been a while since i participated in conversing with you folks.  i have about a six foot piece of persimmon already roughed out to pre-tillering stage.  about a five or six inch handle area and the fades start at 1 and1/2 inches until it gets to the tips at 1/2 an inch.  is the length and the width of the fades acceptable for persimmon?  now to the recurving question,  when does one recurve tips-before or after final tiller?  i have some excellent pieces of osage orange staves in hiding at a friend's house until he retires in march or april.  they were cut and split in mid november of 2009.  would that be long enough for the curing process?  i might be persuaded to trade two staves for one that was made right by one of the members of the community, if such a thing is acceptable under the rules of this community.  if not, then please forgive a 40 year man's presumption.