What kind of tree is this?

[NoTrespassing]

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Finally got the second and third pictures to post. The entire tree with its offshoots covers an area about 30x30 yards. Everything in the first picture here is connected to the main trunk. Even the cut off log is still connected by a root running on top of the ground. In the second picture you can see the thorns on a limb growing from the base of the trunk. Don't know how we are going to destroy this thing without a dozer, dynamite, or napalm.

Have you considered carbide tipped chainsaw chain? Maybe some of the chainsaw experts could speak to that.

 

[JeepHead]

I have burned quite a bit of Osage Orange and if I am not mistaken, it has the highest BTU rating of any firewood in the US. It will make a chain dull in a heartbeat too! Great wood for fence posts. I live in Amish country and they use it whenever possible around here.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Osage Orange For Firewood (5 Hardness Facts Sawyers Swear By)

Discover why Osage Orange is a top choice for firewood. Uncover 5 expert-backed facts about its incredible hardness and burning efficiency.

chainsawnerds.com

Storytelling from the Woodpile: My Osage Orange Adventures​

Let me share a few personal stories that highlight the challenges and rewards of working with Osage Orange.

The Great Bodark Battle of ’08​

In 2008, a massive ice storm hit my area, bringing down trees left and right. I had the opportunity to salvage a huge Osage Orange that had split and fallen across my neighbor’s driveway. It was a beast of a tree, easily 30 inches in diameter at the base.

I spent the next two days wrestling with that tree. My chainsaw chain was constantly dulling, and I had to stop every few minutes to sharpen it. Splitting the rounds was an exercise in futility. My maul bounced off the wood like it was made of rubber.

Finally, after much effort, I managed to get the tree bucked up and split. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but the reward was well worth it. That Osage Orange provided me with enough firewood to heat my home for the entire winter.

 

[NoTrespassing]

1. Osage Orange: The Density Champion​

Osage Orange boasts an exceptionally high density. We’re talking about a Janka hardness rating of around 2040 lbf (pounds-force). To put that in perspective, oak, a common and respected firewood, typically ranges from 1200 to 1300 lbf. This incredible density is what makes Osage Orange burn so hot and long.

• Why it matters: This density translates to a longer burn time. One study I read from the University of Illinois Extension showed Osage Orange can burn up to twice as long as some softwoods, meaning fewer trips to the woodpile on those frigid winter nights.
• 
  
• My experience: I remember one winter when I was short on my usual supply of oak. I supplemented with Osage Orange, and I was amazed at how much longer each load lasted. It felt like I was getting double the heat for the same amount of effort.
• 
  
• Strategic Insight: Plan your wood storage with Osage Orange in mind. Because it burns so hot, you need to ensure your stove or fireplace is rated for high-BTU output. Overloading can lead to overheating and potentially dangerous situations.

 

[ponytug]

View attachment 3861141View attachment 3861142
Finally got the second and third pictures to post. The entire tree with its offshoots covers an area about 30x30 yards. Everything in the first picture here is connected to the main trunk. Even the cut off log is still connected by a root running on top of the ground. In the second picture you can see the thorns on a limb growing from the base of the trunk. Don't know how we are going to destroy this thing without a dozer, dynamite, or napalm.

What an amazing tree/complex. Personally, I'd be saving any straight lengths for fence posts, and woodworking uses. Growing up we had a little bit of it around.

Due to its density and rot resistance, that complex isn't going to rot quietly away in your son's lifetime. So, yes, at some point it is likely going to be excavation followed by burning, or deep burial if your son wants to make it go away completely.

Given the density of the wood and hardness, my suggestion on how to go about chain sawing would be to keep your chains very sharp, and do not force the saw, as that is going to dull the teeth very quickly. I would just imagine that this is a double strength oak, and expect the sawing to take three times longer than bucking oak. Since it is so hard and strong, it is going to be much better at pinching your saw, so I would plan my cuts with that in mind, and if you have deep cuts use a felling wedge.

I know it looks like a problem now, but I hope it turns out to be a gift for you in the end.

All the best,

Peter

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I wonder if that is what the indians of yesteryear used for bows. I have heard of osage bows. Also Hickory bows. So tool handles would be a great use for some of those limbs. Pity it couldn't be sawn up into boards.

 

[JeepHead]

I wonder if that is what the indians of yesteryear used for bows. I have heard of osage bows. Also Hickory bows. So tool handles would be a great use for some of those limbs. Pity it couldn't be sawn up into boards.

Absolutely! This wood is highly prized for wooden bows!

 

[NoTrespassing]

I wonder if that is what the indians of yesteryear used for bows. I have heard of osage bows. Also Hickory bows. So tool handles would be a great use for some of those limbs. Pity it couldn't be sawn up into boards.

There are a lot of Osage bow staves for sale on eBay, and they are quite pricey.

 

[Duds13]

The holy grail of firewood and apparently bows!

 

[MossRoad]

For you juvenile delinquents out there....

Hedge apples make great ammo.

For you neat freaks out there...

It's said that if you put a couple hedge apples in each corner and spaced along the walls of the inside of your basement sill, you'll never have bugs and spiders. (my guess is that if you're the type of person to do this, you're also the type of person that dusts and cleans along your basement sill on a regular basis, so therefore, you'll never have bugs and spiders)

For you hedgerow folks out there...

While difficult, you can pleach osage orange and make an almost impenetrable living fence.