splitting osage

gman.ricky · January 11, 2011, 01:32:00 PM

i have recently cut a few 12 inch osage logs. i have split them in half and was wondering if some have been able to get 3 staves out of a half log similar in size., w/out the use of a bandsaw. my grain is pretty straight but dont wanna take the chance of ruining the whole piece.still want another opinion.

Pat B · January 11, 2011, 03:14:00 PM

I would quarter the log and try to take the piggy back from the inside then split the outter portion in half. Got any pics?

scrub-buster · January 11, 2011, 03:46:00 PM

I love splitting osage. Pictures would be a big help.

John Scifres · January 11, 2011, 04:27:00 PM

3" across the bark is minimum for me. I'd suspect you cn get 3 splits from each quarter plus at least one belly split. A lot depends on how it splits and how symettrically the tree grew.

If it looks like this, you might get 6 staves from the compression side and 2 from the tension side. This is a 12" tree.

There's at least 3 and a belly split or two in each quarter.

I think I got 13 staves from the butt log.

gman.ricky · January 11, 2011, 05:58:00 PM

gman.ricky · January 11, 2011, 06:02:00 PM

how in the heck do you add images on this thing?

Roy from Pa · January 11, 2011, 06:04:00 PM

My God John, I've never seen rings that thick on an Osage log in my life... Awesome staves.

To post pictures, you first need to upload them to photobucket. Then after they are there, under the picture there will be a line that says img, click on it and copy it, then paste it into your post.

See link below for more info.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=75;t=000119

Osagetree · January 11, 2011, 06:59:00 PM

I'd say those are the rings of an open feild osage leaning out of a hedgerow and reaching for the sun!

Some logs look like they'll split in 1/8's but don't always do so. I try and play it safe unless I have a bunch to split, then I'll get brave and try to make two from a 1/4 split.

gman.ricky · January 11, 2011, 07:12:00 PM

, thanks Roy

broketooth · January 11, 2011, 07:27:00 PM

y'all are so lucky to be able to harvest osage at will. this wood is like gold to me.such a beautiful bow wood. i should move. ruddy

Stiks-n-Strings · January 11, 2011, 10:00:00 PM

That's it! I'm firing up th stihl tomorrow and cutting me some yeller wood.

gman, that is some good looking wood right there

John Scifres · January 11, 2011, 10:04:00 PM

Surprisingly, that tree was dead straight up and down. It grew in a drain on the edge of a corn/bean field in central Indiana. I was surprised by the assymetry.

It's the wood I used for this bow from my recent buildalong.
Osage Buildalong

Ricky Wallace · January 11, 2011, 10:11:00 PM

That aint fair! We dont have that stuff in Flawida ! do we????

It sure is pretty

Stiks-n-Strings · January 11, 2011, 10:13:00 PM

John that is one good looking osage tree.

KellyG · January 12, 2011, 12:52:00 AM

Ruddy I Know VA has hedge, Most call it horse apples though I grew up not to far off the NC line south of Roanoke.
But now in KS It is every where the trad off is I have not seen a hickory tree.
I bet every state has hedge in it somewhere.

Gman I hope you succes the only why to find out what it will do is try. Take the worst piece and see what she will do.

Kelly

scrub-buster · January 12, 2011, 01:45:00 AM

I've been eyeballing a nice young osage tree across the street from my house. It's about 8" diameter and straight as can be. As soon as the snow melts, it's coming down.

Osagetree · January 12, 2011, 05:10:00 PM

Try reading a tree's life by the rings.... Here's what I see,,, wrong or right?

Johns 1st pic I count 15 to 16 yrs growth,,, tree's around it grew smaller (as the pic shows). Tallest tree & good water source = big rings.... Lots of sun along the feild or hedgerow a good life with good seasons!

gmans log is around 30 yrs. It also looks like it was a leaner or grew against another tree. It started getting crowded out later in life by other taller tree's for the last 8 yrs or so = Un-uniform rings on one side & thinner outer rings...... A fighter of a tree, good to grow another 30 yrs if it were not for a certain energetic bowyer...

I can't help but to see these things while looking at osage tree rings. Wonder which ring saw the biggest deer & will you take that bucks great, great grandchild with the backing of your bow seeing the whole show?

John Scifres · January 12, 2011, 09:59:00 PM

The tree I cut was done with my boy, James. Here's the whole story: Wood 2009

I made a bow from it for a friend from his father's land. He has a nice appreciation for the land, practical but respectful. I like that. Lot's of stories in the land. Stories between father's and sons, trees and bucks