Made a set of barrel clamping blocks from this hunk of Bodock (Osage) last night. Had used round tubing Maple blocks in the past, but want to keep them "rounder" for the very thin 4130 tubing for which they are intended.
Chainsawed the tree one county over down-in the flats of Middle (was seeking ramrod material at the time, and Bodock is more "rare" up here), then cut to length for firewood (when wood proved to knotty for RR's), then split this out 4x4" on the splitter when i saw that i might make something of it (knot so knotty). Trued the block with drawknife, ripped with handsaw. Cross cut and grooved with handsaw and chisels.
Then proceeded to snatch a couple of breech plugs.
Also weighed the block to calculate density. 3.5x3.5" at one end, just under 4x4" the other x 16" long, 7.5# on balance scales. Wood works rather nicely green.
That's in the back bedroom which is now becoming a workspace. Since moving it in, the 4" machinist vise now has 4.5" Al (6061) jaws for a kinder, gentler gription. Now to go sweep up all that Al and
Bodust.ALSO saved out some Ash and fitted up a handle for my gouge. Have on hand 3 pieces of Walnut I pulled out of a pals firewood stack, but i got it for figure, as opposed to lack thereof.
Hit 'em like you find em.