Just cut a osage stave. Brought back from ILL.
NOW WHAT? It's in the Attic..Someone says to Lacquer the ends .. Someone else say's to skin it ? 8/12 ft by 8 " diameter. What now ??
Don't know a thing about HOW to build a bow..HELP!!  

Split it in staves around three inches wide and pull the two best ones out and seal the ends with two coats of shellac and put them in the attic for two years. Take the other two and take off the bark and sapwood and chase down to one ring above the one you want. Seal the ring on the back and the ends with two coats of shellac. Lay out a bow and rough it down to almost bow dimension using drawknives, hatchets, rasped... Whatever you are comfortable with and then bring it in the house for a few months. That's a start.

when splitting into staves take a skil saw and score the log where you want it split. then use wedges and a good heavy hammer. DVSHUNTER gave you good advice. good luck

With osage, I never score the log.  I like to start the split and let the grain decide where it wants to go.

QuoteOriginally posted by DVSHUNTER:
Split it in staves around three inches wide and pull the two best ones out and seal the ends with two coats of shellac and put them in the attic for two years. Take the other two and take off the bark and sapwood and chase down to one ring above the one you want. Seal the ring on the back and the ends with two coats of shellac. Lay out a bow and rough it down to almost bow dimension using drawknives, hatchets, rasped... Whatever you are comfortable with and then bring it in the house for a few months. That's a start.

Great info there.....

 

I second that tenbrook. Its a great way to get a jump on a future bow and have a few chunks leftover to season.

The attic will be OK in the winter but will ruin your wood when the weather starts to warm up in the spring, too much heat for green wood. I found this out the hard way.

Thank's Guy's, this is GOOD STUFF. Please keep it coming!!