What About Orange Osage?

[deathmetal]

I can see the mild iridescence but I like the wood tone the best. Looks beautiful.

 

[mawnansmiff]

I should imagine with that grain it would make for an impressive sandblast.
Regards,
Jay.

 

[fitzy]

Nice looking pipes.
I've always wanted a custom made Osage Orange longbow.

 

[mso489]

It seems like there are two toxicity questions with non-briar wood, working the wood as a carver and smoking the pipes once they are made. I have stuck mostly with briar and MM and Old Dominion cobs. I'm sure I would like Falcons with their interchangeable bowls, and Meerschaum, especially the ones of simple classic shapes and designs. I just don't need whole new categories of pipes to spike pipe acquisition disorder. I do have four (I think it is) Mountain Laurel pipes, and these have worked over the years without a problem. I do have one Cocobolo bent pocket freehand, and it has not caused a problem. But I think it is wise to take the tox question under advisement. I think Mountain Laurel was called into question when the wrong parts of the plant were used. Caution makes sense, and especially if you are carving pipes and stand to inhale the dust, which is a different exposure than smoking a pipe, especially after a carbon layer has been established. Caution is warranted, to my mind.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

MSO, your pipes came to mind when Skip mentioned using a non-Briar wood, regarding of your artisan friend from the art show.

And, good points. Right out of my BFA degree, I started carving these elaborate wooden boxes out of rare woods that were being used in pallets from South America. It was free exotic wood. (not one of those Pinterest DIY projects, ha ha). Anyways, after a day of sanding ebony or some of the unrecognizable woods, I would get respiratory infections that made me feel like I had been maced in the face. Snot just running from every pore of my face. Horrible stuff.

However, Skip is a craftsman at heart. I’m sure he would take all of that into concideration. His studio is top notch with all of the vacuum safety features that I did not have back in the late 80’s.

 

[mso489]

Skip's pipes are totally appealing, simplicity with restrained but expressive design. He really uses the grain and color of the wood.

 

[craiginthecorn]

Oddly enough, Osage orange is highly valued for firewood. Burns HOT and can even be burned green. A buddy of mine cuts his firewood at the family farm where the trees are planted as windbreaks.

 

[pruss]

Our dearly departed Ozark Southpaw ejames (miss you Ed) used to make the occasional pipe out of Osage Orange... my memory fades, but I thought the Old Cajun had one of his pipes in this wood.
Bradley? You around?
-- Pat

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

"Our dearly departed Ozark Southpaw ejames (miss you Ed) used to make the occasional pipe out of Osage Orange"
You're thinking of Mulberry and the grain on this reminds me of it. Have a piece from him that still needs to become a pipe.
"If he makes a cutty, I want it!"
Definitely.

 

[pruss]

"Our dearly departed Ozark Southpaw ejames (miss you Ed) used to make the occasional pipe out of Osage Orange"
You're thinking of Mulberry and the grain on this reminds me of it. Have a piece from him that still needs to become a pipe.
"If he makes a cutty, I want it!"
Definitely.

No. I remember the mulberry... But I also distinctly remember an Osage Orange conversation.

 

[pruss]

Yep. Conflating memories... the pipe was one of the early Jparker pipes. Ed just commented on it. Ah well.
More coffee please.
http://pipesmagazine.com/forums/topic/my-first-osage-orange-and-i-love-it
-- Pat