I decided to go ahead and finish this one up today. I turned an osage orange lather bowl awhile back & decided to make a matching brush. I used a 24mm x 67mm Shave Revolution synthetic stubby, set at a 48mm loft. Nice & soft but still lacks the backbone I desire. I now have a brush for every day of the week, with 2 more handles turned and another partway finished. The knot got flattened pretty bad during shipping as you can, but it should take shape after a few uses. I like making these, and will probably amass quite a collection in the coming months & years. I prefer acrylic for shaving items but a nice wood handle with a CA finish should be just as durable.
Osage Orange w/Shave Revo Stubby Synth
- Thread starter CigarSmoka
- Start date
Is that really Osage Orange wood?
That's the hardest wood that I know.
Once I bought a youth axe and used it on an old Osage Orange tree. That axe got ruined, and I returned it to the store to get my money back.
I'll be careful with that wood the next time.
That's the hardest wood that I know.
Once I bought a youth axe and used it on an old Osage Orange tree. That axe got ruined, and I returned it to the store to get my money back.
I'll be careful with that wood the next time.
- Thread starter
- #4
Thank you. It will darken thought, Osage Orange always does. My bowl is already a few shades darker, but has a nice rich color to it.
Yes, it's one of the hardest woods grown in North America (possibly THE hardest), but it turns nicely and takes a beautiful finish. I had no problem turning this or the matching bowl, you just need sharp tools. It's almost ready to go with just a good finish cut followed by burnishing with the shavings.
Beautiful work and wood.
Another beautiful brush Jay! That's my favorite wood handle you've made so far! 
- Thread starter
- #7
Another beautiful brush Jay! That's my favorite wood handle you've made so far!
Thanks Dave, I feel the same way. I still prefer resin, but this is a nice match for the bowl.
That is a beauty, I love the handle shape!
- Thread starter
- #9
Thanks guys. Just a simple design that feels comfortable in the hand, nothing fancy here. Sometimes beauty is in the simplicity. I'll be making more in this style, with and without slight variations. Easy on the eye, easy enough to turn rather quickly.
That's a beautiful brush. Brings back some childhood memories. We had an Osage Orange tree in the woods behind our house. The tree was way up at the top of the hill. When the fruit broke loose it would roll down the hill picking up speed as it went. There is a plateau behind our house and the balls of fruit would come off the plateau like cannonballs. When we heard one coming we ran out of the back yard. In later years I would stand out back with my baseball glove trying to catch them. Closest I got was a deflection that smacked me in the forehead. I quit after that. 
- Thread starter
- #11
That's a beautiful brush. Brings back some childhood memories. We had an Osage Orange tree in the woods behind our house. The tree was way up at the top of the hill. When the fruit broke loose it would roll down the hill picking up speed as it went. There is a plateau behind our house and the balls of fruit would come off the plateau like cannonballs. When we heard one coming we ran out of the back yard. In later years I would stand out back with my baseball glove trying to catch them. Closest I got was a deflection that smacked me in the forehead. I quit after that.
I almost spit my coffee all over my ipad!
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