Hello gentlemen. Thanks for the comments and questions. I greatly appreciate it.
I got the osage back and sides from my friend Don Madill. The osage neck blank was an internet purchase from Charlie at Woodcrafters. There was no way to source it locally. The osage in Kansas (most folks call it hedge up here) is very abundant but does not grow anything close to straight. It grows low, gnarly, and twisted, and therefore was historically used in long rows as fencing for ranchers. I don't think you could get a straight toothpick out of Kansas osage.
I didn't have to resaw it, so I have nothing to add there. It's workability was decent enough. I wouldn't want to bend any on an old torch pipe setup. It worked just fine in the Blues Creek bender, but beware of scorching. Rob did most all the neck carving and reported that it worked well with those tools.
I know a lot of wood turners and craftspeople who always turn it green because they say it won't sit still after it is dry. I have had no problems with it's stability thus far. I can ask Don if he resaws it green and then lets it dry while stickered. I do know that he uses a kiln.
Overall I would vote that osage is a VERY valid tonewood. The sound is really great. I've been very pleasantly surprised. I hope to get some good sound clips up soon.
Thanks for looking.
Hans
|
