaking at that size. The stuff will last forever. Take your time and dont hurt yourself. It will be right where you left it each time. Big logs = flatter backs = better bows. I guess Im saying get it cut!

[scrub-buster]

There are some bows in there.  I would cut it.  An 18" osage tree isn't to big to handle.  If you can't get to it with a vehicle, split it into quarters or more to haul them out.

[psychmonky]

LOL scrub knows all about splitting big osage. I'd still be sore if I had taken on the one he did a while back!

[Osagetree]

From the looks of the smaller tree's around this one, I'd say it is going to have some good growth rings.
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