Bodark bow staves

9

99f250

Joined
Mar 23, 2009
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503
I just returned from Tx. on a work/ hog hunting trip and while on my friends property I found this nice bodark tree that happened to be in the view of corn feeder so we cut it down and I asked if I could have the wood and he said no problem, so now I got three logs, the 1st is about 12in at the base and 8in at the top, 2nd is 8in at base and 6in at the top and the last about 6 and 4in all about 6ft long, I want to split these up into bow stave's, how do I split and how big to split them, and yes some will be available.
 
Finding Bois D'Arc in long enough pieces for long bow staves that's usable and not full of knots is definitely a good find. I'd like to see the pics when you split them.
 
I just watched a series on youtube about bowmaking, and making the staves, wow alot of work, why is every one splitting with wedges instead of using saws?
 
You want to follow the grain rather than saw through it. Splitting with a wedge will follow the grain. With a saw, you risk cutting through the grain even if you are sawing lengthwise. The wood retains much better strength and resilience/spring if the grain is not interrupted.

By the way, if you end up with any extras, I'd like to talk with you about one.;)

Thanks,

DancesWithKnives
 
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twisted or knotty osage orange
while unsuitable for bow staves
can be used for some spectacular knife scales too
 
One of the problems with Osage is that it can check. Or develope cracks in it. I have heard that painting the cuts ends can help during the curing time. I have also heard of people throwing them into water for awhile to age them. Maybe this has to do with posts. Any comments on this would be interesting. I have also heard that the roots were used to make a dye.
 
When I got home from work today I split the bigger log in half, damn, this stuff is hard, it took forever to get the wedge started, split nice and straight though, going to split these half's in two when I get home tomorrow.
 
99f250 seal ends immediately to prevent splitting. extensive story in last month or two in Fur Fish & Game. bois darc or osage orange original used exclusively by Osage indians. strongest pull of any wood in america, said to be able to generate 65 lb. pull. article said to cure in area with good areation for one year. bow makers would be advised to read that article. this wood used in bows doe'st pick up humidity & lose pull strength as hickory & other woods do. in parts of texas fence posts of this are called "100 year posts".
 
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