Has anyone heard of this type of wood

[Cam5]

A guy i met told me about a wood he called 'horse orange' does anyone know of this wood and what it's proper name is.

Also he said that the wood from an apricot tree is good to turn.

Any advice welcom.

cam.

[MajorPanic]

What you heard as 'horse orange' is actually Osage Orange

It's very nice for turning.

Any fruit wood is very good to work. I've had some small pieces of Apple from an orchard in Stanthorp that was VERY nice!!

[Hickory]

Osage Orange, here in the States is also called Hedge Apple, as it was grown as fence rows because it is thick and thorny and cattle don't like to push through. It bears a green fruit witha sticky ooze that insect really hate so folks used to keep them under their beds to keep out bugs and spiders. The wood is yellow (except for white sapwood) and very hard when cured, It burns so hot it will burn out a stove or grate. Dulls chisels as a passtime. But works well green.

Is this the wood you speak of?

I am presently working on a Hollow form of Hedge Apple/ Osage Orange, I turned a green blank and soaked in Alcohol and allowing it to dry, in a couple of weeks I wil finish turning and post a picture if I am successful.

[ubeaut]

Have a look here http://www.ubeaut.com.au/osage1.htm we no longer have any for sale but it will give you an idea of what Osage is like.

One of my favourite timbers, although it is inclined to pick out a little in the long grain at the inside base of a bowl. Deft hand ans maybe a very sharp scraper needed to finish with.

Starts out bright yellow and will age to a deep rich brown similar to blackwood. The timber has amazing depth and clarity and when finished with Shellawax (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/shell.html) or Glow (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/Glow.htm) (the 2 pieces in pic on Glow page are Osage) flashes like opal. (Sorry about the plug but just couldn't help myself)

Cheers - Neil :)

[DavidG]

(Sorry about the plug but just couldn't help myself)
You deserve it.




grovel, grovel.:D

[whiteeagle]

I had a man bring me some osage orange (bodark) and I turned a small box it works beautifuly and has a very tight grain and finishes very well, hope I can get some more it is very yellow. :) :)

[Cam5]

Thanks to everyone that replyd.

I have used osage orange before to make a nice letter opener came out great.

I still have a little left over i thought i might make a couple of pens out of it.

Thanks anyway now i know that horse orange is osage orange.

cam.