This is the first project that I’m working on since I’ve joined LJ’s and thought, “Hey, I’ll journal the whole thing on here and get some input from people…”. So that’s what I’m doing. I wanted to try my hand at Osage Orange, as I’ve seen some cool things done with it before and wanted a challenge, from what I hear it’s very hard and dense. I couldn’t find any locally, so I went to Bell Forest Products website and picked some out there. Well, it has arrived! In the past I’ve been very frustrated with expansion and contraction in wood in my shop, the humidity varies drastically, so I’m going to be storing the wood in the house between working sessions; hopefully that helps. So, here it is stickered. I’m going to let it sit for about a week to acclimate before I get going. I did a few trials to see what style my wife would like the most and it came out to be this one.
So, in about a week, I’ll start squaring and cutting things down to size!
-- Andy, PA ~Finding satisfaction in creation
10 comments so far
DaleM
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#1 posted 05-25-2009 04:32 PM
I like it, but with this style it looks like you will have to cut four miters per corner. Double the room for error. Ouch! Looks like a challenge. Good luck, and I’ll be following your blog.
-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY
Sawdustonmyshoulder
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#2 posted 05-25-2009 08:59 PM
Well, being from “Bodock” country, I would suggest you make sure you have sharp tools when you start working with Osage orange (bodock, bois d’arc, horse apple, hedge apple). That stuff will eat tungsten carbide for breakfast and high-speed steel for a mid-morning snack. I have a couple of 1/2 inch, $35 band saw blades with no teeth to bare witness.
Love the look of this wood. It turns beautifully.
Good luck. Post your photos of the finished project. I look forward to seeing them. Oh, welcome to LJ.
-- The more skilled you are at something, the worse you are at it when someone is watching.
a1Jim
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#3 posted 05-25-2009 09:02 PM
looks like good planing look forward to more progress
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos
SCOTSMAN
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#4 posted 05-25-2009 10:28 PM
Osage how do you pronounce it is it OH Saij or osa geh Alistair
-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease
DaleM
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#5 posted 05-25-2009 10:33 PM
Alistair, it is pronounced like your first guess, oh saij.
-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY
Sawdustonmyshoulder
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#6 posted 05-26-2009 04:23 AM
http://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/lumber/wood-species-2/osage-orange/
Here is a short story about Osage Orange or Bowdark or Bodock.
-- The more skilled you are at something, the worse you are at it when someone is watching.
ahock
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#7 posted 05-26-2009 04:56 AM
Thanks Sawdust! Looks like I’m in for a treat… of sharpening that is.
-- Andy, PA ~Finding satisfaction in creation
JMG
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#8 posted 07-04-2009 02:02 AM
can’t wait to see the finished product. great design
-- -Jon
Karson
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#9 posted 07-04-2009 02:09 AM
Have fun. Osage orange is a nice hard wood. It does change color over time so don’t expect the yellow color to stay that way forever.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Appomattox Virginia [email protected] †
ahock
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102 posts in 4815 days
#10 posted 07-07-2009 08:50 PM
I’m finally getting some of them glued up, over a month later… Pics and project to come.
-- Andy, PA ~Finding satisfaction in creation
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