Osage Orange - worth clearing?

aigheadish · April 21, 2022, 10:21:14 AM

You guys have inspired me to go harvest some Osage! I've got at least one tree but maybe 2 or 3, with the 2nd and 3rd kind of laying down back at the opening of the back field. Before I knew what it was I went out to hit some of the stuff that looked dead with the backhoe. There was maybe 10 feet of it that stretched out, maybe 6 inches in diameter, without bark, and I figured I'd just knock it off. Well, I put my bucket up on it and while some of it split it just turned to fibers and stayed connected. A few years later and there it still stands. The stuff I've got out there is probably 18+" in diameter near the base. I never thought to try turning it.

Walnut Beast · April 21, 2022, 10:41:24 PM

Looking forward to seeing some Osage on the mill guys 👍

doc henderson · April 21, 2022, 11:00:31 PM

I am milling some Saturday for @Cardiodoc If anyone wants some, come to Ks. many are paying to have it dozed out and giving it away.

Walnut Beast · April 21, 2022, 11:01:30 PM

Looking forward to some pics Doc 👍

kantuckid · April 22, 2022, 01:06:09 PM

The only real question toward its value is if it's suitable to saw and if you know how to make stuff with it? Few trees yield useable wood. Especially the ones that are wolf trees out in the open not corralled in a hedgerow "as they used to grow" in KS. No till farming began the move toward hedgerow removals many years back. People feel the need to "groom every bit of land these days is another factor, as hedge isn't a typical forest tree species.

Walnut Beast · April 22, 2022, 05:57:59 PM

Quote from: Nebraska on April 21, 2022, 07:42:21 AM
You know that hedge dyed as described above, cut into inch ish boards and and alternated with Black Walnut would make a cool butcher butcher block counter/bar or chess boards etc 🤔...

When it comes to cutting boards Osage is one of the best

Walnut Beast · April 24, 2022, 12:03:12 AM

Osage down. Kinda 😂. Need to winch the rest to the ground. Was going to cut the lower part later it's pretty massive. This is what I was dealt

thecfarm · April 24, 2022, 05:40:29 AM

Firewood??

doc henderson · April 24, 2022, 09:21:20 AM

it will be good for small projects. turns nice on a lathe. rings, turkey and deer calls. If you build a chair out of it, no one could lift it.

Walnut Beast · April 24, 2022, 04:00:44 PM

Quote from: thecfarm on April 24, 2022, 05:40:29 AM
Firewood??

Not a chance. That's what epoxy is for 😂

Walnut Beast · April 24, 2022, 04:04:27 PM

Quote from: doc henderson on April 24, 2022, 09:21:20 AM
it will be good for small projects. turns nice on a lathe. rings, turkey and deer calls. If you build a chair out of it, no one could lift it.

The stuff is heavy! A friend said save plenty for fence posts