| Project by Grumpy | posted 6 days ago | 126 views | 0 times favorited | 16 comments | ![]() |
A friend of mine works for a cattle farmer with a few thousand acres of grazing land on which there are lots of trees (thats right Jocks, lots of trees). My friend got me some Osage Orange off this property recently. As it was the farmers wood it was only fair that I made something in return. It just happened that the farmer’s 50th wedding anniversary was coming up, a perfect time to make something out of the osage.
I had made a pen & pencil set out of osage before but as this was an anniversary I thought the 1958 penny was a good touch to the project.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
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16 comments so far
SteveKorz
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311 posts in 47 days
posted 6 days ago
That is really cool… I love the contrasting amber of the wood…
I’ve never worked with osage orange, was it hard as heck to work with?
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Grumpy
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2896 posts in 184 days
posted 6 days ago
Steve, It is hard but turns well. as long as the tools are kept sharp there are no problems at all. I suppose on a hardness scale it would rate about a 7 out of 10. Thanks for looking.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
GaryK
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6986 posts in 321 days
posted 6 days ago
Very cool! I like the color.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
CharlieM1958
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3017 posts in 551 days
posted 6 days ago
Great idea….well done!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
pappyjohn
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138 posts in 46 days
posted 6 days ago
Grumpy Very Nice, the color looks great, curious though is that Gold Flake along the Edges of the base. Great Job in turning pen looks like it has a very nice grip while writing.
-- Your Brother in WoodWorking John, Pittsburgh , PA.
scott shangraw
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207 posts in 402 days
posted 6 days ago
I’m sure they will enjoy the gift.Nice job.I tried carving a bowl out of that stuff ,man never again ,a little too hard for that.
-- Scott NM,http://www.shangrilawoodworks.com
Grumpy
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2896 posts in 184 days
posted 6 days ago
G’day Pappyjohn, Not gold just a reflection off the flash. I used a brush on poly lacquer.
Scott, that wood is hard but OK to turn. As you say carving would be a different story.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
mrtrim
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1372 posts in 213 days
posted 6 days ago
great gift grumpy ! you did a fine job of it .
-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes
Karson
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11029 posts in 733 days
posted 6 days ago
Thats a great pen Grumpy and the pen holder was very unique. he was probably glad to have you take the tree down. Or was it a fence post?
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Grumpy
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2896 posts in 184 days
posted 6 days ago
No Karson, That was a tree, it came with the fruit as well, but I don’t like the idea of eating it.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Scott Bryan
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6413 posts in 155 days
posted 5 days ago
Grumpy,
That is a wonder turning. And the inclusion of the penny was simply a wonderful thought. Very nice. You do have a sentimental side to you in addition to your artistic skills. This piece is well designed and I like the finish as well.
Thanks for the post and the story behind it. You did well, my friend.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Lee A. Jesberger
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1732 posts in 312 days
posted 5 days ago
Hi Grumpy;
Tis a nice thing you did!
Nice project.
And 1958 is a favorite year for me. (birth year), but don’t tell anyone.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Dick Cain
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4158 posts in 632 days
posted 5 days ago
Very nice Grumpy!
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
John Gray
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326 posts in 218 days
posted 5 days ago
Nice idea! Thanks for the post.
-- Only the Shadow knows....................
Grumpy
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2896 posts in 184 days
posted 5 days ago
Lee, your secret is safe with me.
Thanks for your comments Jocks, very much appreciated.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
RusticElements
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82 posts in 58 days
posted 2 days ago
I’ve never seen wood like that before. Nice! And a great use for it too.
-- Michael R. Harvey - Brewster, NY - RusticElementArt.com - SpaceAware.org