Re: MtMan-List: something different

[NaugaMok@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-04-05 11:05:34 EST, you write:

<< Hickory is excellent - but - if max heat is what you want Osage Orange
 (hedge apple, &c.) burns the hottest.  Best to burn in a closed stove as it
 pops hot coals all over the place.
  >>
That's a fact!!  We had a neighbor that heated with "hedge" as we called it &
he claimed it was hotter than coal.  His furnace thought so too because the
fire grates would burn out every 5 - 7 years.  The furnace had a 10 yr
guarantee on the fire grates when used with coal, so he always got free
replacements.  One down side to osage orange heating, it stained his roof --
he had a rusty looking area around the chimney part of his otherwise green
roof.  At home, we used "hedge" for fence posts, & many that were put in 45
yrs ago are still there doing their job -- especialy the big corner posts it
took a half day to sink & set by hand.  It ain't cuz the fences weren't
contested, since Dad had a NW Mo dairy farm running holsteins, they were
continualy tested by cows grazing on the grass on the other side of the
fence.  Last time I was home for a visit, I cut several osage saplings for
bow staves, but our dry Nevada heat cured them too quickly & they split in
the wrong places.  I also went through what was left of Dad's post pile
looking at stuff that was cut 45 yrs ago, but all the good straight knot free
posts had been used years ago.  Osage also makes beautiful furnature & bowls.
 A word of warning though about using osage bowls for food -- don't do it!!
 Osage has a natural toxin that makes it almost bug & termite proof, that
ain't one bit good for humans either.  Due to the natural waxes & oils in the
wood, it's easy to finish on a lathe -- after turning & sanding smooth, hold
a canvas pad against it while turning.  The heat generated by the pad brings
the oils & waxes to the surface & leaves a realy nice finish that'll hold a
long time indoors.  I've often thought it'd make a pretty gun stock, but it's
a bit tough to work by hand.  It does make excelent flooring -- wears like
iron & periodic buffing brings back the natural finish.
NM