Osage Orangr

[Freds Edge]

I was wondering if anyone had any experience working with Osage Orange wood , I have a small log I squared up and was thinking of using it for some handle material .

 

[Raymond Richard]

I was wondering if anyone had any experience working with Osage Orange wood , I have a small log I squared up and was thinking of using it for some handle material .

I've used it a number of times over the years. I try to find some that has some grain pattern. I'll dye it first and then sand most the dye off. The dye will enhance the grain pattern. I've never bothered having it stabilized. Here's one from several years ago: http://www.bladegallery.com/shopexd.asp?id=85397&photo=1&size=b

 

[Freds Edge]

Raymond , I like the handle and the Knife is just beautiful .

 

[Doug Lester]

North American Osage Orange is one of my favorite woods. I haven't used the Argentine variety. I sand it out to about 400 grit and then wipe them with Aqua Regia and then heat it over an oven burner to darken the wood and get a get a drop on the russset patina that will develop over time. This will raise the grain so you will have to knock it down with some 0000 steel wool. Just make sure there is no rust on the steel wool or the iron oxide will react with the Aqua Regia and make something like vingaroon and leave black marks in the grain. I then put as many coats of boiled linseed oil as it will absorb. Usually about 2 or 3.


Anything that can sit in the ground for decades holding up a fence doesn't need stabilization. The above picture shows a freshly finished handle without the acid/heat treatment. Unfortunately, they won't stay that way. It has since developed a russet brown patina.


Doug