Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: highpoint forge on January 24, 2015, 06:16:00 PM
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I've heard about limb bows, so I grabbed this limb while attempting to split a really big log which I had too little hammer for. Useful length is right above 60" and its 5" across.
What's my next move? Bark off? Split it? Seal it whole?
I did split about a foot of a 10-12 and 12" across log which I'll finish tomorrow since I've cracked it open I can't stop now or will it not check? Log fell off the tree in an ice storm and was cut up with a chainsaw at both ends.
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Seal the ends right away if you haven't done so already. I try to split osage logs and limbs in half and then into quarters. I'll split them down into staves and remove the bark and sapwood as I go. If you remove the bark and sapwood make sure to seal the backs. You can leave the bark on and just seal the ends if you want. I like to clean them up because the sapwood is easier to get off when fresh cut. Can you post some pictures of your haul?
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This sucker was on the ground a long time.... Will post once I'm home.
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Osage is one of the few trees that can be dead and laying for years and still be solid inside. I pulled a log out of a creek bed that my brother in law had cut at least 5 years earlier. A bow made from it killed a nice 8 point last year.
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Inspect it carefully. Osage left on the ground can get wood borer larvae in it making, especially a small diameter log, worthless for bow wood. You may want to consider spraying it with an insecticide if you leave the bark on.
I would at least split it and seal the ends so it can dry and shrink evenly. When you split it, you can inspect for wood borers. If you don't split it where you want, it will eventually split itself, and perhaps in a bad way.
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I've been meaning to make a selfbow from Osage for about seven years and like most of you, drool on sight at every one I see while mentally catalogueing where it is. All of mine are really really huge and on the ground, or close to it. So I made a move one the smallest one and couldn't split it as I left my BFH at home. The bark on this one is worm hole riddled almost rotten and the entire log was still bright yellow inside and untouched. This particular tree likely stood dead quite a while. I'm a hair concerned with how the bark runs but whatchagonnado? NOT take it? No way. My two year old needs a bow! I also need an excuse to ask for a drawknife from my Latvian axe-maker. Likely it will arrive before the wood cures!
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Well that stave was all chewed up in the center from one end to the other. Not much to work with so I chucked it. Back to the original log.....
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Attacked the log/main limb......
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/alexeinspruch/2DC5FABA-196D-471D-A2DF-427ED0C7D69B_zpspczukmbp.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/alexeinspruch/627AF125-77F9-4DF2-B782-68EDF804A0FA_zpsawu6fdkk.jpg
So I split it. Wavy gravy! 11' long and 34" around. Gotta just separate the pieces that are clinging and figure out what the hell to do next.....stay tuned.
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That log looks nasty on the outside. Hopefully there's some nice wood in there. If nothing else you've got enough Osage to build all the furniture for a nice man cave. Probably a nice bar, stools, tv stand ....
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Outside is nasty but it was not sitting on the ground. Sucker is thick though and INSIDE all is well......
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Ok log is coming home now. What a battle. Snaky SOB is all mine and in half. Anyone care to see pics? Gotta split these too I guess! Here goes nothin.
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Always like pictures.
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(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/alexeinspruch/1C0787CD-2F0E-432E-8231-5D64F2F64EF0_zpsyc3am60v.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/user/alexeinspruch/media/1C0787CD-2F0E-432E-8231-5D64F2F64EF0_zpsyc3am60v.jpg.html)
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(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/alexeinspruch/9E664EB3-1A1D-48DB-BA27-87A9917E2972_zpsubjf9vvr.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/user/alexeinspruch/media/9E664EB3-1A1D-48DB-BA27-87A9917E2972_zpsubjf9vvr.jpg.html)
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(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/alexeinspruch/6B3283A1-9EFF-4D9C-B92D-109B5DF4C851_zpscrxw53wc.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/user/alexeinspruch/media/6B3283A1-9EFF-4D9C-B92D-109B5DF4C851_zpscrxw53wc.jpg.html)
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Could be a challenge. :eek: :)
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That's putting it mildly !
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So......?
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this is my opinion- and only my opinion- i am sure many will differ- cant see how long that is-
whats the black area at the bottom- is that early rot, or just discolouration?
if it were me, and that was the only bow wood i had, i would cut it at that dog leg bend, and make billets, and then resplice the billets together to make a blank.
there is no real twist in it- so thats a good thing.
if i had a choice, i would try a better piece that didnt require all that extra splicing work.
just my opinion.
but whatever path you take- good luck mate- and never quit- this hobby can be the most rewarding pastime, but also simultaneously be very frustrating and fraught with heartbreak. i guess the sour is whats makes the sweet so sweet!! :)
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Those logs I earmarked 2 years ago and weighed as much as a Toyota axle each. I split these by hand and broke my axe. I then loaded them myself. There's no quit in me. I didn't do all this to give up. I gotta work with what I got. These are 11' roughly. 1' across I guess. The dark part is discolored and a bit hollowed out, but hard as rock. Not rotten or spongy. At the very least I'll have a great amount of billets and knife handle material, and possibly a new axe handle even.
After 4 years of jiu jitsu I know daily heartbreak and the fleeting moments of sweetness. It is The Process......
