[graydog]

Hi everyone,

I am retired & live on 15 acres in Western Oklahoma,USA. I have 200+ pecan trees, some Bois D'Arc, and some Black Walnut. I have several hobbies that keep me as busy as I want, including grafting pecans, gardening, metal working, woodworking, hot rods, & cooking. During the summer, mowing the 15 acres and growing tomatoes and okra take the majority of my time. I am 78, so my day starts about 8:00am and ends about noon.

I got involved in making Bois D'Arc canes several years ago and have made several one piece canes. Bois D'Arc is one of the hardest woods grown in North America, but makes fantastic canes. Needless to say, they are also a difficult wood to work with. It also makes beautiful knife handles. I attached a few of my canes and knives.

1st is a blade I bought on eBay and attached Bois D'Arc handles. 2nd photo is knife I made from a car spring and put on Black Walnut handles. The other photos are carbonized Bois D'Arc canes. Bios D'Arc heartwood will no take stain, so I burned them with Oxy/Acty torch and polished them with bench polishing wheel. They shine like they are lacquered, but have nothing on them.

 

[Steve R.]

Welcome aboard!

 

[Sean]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you live a good life from what you describe. Those are nice looking canes and a great looking knife!

 

[RandyL476]

Welcome to the forum!!!

 

[gdenby]

Hi, glad to see your carvings.

I have a few pieces of Bois D'Arc curing. I haven't worked any for decades. My first attempts at sculpture were pieces of that wood. I was attracted to its wonderful color, but didn't realize how very hard it was.

I happen to have a piece still with me. It was just finished w. wax, and has not been exposed to strong light. After 40 years, the color now is quite dark, about as dark as old mahogany, but w. a faint orange cast instead of red. Not the most practical way to achieve a nice finish.

 

[CV3]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

 

[cobalt]

welcome to the site interesting items you have there

 

[smalltowngirl13]

Hello and welcome to the forum...

 

[MJC4]

Great looking pieces. The Bowie knife out of a car spring is great. I love to see "junk" get repurposed.

Welcome aboard.

Mark

 

[JJireh]

Welcome! Nice intro. Can't wait to see what wisdom and knowledge you bring from our multiple passions.

 

[graydog]

Thanks JJireh, MJC4, smalltowngirl13, cobalt, CV3, gdenby, RandyL476, Sean, and Steve R.

This has inspired me to put part of the candlestick onto some of my cured Bois D'Arc.

 

[Rad]

Welcome to the site! I envy your access to the hedge apple!

 

[graydog]

The "Horse Apple Trees" have their good and bad characteristics. They have big long thorns that will puncture mower and tractor tires and usually have a multitude of horse apples that have to be picked up or the mower blades will hit them, and maybe bend a blade. I can live with that though, as long as I can get the wood. They are beautiful trees.

 

[JJireh]

We have several around us as well, those thorns are murder. If you can drag one of those smaller lower branches down and strap it, you could start some nice shooters for canes or sticks (once de-thorned)

New growth bark on these are beautiful.

 

[Sean]

Never heard of these trees. Look forward to seeing what you harvest from them. Nice property btw.

Sean