![\"Completed](\"\" "\\"24K")
<\/a>Completed Pen Using Kentucky Osage Orange<\/p><\/div>\n
Other Timber Uses of Osage Orange Wood <\/h3>\n
The most common uses of the Osage Orange tree<\/strong> were and are as a windbreak and as cattle deterrent fence, prior to the invention and adoption of barbed wire, due to the sharp thorns on the plant. The tree also found use in applications where its strength and resistance to rot would be valuable, including as fence posts, tool handles, and electrical insulators.<\/p>\n Non-Timber Uses of Osage Orange Wood <\/h3>\n
A yellow-orange dye can be extracted from the wood, making it an ecologically friendly alternative to chemical aniline or fustic dyes that can be toxic to people, animals, and\/or plants.<\/p>\n
Uses of Osage Orange Fruits <\/h3>\n
The tree produces a fruit which bears seeds that are edible, although it is usually only squirrels who bother to extract them for consumption. Consumption of the fruit itself can cause vomiting. An extract of fruit shows promise as a mosquito repellent, although contrary to folk wisdom in the Midwest, the fruits themselves have no demonstrated ability to repel insects or spiders. <\/p>\n
The Osage Orange Tree in History <\/h3>\n
The Osage Orange has a spot of historical fame and importance as it was one of the primary trees planted during President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “Great Plains Shelterbelt” WPA project, launched, in 1934, as part of plan to prevent further soil erosion in the plains states and to hopefully alleviate the effects of the current, and prevent a future, Dust Bowl, which was devastating Midwestern farming communities, leading to one of the greatest mass domestic migrations in United States history. By 1942, 30,233 shelterbelts containing 220 million Osage Orange trees that stretched for 18,600 miles had been planted.<\/p>\n
My Experience With Osage Orange Wood <\/h3>\n
I have found Osage Orange wood to frankly be a bit of a pain to work with. Its hardness and durability make it a reasonable wood to use for turnery, but most specimens of the wood are not straight grained, have inclusions and blanks, or are otherwise not reasonable to work with for craft purposes. The wood chips incredibly easily due to its extreme hardness so if you choose to work with it, take care and be patient. Be especially patient when attempting to drill this wood! It seems to take glue quite easily and it does polish beautifully. The wood is a lovely yellow-orange color but that in and of itself is not unique in the wood world. If you have a ready supply of Osage Orange wood, or if you particularly like working with native American woods, by all means give it a try, just bear in mind that it isn’t always the easiest wood to work with given that most pieces are not of high grade timber quality. <\/p>\n
<\/a>Kentucky Osage Orange Blank and Finished Pen<\/p><\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Osage Orange is a highly colored native American hardwood that is widely distributed throughout the midwestern United States and beyond. Prized for uses ranging from fence posts to high-end archery bows, the yellow-orange heartwood finds application in wood craft work as well, being used to make turned wood pens and other desk implements as well as knife handles. The wood also yields an organic dye and its fruit may even have insect repelling properties. The tree has lived in the America’s since long before that name had any meaning and may have been the favored food source of a giant ground sloth long since extinct. And Osage Orange played a key role in more modern American history during the Dust Bowl of the 1930’s when it was very widely planted in an attempt to control soil erosion. Osage Orange is truly an American original with lots to recommend it besides its beautiful coloration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":175,"featured_media":155,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[141,127,128,138,139,130],"tags":[171,180,183,200,210,239,249,252],"yoast_head":"\n
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![\"Kentucky](\"http:\/\/www.woodturningpens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/osage-orange-an-unexpectedly-colorful-native-american-wood-2.jpg\" "\\"Kentucky")
<\/a>