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excellent... then you are on the right page! :D
great that those logs are quite a bit bigger than i thought- how long are the pieces each side of the dog leg , if they are less than the bow length you want- buck it off there- split out as many billets as you can safely get- might be some belly splits in there too!!
cure them, splice them up ,and get at it :thumbsup:
and if they are long enough- well then get to making full length splits-
what is your drawlength- as some pretty short bows can be built if you flip the tips etc- gotta chat to PatB, he has tons of experience in that field- he builds some really different selfbows- and many others too on this site, of course!!!
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(http://rabbittalk.com/images/smilies/icon_mad.gif) That's a rough piece of osage. How long is the straight section in the middle? That looks like your best bet for bow wood. How do the growth rings look?
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Yes definitely cut out the straight section and make billets.
Splicing is easy is you've got the patience to learn :) Just practise on scrap pieces first and go slow. I get the fit as good as I possibly can and then steam the ends for 15 mins and immediately clamp together until cold. Bingo! Perfect mating surfaces.
Good luck.
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I'll measure this AM and report back.
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Ok The pieces measure 48 inches and 60 inches respectively, and 9 inches across. I figure cut the dogleg out of both pieces, and the ends, and should I be using a Carpenter saw, a reciprocating saw, or what? I don't really want to fire up my Huskay 181SE for nada.....
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I doubt if that Husky 181SE would even cut that Osage.. It's pretty tuff wood.. Ya otta buy a good chainsaw.. :)
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Chainsaw. Next time cut the crooked part off in the field and save your energy for bow making. Have fun. Keep us in the loop.
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Yikes!!
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Random split Osage porn from one of the 48" billets-
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/alexeinspruch/CBD57C3F-7614-45A0-844B-76CAF47641A7_zpsjkee8xee.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/user/alexeinspruch/media/CBD57C3F-7614-45A0-844B-76CAF47641A7_zpsjkee8xee.jpg.html)
The challenge of splitting it in the middle is great.
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Anyone wanna see more? I sealed the ends with spar urethane. Obviously this stuff checked somewhat already, with sapwood full of bugs and it's still on the logs. should I draw knife the sapwood off and seal again? How much do I have to split before seasoning? Can it season in my garage?
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Cut it with a bucksaw by hand, started the splits with a hand axe & 4 pound hammer then followed with wedges.
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some nice rings there- i would get the sapwood off- otherwise the checks will open the heartwood.
then decide where to split it.
where the checks end- seems to be where the good rings start.you dont have to chase a ring perfectly at this stage, get the bad wood off, and seal the back as well- so that you are losing the moisture through the belly only.
then split and then you can even rough shape the billets- to remove excess wood- it will let it dry quicker- keep it out of the sun and the wind- dont chase the moisture out of it- move it progressively to drier and drier places- , do you have a moisture meter ? nice to check it, and follow it through the process,
but then you are in texas- so it might be very close to what you need already.
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I'll get that sapwood tomorrow a flying!
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I would take any usable pieces down to good solid heartwood and seal it at least a couple of times.
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will do.
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Wow day one with a draw knife. Damn. Wish mine was heavier and perhaps a hair wider. I got one 60" section down to the wormy part in upper rings, all sapwood gone and I coated it with spray urethane just for grins after splitting off 1/3. No sign of an insect anywhere but one tiny spider who took up residence in a bore hole. I realize I need to get underneath these though before final splits and storage.
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good man- keep agoing-
:knothead:
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Damn. Well getting it to split your way is tough goin'!
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Raining and cold....
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Originally posted by fujimo:
good man- keep agoing-
:knothead:
Is this the post you are talking about?
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=125;t=007695
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Another 48" section down but not yet split. Sprayed down with urethane JIC.
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yup scrub..
see i was right, it was one of the osage legends :)
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Well my German steel Cherry drawknife now has a loose handle on one side, which is quite annoying. I need a bigger one with a 12" blade and a tad more heft, but it needs to be quality. I hate garbage throw away tools. Found my can of minwax too so no more cheap highs spraying urethane in my garage while it rains.
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Got them all preliminarily shaved down and coated. Only found ONE grub in one quarter. Ran outta gas but I realize I need to get beneath all the bore holes to be certain. Still I'm coating them each time though. I do have some big chunks I'm retaining for other projects.....
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You can find some quality old draw knives in antique stores, flea markets, or the big auction site. For under $30 you should be able to get a good solid knife from the auction site. I've picked up a few nice ones from there this winter.
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Ok that's where I usually look. Using one is pretty addictive. Not sure if bigger is better or heavier is better?
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Brutal day chasing rings and failed at my first stave. Twisted ring off the bottom limb tip. I tried working the sides of the stave and it would tear and crumble....oh well many more to go.....
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Keep up the good work :bigsmyl:
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(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/alexeinspruch/1AE7C5FF-DD54-4D0A-9F35-ED8DDB487DA2_zpsyuijuoqw.jpg) (http://s53.photobucket.com/user/alexeinspruch/media/1AE7C5FF-DD54-4D0A-9F35-ED8DDB487DA2_zpsyuijuoqw.jpg.html)
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Yeeha, and so the wood hoarding starts- just like the rest if us wood whores :D
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Originally posted by scrub-buster:
You can find some quality old draw knives in antique stores, flea markets, or the big auction site. For under $30 you should be able to get a good solid knife from the auction site. I've picked up a few nice ones from there this winter.
X2. Bought a nice one in an antique store for less than a 20
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Tragedy of checking and grub holes!!!
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.