Eric. Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Killer bench, Chet. Love the cherry, looks fantastic. Nice job on the criss-cross, too...wish I had that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Eric, Having nothing to compare it to, I'll say the criss-cross is awesome. I've never had a pin in my leg-vise but I couldn't be happier with the criss-cross. It was also very easy to install and tune. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osgw380 Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 I had a similar question on the wood for a bench. In my area I don't have much maple available to get sawed but one hard close grained wood I do have plenty of access to is bodark or osage orange which ever you call it. I have had some sawed before and used for small projects the stuff is hard and when done feels like something made out of lead. The color is not light but not dark, kind of middle of the road. I was curious if anyone had any thoughts in using it as a bench? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 I'm not familiar with Bodark, but my personal opinion is that you don't want your bench too hard. I'd look for something between 600-1200 on the Janka scale. My personal preference seems to land around 1000. Others may disagree, but I think too hard is actually a disadvantage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 I had a similar question on the wood for a bench. In my area I don't have much maple available to get sawed but one hard close grained wood I do have plenty of access to is bodark or osage orange which ever you call it. I have had some sawed before and used for small projects the stuff is hard and when done feels like something made out of lead. The color is not light but not dark, kind of middle of the road. I was curious if anyone had any thoughts in using it as a bench? If you can get Osage Orange for cheap, I think that would be one impressive bench. The stuff is super-heavy, which means you'd get about zero movement when planing vigorously...it would have a TON of mass, probably almost literally. On the other hand, it's also super-hard which means you'll get more dented workpieces...if you subscribe to that theory. I think an Osage Orange bench would be killer. I have trouble finding it here in MO, which is weird because it grows in abundance in IL and IN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 We tend to talk like work benches of all one species but a quick spin through the photo gallery shows a number of mixed benches. If you have Osage, use all you can. If you split Roubo, line your split. Build your under carriage, stretchers even a deadman with Osage. Line your vise with something softer. Maybe invest in a softer top but use all you feel comfortable using of what is readily available. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Okay I just googled Orange Osage and I see that the hardness on the Janka scale ranges someplace between 2400 and 2800. That's above IronWood. So, that's some pretty hard stuff. But the other thing I learned is that Orange Osage is sometimes known as "Monkey Ball"! He he... that makes me giggle... "Monkey Ball"... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osgw380 Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 I guess I could call it my monkey ball bench and my monkey ball vise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osgw380 Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Thanks for the replies I had been looking at purchasing maple but I do have an abundance of osage orange around here and every rancher is more than glad to have someone cut them out. I may have to pay the sawmill a little extra for blades which isn't a problem. I kind of figured with its density once the thing is set in the shop no amount of force i can generate would move it. I hadn't thought about lining the vise with something else that would be a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Oh, I didn't know you were talking about fresh-cut lumber. Be sure to factor in the cost of kiln drying...or the years you'll have to wait before you can use it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Chet, "Monkey Ball" high five! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Osage Orange is called "monkey ball" because the "nut" it produces was sometimes called a "monkey ball". It's also called Osage "Orange" because that nut is about the same size, color, and texture (although rougher) than the kind of orange you eat. I'm having some vise screws and nuts machined out of Boxwood after Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 The hillbillies in Missouri call them hedge apples. You say Osage Orange and they look at you like you're wearing shoes on your hands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Tom, what you say may be true. But I feel like a 3rd grader who just learned the largest lake in South America is called Lake Titicaca.. .. Giggle giggle.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Hey Tom, I have never heard the fruit called a nut. The fruit is fleshy and white ish with a cratered green "husk" and is the size of a grapefruit. The planks themselves are actually quite orangish with great streaks of yellow. I started my own saplings from fruits two years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 "Nut" was my term. I didn't know what to call it. I guess "fruit" would have been better. They turn orange at some point past the green here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 Carolina? I wonder if our weather pattern here short circuits the process because this is something I have never seen. Thanks for sharing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 It might be after they are on the ground. I don't remember seeing an orange one on a tree, but I only know of a couple of these trees anywhere near here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 They are all over here and an extended Google search found some orange ones. I have an old friend who makes traditional longbows with the wood and white tail hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barron Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 In honor of Dr. Fechner, my old Silviculture professor, I suggest you refer to it as Maclura pomifera and be correct wherever you are! By the way, the hedge apples are toxic and considered a "natural" roach deterent. I'm not sure it really works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted December 23, 2013 Report Share Posted December 23, 2013 ==> My Roubo is made of Walnut, Cherry and Ebony The shelves are Gaboon Ebony? I've never seen GE used for shelving... That's a new one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 They are all over here and an extended Google search found some orange ones. I have an old friend who makes traditional longbows with the wood and white tail hide. I think that's actually the most famous use for Osage Orange. Apparently it makes great longbows. ==> My Roubo is made of Walnut, Cherry and Ebony The shelves are Gaboon Ebony? I've never seen GE used for shelving... That's a new one I thought the slabs and the base were ebony, cherry end cap and chop, walnut dogs. Seriously, though...a guy came into the lumberyard once and we got to talking. He said he built a bench 100% out of purpleheart. All I said was, "Oh, that's cool." But I really felt like slapping him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chopnhack Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 In honor of Dr. Fechner, my old Silviculture professor, I suggest you refer to it as Maclura pomifera and be correct wherever you are! By the way, the hedge apples are toxic and considered a "natural" roach deterent. I'm not sure it really works. Baron, I think professor would be really proud if you suggested we all call them Monkey Balls :-P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osgw380 Posted December 24, 2013 Report Share Posted December 24, 2013 Thanks for all the discussion. Here most call it bowdark I guess in reference to its use in bows. I will have it milled and air dry it. I am about a 2 years out from needing it. I will build my shop sometime next year and I currently have taken over my dads shop which he does not wood work. I think if i brought one more thing in there he doesn't have a use for I might get evicted plus I don't think I will want to move it around much once its built. On the same subject I have looked at lots of photos and I like the spit top but I also like the version with cabinets underneath was thinking about incorporating the two. The split top looks very useful but I like things organized so the cabinets underneath looks like a good use of space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bombarde16 Posted December 25, 2013 Report Share Posted December 25, 2013 I think that's actually the most famous use for Osage Orange. Apparently it makes great longbows. That's where the name "bodark" comes from: Bois d'arc...the wood for bows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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