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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800 posts in 1554 days
#1 posted 1458 days ago
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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232 posts in 1798 days
#2 posted 1458 days ago
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.
-- Makin' Sawdust!!!
a1Jim
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87200 posts in 1747 days
#3 posted 1458 days ago
looks like good planing look forward to more progress
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
SCOTSMAN
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4312 posts in 1755 days
#4 posted 1458 days ago
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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800 posts in 1554 days
#5 posted 1458 days ago
Alistair, it is pronounced like your first guess, oh saij.
-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY
Sawdustonmyshoulder
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232 posts in 1798 days
#6 posted 1458 days ago
http://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/lumber/wood-species-2/osage-orange/
Here is a short story about Osage Orange or Bowdark or Bodock.
-- Makin' Sawdust!!!
ahock
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102 posts in 1494 days
#7 posted 1458 days ago
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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45 posts in 1419 days
#8 posted 1419 days ago
can’t wait to see the finished product. great design
-- -Jon
Karson
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34370 posts in 2570 days
#9 posted 1419 days ago
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. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
ahock
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102 posts in 1494 days
#10 posted 1415 days ago
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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