Main Discussion Area > Bows
Osage and Dry heat? Revisited
bradsmith2010:
I had some very old osage gifted to me from fence post,, 50 years old had been laying on the ground,,
I tried working to a ring, and a check came up,, I would go to next ring and the check would open again,, till I was running out of wood,, so put the super glue and just made the bow,,, but sometimes I think it may be the quality of the wood more than how we treat it, some wood maybe more prone to checking,, but just guessing,, so not so much the heating process causing it,, but the wood is just a bit different,,than another stave that might not check at all,, but who would think a 50 year old stave would start to check when you worked down to a ring,, I was surprised,,
uwe:
Hi,
Just a quick reply without reading all comments: I used muskrat fat with good results. If I want to put a layer of sinew, I use wood ash in water solution for degreasing.
I even experimnented with brake cleaner (quick and dirty (lazy), I know), but it works as well.
Cheers Uwe
bentstick54:
You may be on to something Brad. I did two staves within days of each other with close to the same corrections needed to both. The one that checked which led to this thread, was cut 10 years ago, split, ends sealed and stored in my basement with bark on. The 2nd stave was 3 years old and treated the same way. I had no drying checks in the back of the newer stave.
For information purposes our house has central AC/ gas heat. Basement maintains 66 to 68 degrees year around with humidity running around 33% to 37% in winter and around 50% in the summer.
George Tsoukalas:
If my meter (8-10 %) shows the osage stave is not dry, after chasing a heartwood ring, I automatically give it a coat of poly. Jawge
bradsmith2010:
coat of poly is a great idea just in case
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