how do you go from log to lams?

[Roy from Pa]

Geeze, you selfbow guys.. LOL

[scrub-buster]

I know Roy.  I could have had that thing split into staves in less time than it took to ask all these questions.  

There is no way my wife will be OK with me drying lumber in our house.  But, I don't think she would notice if I stashed a few pieces under the bed.

[mikkekeswick]

Stickering is putting thin spacers between your board so that you get good airflow around the whole piece. Then put a good heavy weight on top of them all.

[Bowjunkie]

I wouldn't bring them into the house... at least not initially. In this weather with my furnace running, my house is between 26 and 29% relative humidity. All of my bow wood, including a pile of osage boards, is out in the garage, drying slowly. I may bring it in to finish bringing it down the last few percentage points, but I wouldn't bring it in there green.

Just see what you get back from the mill and then go from there. There may be no need to reduce it further. I have bow wood lumber in all shapes and sizes. Just tell him you want it at least  2" wide, that way if it warps a little bit, you may still have room to get a straight piece out of it. I often cut them 2.25 - 2.5" initially to allow for that, then if they don't move, lams can be cut from the side as well.

[Roy from Pa]

Bring the boards to my shop, we can sticker and strap them so they stay straight. I promise not to touch em..  

[scrub-buster]

Well I finally got that log cut into 2" boards.  Turns out a buddy of mine has a small horizontal band saw.  He still has the biggest section and half of another piece to cut up.  I brought home what he had done so far.   I'm not sure how much of it will be good for lam bows.  I would like to try and build a bench out of a piece of it.  Probably a lot of knife and hatchet handles to.  I went ahead and sealed the flat sides.  I think it would have checked on me if I didn't.  It looks like it has some nice grain and colors to it.  Its pretty dark for fresh osage.
     
     
     
     
   

[talkingcabbage]

Looking good!

[mikkekeswick]

Do you want to sell any of those?

[Pat B]

That is beautiful stuff, Clint. I'll be using the piece you gave me for scales on a knife blank I got from Hickory Bill.