Osage Orange Turning

[jaybird]

I have a disc of Osage that I have had for about 15 years and never haveing turned this wood thought I would have a go. I swear if I had a piece of steel handy I could have turned it easier. This bit of wood is rock hard, so is this what Osage is like or is it just my bit, it also seems to have grain running all over the place and no matter which way I cut there is two areas on the disc which are opposite each other where I'm cutting against the grain. In the end I took it off the lathe and put it away for another day. Should add the chisel were very sharp at least for a few minutes. Talk about Frustrating.

[chambezio]

With Osage Orange you nearly have to keep the grinder running while you are turning the timber it is just one of those very hard group of timbers. The colour of the piece is worth the frustration when you are finished

[Drillit]

Hello Jaybird,
Agree with Chambezio that the colour of the wood is worth the torment. If you have any tungsten carbide tools (or can access them) you will find it easier, in my experience. Drillit.

[jaybird]

Thanks for the replies, it would seem that patience and sharp tools are the go. It will be a challenge for another day when I have both, now where's a softer piece of wood.

[hughie]

Thanks for the replies, it would seem that patience and sharp tools are the go. It will be a challenge for another day when I have both, now where's a softer piece of wood.

Many choose to turn it green.

[dai sensei]

If you think Osage is hard, hate to see you try some of the really hard Aussie desert Acacia timbers like Minirichie

[jaybird]

If Minirichie is harder than Osage then I think I will get a metalworking lathe and make steel bowls.

[Luke Maddux]

I'm from the southeastern USA and this is widely regarded as the hardest thing around, and for good reason.

But compared to some of the harder, drylands stuff in Australia it's child's play. The major difference would be that you have a hell of a time finding faceplate turning sized blocks of the Aussie stuff because the trees are so small, whereas OO is a fairly decent sized tree on occasion.

Cheers,
Luke