Osage lumber

[D6c]

Neighbor brought me a few hedge logs he wants sawed.... wasn't sure how he wants it cut.... maybe 1x6s was his only suggestion  Most are about 6'...a couple longer.
Any suggestions on cutting dimensions for best use.  He doesn't have much use for beams. 

[firefighter ontheside]

Hard to say without knowing a use.  I've not sawn hedge yet.  I think if i did it would be 6/4 for my own use.

[btulloh]

Billets or 8/4 or 6/4.

I wonder what he's using it for. Bows, knife handles, mallets, turning maybe.

[JV]

I sawed some smaller pieces into 3/8 x 2 for trellises.  One lady asked her husband if it was treated wood.  He laughed and said no.  I tell them to watch it change from yellow to tan to dark brown.  Someone replied once that it lasted 2 years longer than a rock.

[D6c]

Billets or 8/4 or 6/4.

I wonder what he's using it for. Bows, knife handles, mallets, turning maybe.

Don't think he knows what he's going to use it for....commented that he didn't really care since he's got nothing in them.  They're just leftovers from cutting cutting a 100 or so fence posts.  Can't expect clear lumber from hedge...they almost always have wind shake cracks.

[pineywoods]

Osage not that common here, I have a market for even small scraps.  Goes for game calls.

[YellowHammer]

I saw all mine to 2 3/8" and 3" x wide clear.  I don't get many logs, but sell every log I get, from game calls to salad spoons.  I tried to sell it as full size live edge slabs, but nobody wanted them.  

I then cut them into chunks, 2' to 4' long, mostly 6 inches and narrower and they sold fast.  Same pieces of wood, just cut them down. 

 

[Brad_bb]

Pluses are it will never rot so good for outdoor use.  Oxidizes quickly to a nice rust brown.  Hard as heck.

Minuses, You can easily get waves when cutting it.  Go slow and use a 4° blade.  Does not plane well- you can get tear out.  I've never tried to plane it with a Byrd Shellix head so that might work.

Mill it green if possible.  Dry osage is much more difficult to cut without waves.

I mill them for timber frame brace stock, and the outer slabs/boards I save for small projects.  I have osage braces holding up my mailbox base.

They will also make fence posts that will not rot if you can get them long enough.

[D6c]

Osage not that common here, I have a market for even small scraps.  Goes for game calls.

Got so much here it's considered a weed.  Mostly gets used for fence posts, which will last 75 years.  Didn't know about game calls.... I have enough to make a million of them.

[jimparamedic]

For me here in Ohio we have a lot of it too. Most gets used as fence post just like locus. If it is not fresh cut I will not saw either on my circular mill do to the fact it is very hard on the blade. Even fresh cut sure makes the saw scream. most of what I get to saw is between 8-12 inch and 8 foot long.