How long does Osage have to dry once it is cut before you can build a bow. Can you speed the drying process up with a heat box.I have some that was cut the first of may of this year and I have always give it a year or better but I have a hankering to start on one. Just wanted some opinions and insight.

You can reduce the belly and that will help speed the drying process. You don't want to dry it to rapidly for first few weeks. If dried to rapidly then it will cause drying checks. I haven't used a heat box but I'm sure after a certain moisture content you could. Hopefully someone else can answer your questions better. I really like to reduce belly. It seems to help with drying checks to. I believe most people that use heat box monitor weight until stave quits losing weight. Then let it rehydrate out of box for a week or so. Then start bow. I hope someone else can give you a more definitive answer. Bjrogg

Thanks Bjrogg, I took the bark off and sealed the ends, It has been drying outside in the rafters for about a month and a half. I have some belly splits that I am going to start checking the weight of the stave on and get them in my shop in a controlled environment for a while. I never heard that trick of to the track the weight until it quit losing weight, that makes a lot of since. Thanks again.

It gets too hot in the rafters, it will cause checks and twisting. The best place is a cool, dark area. Like a basement. If you have A.C.? I would reduce it until the limbs just start to bend. Keep the back sealed and stand it up straight as possible over a register so the A.C. air flows over it. I like to switch it end for end every day. Two reasons; the lower portion gets more air flow and it keeps it from bowing or twisting. If you play that game for about 2 months you could have one ready to go. First thing though, get them out of the rafters.

There is a co called atlantic hardwoods in my area of pa they have huge kilns that dry lumber using refrigeration in large rooms that are cooled down below ambient temp the water from the wood runs out the drains like a small stream . they can take green cut lumber down to 11 percent in less than two weeks . there are giant fans with huge evaporators blowing air over the lumber 24 /7 i have been there a few times a lot of the lumber goes for furniture amazing pearl drums is right lower the humidity it will pull the water out of the wood quick

I got a fresh cut one in may, roughed out to almost floor tiller and set it in a warm place in the house on top of the china cabinet. I finished it about 3 weeks later. Total was less than 1 month.

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