Taking An Osage Stave Down To A Growth Ring

This is a good one for taking a Osage stave down to one growth ring.

Trim the sides smooth so you can see the rings. Pick a ring.

Trace the spring layer above that ring on both sides with ink. The ends should also be smooth so you can see the ring.

Start on either end and get down to your ring. Use a sharp drawknife flat side up. Take off wood near the end, then take off longer peels, then longer, so you create a “downhill” slope. Get a bright incandesent light and position it at an angle above the wood or work in the sunlight. You will be able to see the sapwood and heartwood rings you have cut through. Maintain the slope, going all the way to the other end. You will be able to tell by feel when you get to the spring growth between heartwood rings. Leave 2-3 layers around pin knots. You can scrape them down later. Don’t try to get a “clean” ring. You can go back a couple of times and outline the leftover rings using a scraper right at the spring wood boundary between your ring and the waste rings, then use the knife a little more. It’s best to stop just above your ring and only use a scraper to get the final spring growth off. Go from one end to the other with the scraper, pulling it back towards the clean.