[norson]

I reported here Sun that Cane #105 is gone - have begun working/sanding on #106 - White Ash - and needed more sticks so yesterday afternoon we went searching. I remembered there was a stretch of Osage Orange trees about 45 min south of us, but why not? So off we went just enjoying ourselves being together - later this month we'll celebrate 63 years of God-blessed marriage. I've been to that place three times previously and needed to get back before the 2017 WEED crop takes over...when we were there last fall the weeds were chest high on my bride - very difficult navigation. We learned something yesterday - that will be our final trip to that site - neither of us can afford to fall - way out in the middle of nowhere - miles and miles from medical help.

But I brought home two sticks, and this Osage Orange made the trip worthwhile. Good grief - the business end of this beauty points North/South/East and West, I think. As I work with these sticks, I almost let them "speak" to me - (am I weird?) - I need help establishing what to cut or chisel or sand away and what to keep.

So this may take some time - but eventually I hope to post here some finished pictures - perhaps with text - Cane #107 - Osage Orange.

Any comments?
-neb
ps - I hope you have a marvelous Monday.

 

[Rodney]

That is an interesting one. I can't wait to see what you come up with.

Rodney

 

[LilysDad]

- later this month we'll celebrate 63 years of God-blessed marriage. I've been to that place three times previously . . . !!!

You always write the most interesting posts, Norson. Above is what I read when I don't give it my full attention

PS - That can make a really fine stick. Hedge polishes up into a wonderful color that darkens with exposure to the sun.

 

[dww2]

You could (depending on the length) make two canes from it.

Cut it off just beyond the crotch (red dotted line) and cut the bent branch (blue dotted line) swing the bent bit around and mate it to the short left-over branch. You could even use the slim branch as a dowel instead of using a metal rod. Black line is supposed to show rotating the bent branch to mate it with the short off cut. Writing with the mouse has never been in my skill set.

 

[MJC4]

Norson, stick collecting suggestion: Bring along the G-Kid & their kids make an expedition out of it. Helping G-G Pa collect sticks is an exciting job for small ones!! By The By interesting piece of hedge apple keep us posted on the progress!

 

[norson]

Some of you warned me about this possiblity.



-neb

 

[norson]

Cane 107 Osage Orange a

This picture, really in reality (I HATE when people say that!) is upside down. Through computer magic I flipped it and added some very appropriate and fitting text for your edification.

You can thank me later.

I was really intrigued with this portion shown - most of "my" canes are around 36" long when finished...so I purposely cut this branch short enough to get it inside the car but still long enough to give me that good 36" portion. But what really caught my eye was this area where three sub-branches crossed - Osage Orange is such a marvelous wood. I LOVE it.

I knew I needed to do something with that "bird's nest" area and it took several (more than one) attempts before I had my miter saw at the proper angle and cut through all three sub-branches with that first cut.

(That "L" shaped piece below the word "cuts" - has a brilliant future as a non-man-made handle, I hope.)

After this cut - plus the other end - the next step was recliner bark removal via wood chisels - If you happened to notice a few chips in your yard, I apologize.

Can your ticker take all this excitement?

 

[norson]

Because of that "bird nest" configuration I could not use the miter saw for any further cuts, so using one of my "draw" saws I cut away the smallest of the three sub-branches yesterday before resuming the recliner-bark-removal.

Yes, as a matter of fact, this recliner has a lot of bark.

And ever so often my wife of nearly 63 years hears them.

But after removing that bark from this portion I decided to cut away a portion of the other sub-branch (area shown) with my draw saw.

That will make the main branch the main branch....with a rubber tip.

I'm not yet certain what I'll do about the ends of the other two branches.

No hurry.

Any.

Way.

 

[norson]

I began this cane-making fun, Fun, FUN time in Jun 2013 - yes, I keep records - DUH!

Side note: And way back then, once I had that first cane ready I laid it on and against our china closet for some pictures. Then through computer software I "stitched" those horizontal and vertical pictures together and added some text.

Guess what? I did exactly the same thing with Cane #106 completed Monday. And every cane #2 through #105 as well.

If all goes as planned Cane #107 will be done by this time next week and you know those same pictures will be taken and the text added - but, But, BUT some additional text MAY be added to the final pictures for #107 - "K-E-E-P-E-R."

I've known for quite some time that Osage Orange is special - that plus Diamond Willow have become my two favorite cane-making hardwoods. But ever so often while working - sanding/chipping away - I make a discovery - and I love when that happens.

Once that outer bark is peeled away there lies the most beautiful of grains and again I say, "This is why I love wood working" - at least to myself.

THAT happened last evening - March 14, 2017 - with this cane. I have no idea how many hours of hand sanding are ahead before this cane is ready for the finish coats, but I would not be surprised if this cane ends up in the antique coal scuttle cane stand near the fireplace . . . for our grandkids to fight over some day.

Maybe.

I have a friend who ever so often asks, "Are you having any fun?"

And yes, thankfully, I am. With Cane #107.

 

[norson]

Exacto Knife and Dental Floss

There were/are three sub-branches on this current Osage Orange shank - that's almost keeping me awake, it's so much fun, Fun, FUN! - that were so close the bark of each section was touching. I suppose I could have left them "as is" however, I was somewhat concerned that eventually, perhaps even years from now, that bark would loosen and fall away.

I have found, through years of wood working and cane-making, when faced with an issue/problem such as that - in which I have no immediate solution - I almost forget about it - let it simmer in the back of my almost nonexistent brain, and almost always, eventually, the seemingly perfect solution comes to mind.

And that's what happened here.

My apologies for the out-of-focus picture - taken with my cell-phone - but it does convey the idea. Holding the shank upright, I first used one of my Exacto knives to get the ends of the bark loose and then used dental floss, sawing back and forth and bingo, all of the bark fell away. See the light peeking through? Previously that area/section was blocked.

And yes, it almost looks like a hand.

I think that's as far as I'll take this.

For now.

I hope you have a super Sunday.

-neb

 

[Moose57]

I would be curious to know how this turned out.

 

[Rodney]

Norson stopped posting shortly after this. We haven't heard from him in quite a while.

Rodney