Osage orange question

[JakeD]

I have a large selection of live Osage orange trees at my disposal.  I as wondering if anybody could give me any advice on how to go about selection of harvesting one of the trees to make a bow out of.  Any advice would be appreciated.  Thanks.

[Tajue17]

post this in the bowyers bench forum here, that's where alot of the self bowyers hang out.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Straight as possible, both the bark pattern and the trunk. Stay away  from knots and limbs if you can. Cut them no less than 72" long, plan on ends checking.

[Eric Krewson]

Like Chris said, look at the bark, the pattern will form a chain like appearance as it goes up the trunk. If it goes straight up the trunk that is good. If it curves around the trunk like a barber pole, not so good and a tree to avoid. Look for flaws like a place a limb has been grown over which will produce what we call a cat face or eye.

Pick only the straight stuff and don't expect it to be as straight after it dries.

[meatCKR]

Good video on YouTube by Clay Hayes about this very topic.  Check it out.

Steve

[John3]

Agree that Clay Hayes video s superb....!

[JakeD]

Thanks everybody!  I'll check out the video and start looking for an ideal tree.

[PEARL DRUMS]

Just remember, one good tree can yield at least 8 staves, and quite a few billets. So don't get cut crazy!

[Hud]

Recommend reading Dean Torges, Hunting the Osage Bow.

[Jon Stewart]

Make sure you wear a mask when cutting. Osage and iron wood have a very fine dust.

You will see when you get to cutting it.

[23feetupandhappy]

Hedge grows thick around our place and the only thing we have found that its good for growing up is a fence post!!!!!!
It will outlast the wire a lot of times and we have built a ton of fence using it   :eek:
Amazing Wood, just don't try to hammer new staples into an old post...... they are like concrete after they sit out in the weather for a few years.            

We had a gentleman from church come out to our farm when I was young wanting some hedge to make a bow out of.... we thought he was crazy  

Can you take some pics of the potential trees/limbs that your considering?

[JakeD]

I'll take some pics when I start looking for a specific tree.  It will probably be February before I get serious about trying to find one.