My brothers buddies were going home to Ohio a few weeks ago.  He told them that I built bows.  They said that they had osage trees running out of their ears up there and they would bring home a log for me.  Doug asked me what size log I wanted, and I told him 8-10" in diameter and 6 1/2' long.  This is what he brought to my house late one nite.  It took both of us about an hour to get it out of the back of his truck. I can't roll it by myself.  I figure this thing weighs 500#!



I've been having nightmares about this log!  My good buddy, C J Pearson, came to town to do some pig hunting, and I asked if he would help me split it into staves.  We started yesterday afternoon, and immediately ruined his maul with the sledge hammer.  Using three wedges, we were able to get this monster into two pieces in a couple of hours of torture!  The grain really spirals around this log, and there were natural splits that had fungus inside.  We had lots of waste, but I think we have 8-9 good staves out of her.  After several more hours today, this is what we have.











Now the big questions!!  Should I take the bark off now?  Seal the raw back?  What kind of bug spray can I use to keep the creepy crawlers from burrowing into my gold?  Thank guys!

:eek:  Dude, what a haul! Seal the ends first then peel the backs and seal them and rough a couple out if you want. TB2 or shellac make good sealers. Hide them under your bed to keep the bugs out (plus, they'll dry fast in shady low humidity areas) Better yet, send them my way and I'll make sure no bugs get in there    

With only 8 or 9 staves I'd get the bark off and go ahead and rough them out to near bow dimensions.  That twist is gonna be a killer but you got time to think about how manage it.  Good luck.  Next time, warn your cutters to look at the bark pattern to avoid a twisty tree.  Have fun!

that looks like a rough job. Looks like it almost spiraled completely arond the trunk.

I have some yew staves like that. You can't tell from the bark on yew whether it's twisted. I posted a question here the other day and was told to go ahead and use dry heat and only work a short area at a time. It's slow, but it's working. I gather osage bends much easier with heat so it should be doable.    Rob.

I should have said get the bark and sapwood off.  Don't, I repeat don't, remove the bark and leave the sapwood.  Sapwood without bark will check in a couple hours.  Sorry about the mispeeak.

Man don't let that twist scare ya. I would do as John said and get them to about floor till then strap them to a 4x4 and let them try. That twist will get worse as they dry if you don't strap them. on the very few I have split and let dry they always twist or bend more in the direction they are going before drying.

If I was dealing with those staves I would get the bark and sapwood off soon and seal the backs and ends with a couple of coats of poly or shellac.  As far as getting the twist out, I would rough out the bow and clamp it in the center in that big red vice you have there.  I would put a C-clamp on one end and hang a weight from it.  I would put something under the limb tip to prevent it from pulling straight down.  Then I would slowly start heating everything from the vice out on that end.  After a while, the weight will pull the twist out.  I would go just a little past straight.  The support under the limb will let it untwist and keep it from bending the limb.  Repeat on the other limb.   This is how I would try to straighten them. Maybe someone can offer a better option.  Good luck with them.

Nice,
You could also cut them in half and splice them back together, minus the twist.

I would peel and seal the backs. Anytime I used bug spray,it didn't seem to work that well. Peel and seal works everytime.

So it's split on the bark/sap wood removal, and no-one suggests bug spray?  Thanks guys

If you leave the bark on, soak them with bug spray.  And then spray them again maybe once a month or so.

Yes, on the bug spray if you can't get them inside.  I would definitely tru to get the bark and sapwood off if you have the time.  If you have a bandsaw and know how to use it, here's a quick method:   http://sticknstring.webs.com/roughout.htm

Malathion is what I was recommended.

I'd like to know what kind of bamboo that is and where you got it.