Giant Osage log find or am I going to be disappointed?

[highpoint forge]

More I research the more I believe it's a fruitless Mulberry. Also a good bow wood but not what I want....

[highpoint forge]

Mulberry stave rings....thoughts before I chuck it or should I split it?

[Eric Krewson]

Yep, mulberry, the bark didn't look like osage from the first picture.

[razorback]

I don't chuck anything that might make a bow. Split it and see what you get. That article by Murray Gaskin, make it sound like a very good wood to work with.

[highpoint forge]

Thanks Eric!

[Paul/KS]

Mulberry is a relative of osage and a good bow wood from what I have heard and read.

Save the scraps for the smoker, it is good for chicken,turkey and pork...  

[highpoint forge]

Man I'm gonna do just that!

[michaelschwister]

I have had very good results with Mulberry.  Make sure it is good and dry, and make the limbs about 30% wider than you would osage for the same weight bow.

[coaster500]

Nothing wrong with Mulberry and you got a bunch  

[highpoint forge]

Hey guys! The limb is a good one that I grabbed and  as you can see the thing is not checking at all, bark is intact and I didn't split it. . I'm painting the ends tomorrow. Family responsibility has kept me from going to get a paintbrush if you can believe that!

[Brock]

If Murray says it is underrated then I would give it a try and go for it...likely using similar techniques as osage for scraping and following the ring if they are first cousins.  Otherwise you can do it like a white wood (hickory, pecan) and the overkill will ensure a bow that lives if it has no serious flaws.....can always remove more wood if needed to get it down to weight and tiller.  

[highpoint forge]

How many coats of urethane on the ends to seal them?

[razorback]

Just slap it on good and thick. Though I would get it split as soon as possible so it can start drying properly and you can get to shaving wood. It will dry very slowly with the bark on and the ends sealed.

[highpoint forge]

I'll hit it again but split it first.

[highpoint forge]

SPLIT!

One stave is thinner as the split followed down to a branch and it almost ran off the stave, but it stayed intact. I split the last 12" from the other end and it helped a bunch. Man that stuff is damp! Looks good though. The billet is a tank. It split perfectly down the middle.

   


   


Billet:

   

[highpoint forge]

Any hints on another split?