I have an Osage log that is about 6 feet long and 7 inches diameter. A friend brought it to me from Kansas 2 years ago. It has the bark on it and the ends were sealed with wax. Does this log have any value for making bows? It has been laying in my shop for 2 years now and I am not sure what to do with it. Maybe firewood? It sure is heavy for its size.
Thanks
John

Osage is some of the best selfbow wood you can get so in that aspect, yes, it has great value for bows. The size is about right and depending on straightness, twists, knots etc, you should easily get 4 staves from it. Perhaps more if it's of the proper characteristics. A few pictures could help solicit more advice.

It is like gold.

Split it into 4 pie shaped sections.

Pictures?

Because of the way it was stored(log intact, ends sealed) there could be checks and/or bore damage. Split the log in half and remove the bark and you will see if either has happened. If these maladies didn't happen there is no reason there shouldn't be good bow wood underneath.

How would one go about splitting the log? Maybe drive a wedge down the center?

Basically that is it. What I do, and I think most do, is too study both ends of the log and determine where you would like it to divide and mark it. Then, personally, I have a hatchet that I I will tap in to the end of the log where I wish the divide to start. As I drive the hatchet in a split will start you can get a wedge in. Once that has started you at the mercy of the wood grain.

I do the same as skeater for the most part.  If you can find a crack/check on the cut end that's a good place to start your split.  The wood is telling you that's where it wants to split.  From that point, get ready for a workout and get after it...

"https://www.youtube.com/embed/5kBKLgSlbuY"

Reason #2 I don't cut trees that big.

Quote from: Roy from Pa on March 08, 2019, 02:31:46 PM
"https://www.youtube.com/embed/5kBKLgSlbuY"

Dang Roy, you look 30 years younger since you quit drinking.

 

Someone should show that young feller how to double stack wedges

Yep.

You have got good advice on how to handle that log.  I would add that you should start the split on the small end.  Try to split it in even halves.  That size log should yield 4 nice staves if everything goes well.  Hopefully you don't find any drying cracks or bug damage under the bark.  Post some pictures of what you get from splitting it. 

On big logs I put the chainsaw to them for the first split. I guess I should say I used to put the chainsaw to them, my osage cutting days are over due to old age.

Watched the video, had no idea Osage got that big. You could make some furniture with that stuff!

Osage gets a lot bigger than those logs.

I've cut some pretty big osage, 20-24" diameter, and dealt with them by myself. But not nearly the biggest I've seen. I've passed up all the truly big ones. Been eyeing up a family of osage trees for years, even had permission to cut them a few years back, but never did. They are feak... ing... huge. Some leaning over so far, like dominos in freeze-frame, that the cows in that pasture are able to scratch their backs on them. Only 50 yards from the road and a gate. I could back right up to them, and probably load them with the farmers backhoe. They're just so big. And with those giant trees, you never know what's inside. Could be hollow, rotten, split. They might not be any good. I like em better in the 10-16" range.

I just did a drive-by. Most of them are still there. There used to be more. Looks like maybe one is down on the ground. The smallest one on the right is at least 22-24".

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The biggest ones are about 100 yards away. I'd guess they're about 3' in diameter and pushing 35-40' tall.