Trad Gang

Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: ranger 3 on February 23, 2009, 04:31:00 PM

Title: Cut a Osage log
Post by: ranger 3 on February 23, 2009, 04:31:00 PM

I went out and cut a 12" diameter about 80" long log today and sealed the ends, now what?

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: Bert Frelink on February 23, 2009, 05:15:00 PM

Split it into staves, get the bark off and then seals the backs with some kind of sealer.
Rough out a bow if you like just don't bend it too far or it will take a set.

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: talkingcabbage on February 23, 2009, 05:23:00 PM

at the very least, split it into quarters.  You can leave the bark on if you want, but spray some bug killer on it.  You'll have to wait a year or two to work on it.  Or you can strip the bark off and take it down to a growth ring, rough out a bow shape (down to just before floor tiller), and take it in your house.  It'll dry in a month or two, then you can finish it.  I'm actually planning on doing that to one of my staves in a week or so.

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: bjansen on February 23, 2009, 05:30:00 PM

In my limited experience...I would say get a sledge and 4 wedges, start at one end and split that log down the center.  If you need to, turn it over to get a clean split.  If things go well you should have two half logs.  Now try to split each half log out into staves (maybe yielding 2-4 in each half).  Like Bert said remove the bark with a drawknife and seal the back...when removing the bark do not pierce the yellow layer, just try to get through or almost through the white.  

Then you are set and ready to go.  Have fun.

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: ranger 3 on February 23, 2009, 07:32:00 PM

I got a good start on it but I'm getting to old for this

 (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/ranger500us/IMG_0855.jpg)
 (http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm216/ranger500us/IMG_0856.jpg)

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: Eric Krewson on February 23, 2009, 08:24:00 PM

Don't take the bark of unless you have time to take the sapwood off as well. Sapwood will crack while you are watching it. 4 coats of shellac won't prevent it from checking on a low humidity day.

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: ranger 3 on February 23, 2009, 09:18:00 PM

Thanks I plan on putting in the basement when I get it split. I will get it all done tomorrow hopefully.  Howard

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: Roy Steele on February 23, 2009, 09:56:00 PM

Split into staves,spray pestaside to keep bugs off.Let season a year plus,but the longer the better.Season out of the sun.

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: Pat B on February 24, 2009, 12:03:00 AM

I'd let the halves sit for a while to somewhat acclimatize before splitting into staves. If you need a piece to work on, take a split off one half, remove the bark and sapwood and seal the back well. You can reduce that to floor tiller stage and in a month or so it will be ready to make a bow.
   After you split the log into quarters see if you can take a piggyback staves off the inside of each quarter.

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: ranger 3 on February 24, 2009, 11:59:00 AM

If I put them in the basement do I still spray with pestaside?

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: Pat B on February 24, 2009, 12:18:00 PM

Yes, the insect eggs have been laid in the bark. When it begins to get warm, they hatch out hungry.     Pat

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: Eric Krewson on February 24, 2009, 06:58:00 PM

A word of caution, I put some osage in my basement, little did I know it was infested with powder post beetles. They migrated to my floor joists and it took a $600 treatment to get rid of them.

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: ranger 3 on February 24, 2009, 07:08:00 PM

I did spray them with indoor-outdoor Ortho insect spray I hope it is ok.

Title: Re: Cut a Osage log
Post by: John Scifres on February 24, 2009, 10:14:00 PM

I've never had any trouble with wood I brought inside right away.  I never spray it.  But I bet it depends on the bugs you have in your locale.  I hate the uneccessary use of insecticides so I'd try to get all the sapwood off as soon as possible before I'd use them.  I use a bandsaw to do it so as to save my shoulders and elbows  :)