Osage wood borers (Update: There's a Bow under them holes! NEW PICS!)

[Osagetree]

A good friend sent me a osage stave to make him a bow out of. I did not notice it was full of borers when I laid it on my osage drying rack a couple weeks ago. Do you reckon my staves will be infested now? I hope not.

I hate to see such a nice stave go to waste due to some little bugs. The stave was thick so I am tring to find a ring below the damage in hopes to still have enough wood left for a bow.

Here is a pic of the damage just under the sap wood.
   

As you can see I did get below the damage on this part of the stave, but there must be 20 or more holes to get through on the rest of the stave.
   

Lots of hogging off wood to get down to the first phase,, ring chasing. It may be worth it if I can get below the damage as the stave has some real nice rings.

I'll try to keep you posted on whether or not the stave is salvagable.

See I have not given up on selfbows, just playing around with a glass bow some! Thanks to hormoan!!! And The Vermonster!!

[hormoan]

I would fumagate your stash of osage as a precationary insurance measure. If its in the garage I'd get one of those bug bombs, seal the place up for the day. And bomb em!

You know I wonder how many bows, are hanging around not getting the attention they deserve. Be cause some of us have to many.   :confused: ?  
I was positive you would not turn you back on selfbows. You have to much fun making them!


                     Brent

[Eric Krewson]

It is my experience that wood wasp larva don't migrate from one stave to the next but powder post beetles might. Removing bark and sapwood and 3 or 4 coats of shellac on the back will prevent any migration.

[the Ferret]

Joe, I have had to go down as many as 10 good rings to get below them before. Don't know if you remember when I did the build along for Terry Petko's bow "Beetlejuice" (yea I squished an adult borer on it while making it hence the name). Turned into a beautiful bow but man how much wood I had to go thru to get below those nasty bugs.

BTW if anyone wants to see what we're talking about, go to the How To Forum and look for a thread called Osage Bowbuilding 101 and I have good pictures of the larvae, the adult bug, and the damage they can do.

[Osagetree]

I enjoyed your thread, everyone should look if they are intereste. You should have placed a link Mickey.

Well I only had to go 5 on this one. just finished it up and have enough to make a bow left. Growth rings are a little tighter on one end and thicker on the other. Must have been cut clsoe to the ground.

[adkmountainken]

Joe,
    very, very sorry man!!! as i am a novice with staves i had no clue what to look for as far as damage and bugs! i feel terrible about this!!

[owlbait]

I just started on a sassafras stave that I've had for years and it had the same kind of holes. They stayed in two bands at each end of the stave but when I took of the sapwood it was clear.

[Larry247]

Can you make a self-bow out of sassafras?

Man i hope so... I've got plenty of that on the farm, how good is it? Will it hold up? I don't know how to make one yet out of anything but a apple tree limb, but i'm goina find out how to do this and do it till i get it right...

I'm goina hop over and look at that thread for a min on how to... I hope the bugs didn't ruin your stave...  

[Osagetree]

The extra work paid off and there was a bow under them borer holes.

Here is the profile before handle shaping

   

Profile is all natural and I am tillering it that way

   

First brace

   

Out for a little shoot'n for the first time

   

Profile to show the set after tillering and shooting a dozen or so times.

 

Got to add a few things yet,,, not quite finished.

I'll up date it again with some specs soon.... If antone is interested?

Could not get a pic at full draw, but I will later. Need someone at home to take the pic.

[onemississipp]

It looks great!! I really like the arrows also..
I would like the specs and full draw pic.

That one limb calmed down a bit, which limb is that on the bow? upper or lower?

[stabow]

I made a bow once where the bore holes were all the way through the stave must have been 20 or 30 holes. I packed each hole with sinew covered the back with rawhide then snake skin and it came out fine. Osage is some good wood, you can make a lot of mistakes and still come out with a usable bow......stabow

[adkmountainken]

absolutly awesome!!!!

[Osagetree]

Dustin, I put that limb on the bottom. Makes it easier to string using your legs and hip.

Boyd, I bet that was neet. Got any pics? Here is one from the last stave sent to me by the same person.
 

Ken, I'm glad you like it. Check back later or tomorrow and I'll have the finishing touches with pics and the specs posted.

[adkmountainken]

"Buggsy" seems like it might be a good name.  any suggestions for a name? i usually let a bow or smokepole earn a name in the woods but this might be the exception!

[Osagetree]

You better let me know or I'll write a name on it on my own. I was thinking "WAR DOG". My dogs kept fighting all day and I'd have to stop working on it and holler at them to stop fighting.
How about "DOGDAZE" cuase it's so dang hot!

Ken it is your bow,,, so let me know what you want to name it and I'll get it on there.

Consider the work on this stave/bow a gift from TGMM for all you have done for Vic, Mike and others here on the TRADGANG! You're a good man trapped inthe wrong era. May God always be with you!

One bit of bad news though,,, I missed the target weight of your requested #60. And, the twist in the limb did not come out as much as I thought. But, I tell you I would hunt with this bow any day of the season.

HERE ARE THE SPECS: osage selfbow, Indian style flat bow design - 62", #55 @ 28" - 1 3/4" at the fades and out to mid limb and tappering to under 1/2" at the tips. Sporting a Ferret floppy rest, hand twisted flemish string, leather handle wrap and muskrat string silencers.

 

Don't poke fun at my form, I am used to drawing lefty! I left some string dangling from the handle. Thought you might want to tie on a feather or your own little mojo trinket or something.    

Ken, I may show this one off for a couple days before I send it your way  

[the Ferret]

Looks like a dandy Joe. Nice lines, great tiller.Yep those pesky borers can be a pain.


Good to see you shooting again. How's the wrist feeling?

[bentpole]

Fine job Joe!

[Osagetree]

Wrist is doing good. Mickey, did you notice I've listened to you and started rounding over the edge lines a bit more?

Thanks Tom! Good to hear from you!

[the Ferret]

Yea I did Joe. looks much better, don't you think? Next we'll work on slender shapely tips      

[sticshooter]

Joe that is right fine. But I know kenny won't want a wussie 55# bow        <><