CUTTING AN OSAGE TREE?

[swamhuntr]

Hey fellas is there a DIY or anything on cutting a osage tree from standing tree to staves. I need to know how/when to split, when to put paint or whatever on the ends. I need to know this stuff when I find my Osage tree hahaha.

[Bowjunkie]

The ends should be sealed very shortly after it's cut. I do it right away... 2 or 3 coats of shellac within the first hour.

When it comes to splitting osage logs, you have a little leeway. You can split them right on the spot where they fell, which often makes them easier to get out of the woods and/or load... or you can bring the logs home and spit them there. They'll be ok for a while in log form, I've let the go for a month or so, but they won't begin to dry inside until they're split.

[Echatham]

a couple of months ago a me and a buddy split up a small osage log that had been sitting on the ground with the ends sealed for a couple months.  it looked rotten from the outside, but once you get past the sapwood its good hard wood.  some powderpost beatles had got in it but they didn't go past the first hearwood ring.  people make bows out of fence posts that have been in the ground for 50 years so its pretty tough and lasting stuff.  seal the ends is the key, and if you remove the bark and sapwood remove it all and seal the back.  i had a stave check overnight cause i didn't finish removing the sapwood and didn't seal it up.

[swamhuntr]

Thank you,

how long after you split them til they are dry enough to beginning working on a bow?

[Echatham]

months to decades depending on how ya do it.  the thicker it is the longer it will take to dry.  more air flow means faster drying as does higher temperature and lower humidity.  once you get your staves split out and remove the sapwood and seal the back give it a month or two and then you can rough out your bow and that will excellerate drying.  i built a drying box out of foam board insulation and incandescant light bulbs where i heat them up to 100 degrees or so for a couple weeks or as needed.  Dean torges' book hunting the osage bow gos into detail.  a moisture meter is a great thing to have too.

[John Scifres]

Find a tree:

     

Cut the tree.  Be safe.

     

     

Split into quarters if needed to carry.

     

   

   

   

[John Scifres]

Carry to truck through muddy field:

     

Seal ends for 6" and any exposed backs with shellac right away.  

 

[Echatham]

i can't see your pics is it just me?

[Echatham]

Now i can

[swamhuntr]

Thanks John  

[Bowjunkie]

I can't see the pictures either.

[Echatham]

i can see them on my phone, but not my computer.

[Bowjunkie]

I see em now.

[John Scifres]

They are magical pictures.  Now you see them, now you don't.  You must be ready to see them before they appear.  Get to your quiet place, genuflect  to the East and then turn one full circle prior to attempting the download.  If that doesn't work, you must go the dark room and pay your penance for your reward.  I hope that helps.

[Echatham]

[swamhuntr]

[David Flanrey]

Dustin,
You find us a tree and I'll help you get it processed.

For a stave of course.  

[swamhuntr]

haha I might have got us one    I'll keep you posted.

[David Flanrey]

Hope it's not the one in the middle of Sage Meadows Golf Course.  We'll have to cut that one at night!!  

[scrub-buster]

Seal the ends as soon as you cut it.  I seal them with several coats.  I like to split it at least in half within a few days of cutting it.  Then split it on down into staves whenever I get the time.  If you leave it outside the bugs will find it.  Spraying it with insect repellent will help.  When you remove the bark make sure to remove the sapwood with it.  Seal the backs just like you did the ends.  You can let them season with the bark on.  I go ahead and remove it.

I found a fallen osage tree today that is just asking to be made into bows