Extremely Hard Woodworking - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

texaswoodworker · 10-20-2009, 04:15 PM

I was at the fair a while back and a guy told me about a man who makes furniture out of bodarc. (For those of you who dont know what bodarc is, It is a extremely hard wood, I cut a 2" diameter log of it before with a large radial arm saw and it chipped 2 or 3 teeth off the blade. It has a golden color with a nice grain.) I have never heard of anyone using bodarc to build furnitue before. I just thought this was interesting so I decided to post it. Here a few pictures of bodarc. I think it may also be called Osage Orange in other parts of the US.

Jediscroller · 10-20-2009, 04:26 PM

I found it very easy to scroll in 3/8" thickness. There was an article about it with my cutting in SSWC a few issues back. I'm looking forward to next year's TX picnic and hoping the fellow with the slabs is there again so I can restock. If you're curious what it looks like scrolled, here's a link to the cutting - http://www.scrollsawer.com/gallery/s...95/ppuser/3391

PS
I got yelled at by some of my buddies in TX for spelling it "bodarc." I guess it's actually B'Ois D'Darc or something like that, hehehe.

texaswoodworker · 10-20-2009, 04:36 PM

It can be spelled either way. It is spelled bodarc around the Texas/Oklahoma boarder (at least thats how we spell it around Lamar County). I think it is spelled B'Ois D'Darc further down south and it is spelled bodart in Lousianna

Woodbutcher68 · 10-20-2009, 08:26 PM

Up here that's Osage Orange.

scrollpup · 10-20-2009, 09:59 PM

Always heard it called osage orange around here....indians would make bows out of it because of it strength...

Jerry

texaswoodworker · 10-20-2009, 10:23 PM

I use it for pen turning. It finishes really well.

reads2kids · 10-20-2009, 10:59 PM

The "fruit" looks like what I call hedge apples. I keep them in the basement to take care of spiders. The wood is beautiful.
Patty

Ocelot · 10-20-2009, 11:09 PM

I just cut about ten slabs from a downed tree in the woods behind my house. Ruff cut the boards from the logs with my chain saw and ran them through the planer. Have them drying in the shed now.
Actually, I posted pictures of the wood on here to identify it. I didn't think that Osage grew up here in NY.

Ray

lucky788scroller · 10-21-2009, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reads2kids

The "fruit" looks like what I call hedge apples. I keep them in the basement to take care of spiders. The wood is beautiful.
Patty

Here we call it osage orange, but yes, its also called hedge apples sometimes too. Its a beautiful wood, great for turning. It does have a tendancy to turn to a dull brown color over time though. Its a really hard wood, and super strong.

je_west · 10-21-2009, 02:49 AM

It is easier to cut up when it is green. My chain saw would throw sparks when it dried. During the '30's, the W.P.A. cut bricks out of it and paved street with it in East Texas. They have been paved over and are still there. It doesn't rot.
John

10-20-2009, 04:26 PM	#2
Jediscroller American Crafstman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Galaxy far, far away Posts: 3,163 Blog Entries: 6	I found it very easy to scroll in 3/8" thickness. There was an article about it with my cutting in SSWC a few issues back. I'm looking forward to next year's TX picnic and hoping the fellow with the slabs is there again so I can restock. If you're curious what it looks like scrolled, here's a link to the cutting - http://www.scrollsawer.com/gallery/s...95/ppuser/3391 PS I got yelled at by some of my buddies in TX for spelling it "bodarc." I guess it's actually B'Ois D'Darc or something like that, hehehe. __________________ Kevin Scrollsaw Patterns Online Making holes in wood with an EX-30, Craftsman 16" VS, Dremel 1680 and 1671 Last edited by Jediscroller; 10-20-2009 at 04:33 PM. Reason: added link

10-20-2009, 04:36 PM	#3
texaswoodworker Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Reno Texas Posts: 278	It can be spelled either way. It is spelled bodarc around the Texas/Oklahoma boarder (at least thats how we spell it around Lamar County). I think it is spelled B'Ois D'Darc further down south and it is spelled bodart in Lousianna __________________ Aaron Last edited by texaswoodworker; 10-20-2009 at 05:47 PM.

10-20-2009, 08:26 PM	#4
Woodbutcher68 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hammond, IN Posts: 870	Up here that's Osage Orange. __________________ Fred There's a fine line between woodworking and insanity, I'm just not sure which side of the line I'm on!

10-20-2009, 09:59 PM	#5
scrollpup Avatar by Casey Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Hot Springs,Arkansas Posts: 1,905	Always heard it called osage orange around here....indians would make bows out of it because of it strength... Jerry __________________ Work your fingers to the bone, and what do you get? Boney fingers.....Boney fingers.....

10-20-2009, 10:23 PM	#6
texaswoodworker Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Reno Texas Posts: 278	I use it for pen turning. It finishes really well. __________________ Aaron

10-20-2009, 10:59 PM	#7
reads2kids Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: North Dakota Posts: 57	The "fruit" looks like what I call hedge apples. I keep them in the basement to take care of spiders. The wood is beautiful. Patty

10-20-2009, 11:09 PM	#8
Ocelot Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NY Posts: 549	I just cut about ten slabs from a downed tree in the woods behind my house. Ruff cut the boards from the logs with my chain saw and ran them through the planer. Have them drying in the shed now. Actually, I posted pictures of the wood on here to identify it. I didn't think that Osage grew up here in NY. Ray __________________ http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t=bdee7145.pbw

10-21-2009, 02:49 AM	#10
je_west Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: West Melbourne, Florida Posts: 58	It is easier to cut up when it is green. My chain saw would throw sparks when it dried. During the '30's, the W.P.A. cut bricks out of it and paved street with it in East Texas. They have been paved over and are still there. It doesn't rot. John

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