Author Topic: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?  (Read 1066 times)

Offline Nathan Shaw

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Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« on: March 01, 2017, 04:52:00 PM »
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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Offline Nathan Shaw

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2017, 05:05:00 PM »
Here's a couple pics of the bad stuff

  [/url] [/IMG]  [/url] [/IMG]  [/url] [/IMG]  [/url] [/IMG]

Online Pat B

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2017, 05:17:00 PM »
Definitely, you will just have to dig a little more to find the bows inside.
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
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Offline Nathan Shaw

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2017, 05:23:00 PM »
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?

Online Mo_coon-catcher

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2017, 05:44:00 PM »
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

Online Mad Max

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2017, 06:28:00 PM »
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.
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Offline scrub-buster

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2017, 07:40:00 PM »
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.
AKA Osage Outlaw

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2017, 07:55:00 PM »
yep
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Offline Nathan Shaw

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2017, 08:14:00 PM »
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!

Online Mad Max

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2017, 07:22:00 PM »
Yea
good luck
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Offline John Scifres

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2017, 11:16:00 AM »
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.
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Online Roy from Pa

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2017, 03:15:00 PM »
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.

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2017, 03:42:00 PM »
2000 head's are better than one.
Even if it's Roy's head.

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Online Roy from Pa

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2017, 04:30:00 PM »
That's correct M & M boy..

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2017, 05:17:00 PM »
:biglaugh:
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Offline Nathan Shaw

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #15 on: March 03, 2017, 06:02:00 PM »
Thanks again for the helpful advice!

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

Nathan

Offline Nathan Shaw

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #16 on: March 04, 2017, 05:14:00 PM »
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.

[/url] [/IMG]    [/url] [/IMG]   "  [/url] [/IMG]  [/url] [/IMG]

Offline John Scifres

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Re: Split some Osage Staves today...is it any good?
« Reply #17 on: March 05, 2017, 09:20:00 PM »
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.
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