Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Soggydog on January 11, 2018, 11:32:23 am

Title: Osage Seasoning
Post by: Soggydog on January 11, 2018, 11:32:23 am

Hello! My name is Shane, I've been lurking on these boards a while, and while I got "the bug" a few months ago, this is my first post.

My grandfather and I went down to the family farm yesterday and decided to harvest some osage, and while I think it's possible to get some workable staves out of our haul, I'm not entirely sure how to go about seasoning them. As such, I have a few questions:

1. Does the osage need to be split? Or is it okay to leave it together for the meantime?

2. The timber is currently sitting in my heated basement, is this a wise place to keep it, or will it dry to fast here?

3. Do I need to use some sort of sealant, and, if so, what kind?

Thanks for the help!

Title: Re: Osage Seasoning
Post by: osage outlaw on January 11, 2018, 12:19:02 pm

Seal the ends with a couple coats of wood glue, paint, shellac, polyurethane,  etc.  I would suggest splitting them at least in half to give the moisture a place to escape other than the ends.   You want to slowly dry them at first to prevent cracks.   I like to split logs into quarters and let them dry in my garage for a week or so before I split them down into staves.  If you remove the bark take the sapwood off with a draw knife.  Make sure to seal the backs of the staves if you do that.  If you get any belly splits seal the backs of those also.  I have found the cheapest sealer is tight bond wood glue thinned with a little bit of water.  Post some pictures of your haul. 

Title: Re: Osage Seasoning
Post by: jeffp51 on January 11, 2018, 12:51:07 pm

The best method to season staves is to send them to a nice dry climate, like Utah.  As I live in Utah, I will be happy to accept and evaluate the quality of those staves--of course the only way you can truly evaluate a stave is to make a bow out of it--which I will be forced to do as well.   O:) :BB.  It is the sacrifice I am willing to make for the good of this community. . .

Title: Re: Osage Seasoning
Post by: Pat B on January 11, 2018, 02:30:12 pm

Listen to Osage Outlaw. He had cut and split lots of osage and has the operation down pat.

Title: Re: Osage Seasoning
Post by: Danzn Bar on January 11, 2018, 03:48:36 pm

What pat b said.....
DBar

Title: Re: Osage Seasoning
Post by: Hamish on January 11, 2018, 04:12:52 pm

Definitely process the logs, seal as suggested if you keep them in a heated basement.