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270382 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2020‑04‑05 Boxwood and Box Trees ( Was: boxing of planes)
GG’s,

This discussion of end grain boxing begs the question “How did they ever find
quantities of quarter-swan pith-free Boxwood in widths greater than the length
of a wooden molding plane?”

Am I missing something? Would not a 9-1/2” piece of 90-degree end grain without
the pith require a tree more than 19” on diameter after barking?  A 9-1/2” piece
with 45-degree grain could come out of a 7” piece of QS, and that’s still bigger
than any Box tree I know of because again one must account for the pith.

Many years ago, there was a discussion of Box trees on the Porch, and some
knowledgeable person came up with the correct Latin name(s) for the genera (
possible just Buxus? ) and species used on old tools. ( Note: I had to look up
the plural of genus. )

The only boxwood I’ve ever seen for sale was about 30 years ago, the Lee Valley
store in Toronto had a stock of kiln-disinfected bark-on Boxwood about 2 to
2-1/2 inches in diameter.  One cannot get much end grain out of that!

As an aside, I now wish I’d purchased and planted some Box TREES way back when
it was identified on this list. It could have been a sort of legacy of my life.
Whomever harvested them in the future might have looked up at the sky and said
“Thank you for having the foresight to plant this.” Then again, perhaps s/he
would just be feeding it to a wood chipper...

I have planted a Boxwood shrub, but I think it’s the wrong species to ever yield
anything useful.

John Ruth
Wondering what would work well in place of Boxwood.
270383 Bill Ghio 2020‑04‑05 Re: Boxwood and Box Trees ( Was: boxing of planes)
Sent from my iPad

> On Apr 4, 2020, at 8:09 PM, John Ruth  wrote:
> 
> GG’s,
> 
> This discussion of end grain boxing begs the question “How did they ever find
quantities of quarter-swan pith-free Boxwood in widths greater than the length
of a wooden molding plane?”


Two or three pieces required. Often one piece will fall out while the other
stays.
> 
> Wondering what would work well in place of boxwood?

Pear works well.

Bill
270386 don schwartz <dks@t...> 2020‑04‑05 Re: Boxwood and Box Trees ( Was: boxing of planes)
On 2020-04-04 6:26 p.m., Bill Ghio via OldTools wrote:
> Two or three pieces required. Often one piece will fall out while the other
stays.

It's mostly twos piece in line with the most prominent part of the plane 
profile - one in front of the iron, one behind. So that means a narrower 
board.

Don

-- 
Stay safe. Be well! Stay home and save lives.
Long may you run! - Neil Young
Keep Your Distance. - Richard Thompson
"...for real change to occur the pain of the status quo has to be greater than
the fear of the unknown." -Jed Dorsheimer
Who elected those f_ck-wits?
270387 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2020‑04‑05 Re: Boxwood and Box Trees ( Was: boxing of planes)
Don,

Ohhhhh, I didn’t think my post through! Yes, indeed, almost all lines of boxing,
except perhaps those on fences, have a break at the blade.

Pass the Brasso.

John Ruth

Sent from my iPhone

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