Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: toomanyknots on October 28, 2013, 06:47:31 pm

Title: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: toomanyknots on October 28, 2013, 06:47:31 pm
I'm wondering, I'm thinking I might be purchasing a big hunk of green osage lumber tomorrow, from about 118 miles away, god help me.  ;D The dimensions are somewhere around 3" thick, 6" to 10" wide, and around 8 feet (hopefully) long. The man said it was cut about 6 weeks ago. Hrmmm. What should I do with it yall? Cut it out, and have it warp on me, or let it stay thick, and have it slowly check it's self to death on me?  :-\ I wanna rip at least a couple smaller pieces and speed dry em if I can, I need a hot box or something. I am think maybe just maybe if I cut em small enough they won't check. Have I lost my mind?
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: bushboy on October 28, 2013, 07:14:23 pm
Don't know any thing bout curing osage,but if you plan on backing it with something like boo,belly grain dose matter!I had a highly reflexed one completly fret out on me cuz the grain was terrible or maybe it just was me!lol!
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: Joec123able on October 28, 2013, 07:31:06 pm
Well all I got to say is that Osage checks worse then any wood I've worked with
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: Hamish on October 28, 2013, 07:32:56 pm
 See if you can get the seller to re saw it for you. If you're going to use it for boards best to sticker it and stack it for drying, to stop warping.   
 I have bought 2" stuff that was entirely coated with wax that was fine.
I usually coat my thicker boards that I cut with Pva, at least 2 coats. Quarter saw the stuff I cut myself, to reduce movement.

If you leave it in a large section you might get away with it if you live in a cool region, but still coat it with glue.
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: Blaflair2 on October 28, 2013, 09:11:13 pm
Paint the ends and put 1x2 in between layers and sit and wait
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: toomanyknots on October 28, 2013, 09:23:28 pm
Where do I coat it? Everywhere?  :o  ;D
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: Joec123able on October 28, 2013, 09:30:51 pm
So you're cutting it into boards ?? Are you not a fan of stave bows ? I'm just wondering
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: Blaflair2 on October 28, 2013, 10:56:04 pm
It's already cut he said. I'd just paint the ends and stack it. Shouldn't check too bad if the ends are sealed well
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: toomanyknots on October 28, 2013, 11:03:29 pm
Okee Dokey, thanks guys,  ;D.
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: PatM on October 28, 2013, 11:43:22 pm
Are you certain this board is worth getting? I've seen some Osage boards and not a single one had a straight grain line worth mentioning.
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: DLH on October 29, 2013, 12:57:39 am
I would use parrafin for the ends works well for sawed 4x4 squares of other woods.
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: Hamish on October 29, 2013, 02:49:57 am
Paint the glue all over the surfaces. 3 x 8" likes to check. I'd coat anything even 1" if its hot weather.
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: mikekeswick on October 29, 2013, 04:18:09 am
My local hardwood specialist recently got some very big slabs of osage. He was very keen to show them to me, thinking I was going to buy them all! However not one piece had good enough grain. Just cos it's osage don't tempted to buy unless the grain is straight.
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: blackhawk on October 29, 2013, 07:16:39 am
Resaw......seal ALL surfaces...stack em with spacers in between stored in the right environment,and put a lil weight on top of the last ones....shellacs the best for this...
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: toomanyknots on October 29, 2013, 09:08:09 am
I honestly have no idea what they look like, but the price is right (thank you craigslist, :) ) and I am in need of some osage lumber. The pictures actually look super clean, but ain't no telling what the wood could be hiding inside of it of course. Thanks everybody for the advice. So what I should do is:

- Cut em out
- Stack em up with spacers
- And seal em up, most likely using shellac?

I think I might be headed down there later on this week.
Title: Re: About to purchase some osage lumber, got some questions for yall...
Post by: blackhawk on October 29, 2013, 09:48:25 am
You better get there before I do  ;D  :laugh: