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Osange Orange?

Osange Orange? (post #168711)

PhillipB on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 09:35

Wood and Materials

I would like to make my next wooden plane out of this wood which I believe is osage orange. I am not certain that it is, but it looks like it may be just that. I also do not remember where this log came from, which is not much help either.

Comments welcome as always.

Regards

~ Phillip Anthony

http://doggonegoodapps.com/

Sure looks like it, should be (post #168711, reply #1 of 6)

by hammer1 in reply to PhillipB [original] on Fri, 08/19/2011 - 18:14

Sure looks like it, should be rather heavy. You can put a few shavings in water and the water should turn yellow.

Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

Sorry for the late reply, but (post #168711, reply #3 of 6)

by PhillipB in reply to hammer1 [original] on Mon, 08/22/2011 - 10:18

Sorry for the late reply, but I thought I was set to receive posts. Guess knot. :-))

I also just received an 'Access Denied' message. Anyway, ...

I did as you suggested and soaked a handful of jointer shavings in water for a few days. Does the image look the 'yellow' you had envisioned?

Regards

~ Phillip Anthony

http://doggonegoodapps.com/

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I don't know of another (post #168711, reply #5 of 6)

by hammer1 in reply to PhillipB [original] on Tue, 08/23/2011 - 15:35

I don't know of another species that has a yellow dye that will leach out in water like osage orange. If a few shavings turned that water yellow, I'd bet it was osage orange. In about 5 yrs. it will turn chocolate brown, then you'll know for sure.

Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

That looks more like yellow (post #168711, reply #2 of 6)

by joinerswork in reply to PhillipB [original] on Sun, 08/21/2011 - 17:12

That looks more like yellow locust than osage orange to me, if the color is true in the picture.

I have made a plane out of osage orange, and it seems to be pretty stable. the piece of firewood I worked it out of was pretty well seasoned, and the stock was quartersawn, well, quarter-split to be precise.

Ray

Yes, the color is correct. I (post #168711, reply #4 of 6)

by PhillipB in reply to joinerswork [original] on Mon, 08/22/2011 - 10:50

Yes, the color is correct. I use a gray card in every shot that I take and adjust in Lightroom before I export any JPEGs.

Do you have a method to determine if it is yellow locust? I looked in my Hoadley book but did not find any yellow locust.

My wood is very dense and heavy, but regardless of what it is, do you think it would do for a good plane?

I also have some cocobolo, adaman padauk and a few other pieces that may make good planes, but this piece has piqued my interest.

Thanks for your comments.

Phillip Anthony

Regards

~ Phillip Anthony

http://doggonegoodapps.com/

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Phillip, Colorwise, locust (post #168711, reply #6 of 6)

by joinerswork in reply to PhillipB [original] on Wed, 08/24/2011 - 06:51

Phillip,

Colorwise, locust is more a pale yellow- green in color, while osage orange is more yellow to orange. Osage orange burns hot, like locust, but while locust burns down quietly into a bed of hot long-lasting coals, osage orange constantly pops and throws sparks and embers like crazy. It's impossible to safely burn it in a fireplace, and opening a stove door is the same as setting off a fireworks display.

I don't know anything about how stable locust might be for a plane, I have an old, shop-made smoother that I think is locust, but it is a relic, not a user, I've never tried to recondition it to try it out. It is plenty hard enough to wear well, I'd think.

Ray