Dead osage tree good or bad?

[Hawkeye 1461]

I have access to a dead osage tree. Don't know much more than it died last year and the farmer was getting ready to cut it up and burn it. Any tips on what i should look for to see if it is viable for bow staves?

[macbow]

Where are the Osage guys?
I think the main thing to check on is if the bugs got to it.
If it's right on the ground they can get in there fast.

[Hawkeye 1461]

The tree is still standing. Im not sure what caused it to die.

[Dan Landis]

I would cut the tree, check the growth rings.  If they are good I would at least split in half or quarters and then peel the bark and sapwood off of one of the staves to check for borer damage, if any is found peel the bark and sapwood from the remaining staves.  Seal the back and ends with shellac or wood glue and let them dry.  Any staves that you do not peel the bark and sapwood from must be treated with an insecticide.  If you need help with the rings, post a pic of the end after you get it cut.  Hope this helps, and good luck.

[Roy from Pa]

When you cut it, seal the ends "right away" with something.

[Hawkeye 1461]

Thanks for the tips.

[scrub-buster]

Dead osage trees make great bows if the wood is still sound.  I found a tree that was cut and laying in a creek bed for many years.  The bark was rotted off of it.  There were some borers in the first few growth rings but once I got below the damage the wood was great!  A bow from those logs killed a buck this past season.

[Roy from Pa]

Buck didn't happen without pictures..  

[scrub-buster]

Here you go Roy. I wasn't the one who killed it.

 

[Roy from Pa]

[Eric Krewson]

My buddy George cut this monster standing dead osage tree, split it all by hand in 100 degree heat.



The wood turned out to be chalky, splintery stuff, very uncharacteristic for osage. It all went to the burn pile.