Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?

[Nathan Shaw]

I am new to traditional archery in general and a total beginner when it comes to bow building. I have been lurking on this forum for a month or so and have been trying to absorb the wealth of knowledge available. So with that knowledge I decided to start my search for some wood. I had the opportunity to get my hands on some Osage today and split it into staves. It has been cut for some time and from what I can tell is mediocre at best. I would like to get some guidance on some of this wood. Is there a bow in there somewhere? Thank you

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[Nathan Shaw]

Here's a couple pics of the bad stuff

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[Pat B]

Definitely, you will just have to dig a little more to find the bows inside.

[Nathan Shaw]

I would also like to know this, are there pieces in this lot that not even the most skilled should attempt to make a bow out of?

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I don't see anything in there worth running from. Just remove the big damage and rot. As long as you have an inch wide by 3/4" deep piece left. It'll make a hunting weight osage now. If it's a little crooked, osage corrects well with dry heat. And as long as you have some extra width, can take take holes and knots well.

Kyle

[Mad Max]

How long are they?

Get one and
Cut a inch off each end (70" minimum length?) and see if the cracks end?

Keep cutting back to 70" and see
Put wood glue on the fresh cuts to seal the ends on the good ones.

Osage makes a HOT fire too.

[scrub-buster]

Depends on how bad the bug damage and cracks are.  There should be some bows in there and it will be great seasoned wood after it looses some moisture.

[Mad Max]

yep

[Nathan Shaw]

Thank you for all the input.

In the first picture, the staves with a natural reflex are 68" from the cut end to the knot. In the second pic that group is 64" from the cut end to where it starts to bend pretty good.

So, should the. Extra step be to cut an inch off the cut end and to cut to the lengths I mentioned above then seal the ends? That's what my plan was to do anyway.

Thanks again!

[Mad Max]

Yea
good luck

[John Scifres]

Cut off the worst of it and then get to chasing some rings on your best pieces.  That's when you'll really see what you got.  Don't go shorter than 64" if you can help it for now.  You will have to cut a little bit off those checked ends so keep that in mind.  Don't worry too much about the bug damage in the sapwood but make sure they left you enough heartwood undamaged.  I'm pretty sure I could get a few bows out of the pile.  Have fun.

[Roy from Pa]

If a full length stave is too short, as long as you have a good 36" long piece, it will make a bow. You will just have to Z splice the shorter 36" staves together to get a longer stave.. We do that a lot.

[Mad Max]

2000 head's are better than one.
Even if it's Roy's head.

   

[Roy from Pa]

That's correct M & M boy..

[Mad Max]

[Nathan Shaw]

Thanks again for the helpful advice!

I plan on to start cutting/sealing them tomorrow and will post what I come up with.

Nathan

[Nathan Shaw]

Well here is a sample of what I came up with after cutting the staves down to size. The longest is 74"ish and the shortest is 62"ish. I'm excited about what I perceive to be good late growth rings and the stave that has a natural reflex to it. Thank you all for the information and guidance! I now have 7 staves sealed and put to bed for a while.

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[John Scifres]

Looks like you will probably fight bug damage and checks but don't let that worry you.  Get a ring on a stave and see what you really got.