Orange Osage

[Challenger949L]

I had to cut down a small to medium sized Orange Osage tree in my yard today.
It seemed very heavy and hard. I did some research and have found some references to it being the hardest native wood and to it being rot resistent. I wonder, would this be a good wood for a tiller, cleats, rubrail?
Hmmm.
Jimmy Small

[kendall]

great for making bows!

not sure of it's resistance to water though.

ken

[Tim]

For non-structural things, including most deck trim, there's no reason to not use just about any wood you like--there's really no reason to confine yourself to teak or mahogany. Having a decent species--one that you like--available is as good a reason as any to use it for trim or other such things.

Some woods will hold up better than others, of course, and the overall strength of the species may affect its usefulness in an application like a tiller, but a properly protected (i.e. painted or varnished) piece of just about any species will do fine in these applications. I see no reason why you shouldn't try out your "self-harvested" wood, assuming it is of acceptable quality and working characteristics, etc.

Very hard and dense woods like Osage Orange require more care with glue seams as well, so keep that in mind if doing any laminations.

For structural work, stick to the woods that have a long history of use in those applications.

[jollyboat]

I would like to add to this topic with the following. While I refurbishing 346 I was purchasing Honduras mahogony from my local lumber yard. At the time I was replacing the cockpit combings and being happy with the original mahogany installed stayed with this wood. While at the lumber yard I and looking at other wood types I was informed of a Brazillian mahogany that was imported into the states as a finished decking product as opposed to a raw material. (import laws I assume) Anyway this Brazillian mahogany was much much less expensive and sold by the board foot. I used it to rebuild my forward hatch, grab handles and other assorted trim projects. I maybe behind the times here a little bit as I do not purchase that much "nice" wood often but I thought I was really onto something. Of course because this wood was being sold as a finished product for decking I was somewhat limited in the sizes that I could get but for I needed the size available was fine.

[CharlieJ]

Osage Orange, often known as Bois D'Arc because it was used as a bow making wood by the amerindians is a VERY rot resistant wood. It is said that a fence post made from one will last a hundred years, then you turn it over and put the top end in the ground for another hundred. *grin*

I would think it would make an excellent tiller. Be warned that when freshly cut it'll be a bright yellow, but that will mellow to a beautiful brown in a few weeks or so exposed to UV.

I have several lathe chisels with Bois D'Arc handles. Also had a 60 pound draw weight self bow made from the wood. When I sold it it was some 15 years old and showed no signs of checking whatsoever. Of course it wasn't constantly exposed to UV either. If that's a problem, make a sock from sunbrella and cover the tiller.

[Tim]

Brazillian mahogany

I suspect that is what's also commonly known as "ipe", which is indeed a fine mahogany-like hardwood suitable for many uses--though it's normally sold as decking material.

[jollyboat]

[quote-Tim "I suspect that is what's also commonly known as "ipe"]

I just checked the Rings End Lumber web-site - they call the wood CAMBARA and yes it was listed just under the Ipe under hardwood decking - but I do not think it is as hard as Ipe - again I am not an expert - eitherway it is nice to know that a really nice wood is out there for reasonable prices.
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