Wood species

Osage

Maclura pomifera · Moraceae

Also sold as Osage Orange

Bow wood of the Osage people and bois d'arc to the French, planted as living fence across the Plains and the East. A slab-width Osage log is a hedgerow or yard tree, yellow today and brown in a year.

Janka hardness: 2620 lbf
Density: 54.0 lb/ft³
Shrinkage T / R: 5.6 / 3.8 %
Origin: South-central United States (Red River drainage of Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas); planted as hedge across all 48 contiguous states
IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Shop Osage in stock (3)All live edge slabs

Pictured: Osage Orange Live Edge Wood Slab #A547 109" x 25" - 38" x 3.7"

About Osage

Osage Orange comes off the saw a bright golden yellow and ages to a medium brown in daylight, so the color on a fresh slab is not the color it settles into. It is among the hardest and heaviest woods we mill, with a straight fine grain and high natural luster, and it is rated one of the most decay-resistant woods in North America. That hardness means slow feeds and sharp cutters, but it turns, glues, stains and finishes well. Trunks are small and often crooked, so slabs run narrow and character-heavy. It suits mantels, benches, shelves, small tabletops and outdoor pieces where rot resistance matters. Ours is kiln dried in Zebulon, NC.

Working & finishing

Hard and dense enough to be difficult, though it has little dulling effect on cutters; slow feeds, sharp carbide and pre-drilled screws. Turns well and takes stains, glues and finishes well. Thin oil or hardwax coats with a full day between them, since the dense surface takes finish slowly. A UV-inhibiting film slows the yellow-to-brown shift but does not stop it. Sap can cause dermatitis; gloves on green wood.

Care

Extremely durable, one of the most decay-resistant woods in North America and immune to termites, so it can live outdoors; epoxy fills and sapwood do not share that rating. Expect the bright yellow to go medium brown in daylight within a year. Little seasonal movement once dry.

In stock now