Scientific Name:
Maclura pomifera
mock orange
wild orange
hedge-apple
horse-apple
hedge ball
bois d'arc
bodark
Origin:
North America
Appearance:
Bright orange yellow, sapwood paler yellow; heavy, hard, strong, flexible, capable of receiving a fine polish, very durable in contact with the ground.
Properties:
Very flexible and strong. Traditionally used by Native Americans to create bows. Changes color as it ages.
Workability:
Ipe is moderately difficult to work, given its hardness, especially with hand tools, and it has a blunting effect on most cutting edges. Pre-drilling is required when nailing the wood.
Principal Uses:
Osage Orange is used for canes, clocks, furniture parts, inlaid work, and decorative items.
Why we use it for Bokken:
This wood is very hard to find long enough to make bokken from. We love this wood because of its remarkable flexability. We also appreciate the properties of the tree, it is resiliant and very strong. |
