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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Burnsie on February 13, 2017, 05:10:00 PM

Title: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Burnsie on February 13, 2017, 05:10:00 PM: (http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/5D65C6DE-ABD1-41DD-B652-AE832749BE8D.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/5D65C6DE-ABD1-41DD-B652-AE832749BE8D.jpg.html)

Got what I believe is some good wood, and I'm gonna make me a bow.
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: scrub-buster on February 13, 2017, 05:44:00 PM: Looks like some good osage. Was it cut or dead for a while? how are the growth rings?
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Pat B on February 13, 2017, 06:20:00 PM: Nice.
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: George Tsoukalas on February 13, 2017, 06:43:00 PM: Good for you! Jawge
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Bvas on February 13, 2017, 07:01:00 PM: Very cool.
An Osage self bow is on my "bow building bucket list".
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Burnsie on February 14, 2017, 08:08:00 AM: Quote
Originally posted by scrub-buster:
Looks like some good osage. Was it cut or dead for a while? how are the growth rings?
It had been down in log form for some time hanging from a tree with the ends painted. Haven't been able to get a good idea about the rings the ends have a pretty thick coat of paint on them and I wasn't the one who painted them. Thin or wide rings, what's preferred?
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/8FDA2A9C-7B58-4649-9A47-9EB8906C72BF.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/8FDA2A9C-7B58-4649-9A47-9EB8906C72BF.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: scrub-buster on February 14, 2017, 08:14:00 AM: Some people like thick rings. Some people prefer thinner rings. The ratio of early to late wood is the important thing. That looks like a clean log. It should be some good seasoned wood after it loses some moisture. Can you post a picture of the ends of the staves? We might be able to see the rings through the paint.
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Pat B on February 14, 2017, 09:35:00 AM: That should be well seasoned. Probably not too much moisture in it with it hanging like that.
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Burnsie on February 14, 2017, 11:36:00 AM: I may slice off an inch or so off the end of one or two staves and repaint after I take a look at the rings and take some pics. They are plenty long so I can spare some length off the ends. I'd like to get a good look at the rings myself.
I'll post up some pics once I do .
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Burnsie on February 15, 2017, 01:30:00 PM: I have access to a moisture meter, is there a moisture range that I should be looking for before I start trying to work these staves??
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: scrub-buster on February 15, 2017, 01:40:00 PM: I don't use a moisture meter. You can get a bow down to rough dimensions and then bring it inside the house to dry out. Make sure to seal the ends and back if you take any wood off. Force drying osage can result in warping and drying cracks. Be careful.
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Burnsie on February 18, 2017, 03:18:00 PM: Got a chance to get some pictures of the rings.
Here are pics of three of the staves.
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/71E1CCFA-9242-4D49-BDD2-6CCF4DED4EE9.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/71E1CCFA-9242-4D49-BDD2-6CCF4DED4EE9.jpg.html)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/Osage2.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/Osage2.jpg.html)
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h52/lgcburns/Osage.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/lgcburns/media/Osage.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Mad Max on February 18, 2017, 03:44:00 PM: nice
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Pat B on February 18, 2017, 04:26:00 PM: That is very nice osage. Should make some fine bows.
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 18, 2017, 05:35:00 PM: Very nice...
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: scrub-buster on February 18, 2017, 06:30:00 PM: Looks like some nice seasoned osage. You should have some great bow wood there.
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Burnsie on February 19, 2017, 05:20:00 PM: I have a finished ceiling in my garage with a hatch door for storage up in the attic area. It can get quite warm/hot up there on summer days like typical attic space - good or bad idea to store them up there for awhile to get some more drying done?
Title: Re: Here we go- I'm going to give it a shot!
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 19, 2017, 05:59:00 PM: I wouldn't place them where it gets too hot. 70 to 80 would be fine. If they dry too fast, they could check.