OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

268661 Ken Wright <wizard@b...> 2019‑06‑10 Box Elder
Good gathered Galoots,

It looks like we're going to have to take down a fairly large box elder
tree in our back yard.  Does anyone have any experience using box
elder?  What would you use it for if you had some?

Ken

-- 
Registered Linux user #483005

If you ever think international relations make sense, remember this:  
because a Serb shot an Austrian in Bosnia, Germany invaded Belgium.
268662 galoot@l... 2019‑06‑10 Re: Box Elder
Tell me when so I can relieve you of some greenwood!  Seriously, I had 
several at my old house and turned some lathe handles from them.  They 
are actually a species of maple, but don't let the wood sit around too 
long, they really attract a boring insect quickly.  Either make then 
into something that lives inside or burn it fairly quickly.

Esther

Quoting Ken Wright :
268663 Matthew Groves <grovesthegrey@g...> 2019‑06‑10 Re: Box Elder
Many uses, but it’s definitely sought after by the carving people. They like the
red flecks so often present, but also how it works with the tools.

Matthew “not a carving people” Groves
Springfield, MO
268664 Kirk Eppler 2019‑06‑10 Re: Box Elder
I know nothing of box elder, but I did a quick google of uses for Box
Elder, and turning seems like the big one.  Its generally considered the
bottom of the maple family, so softwood crates, or other garbage wood.

Seems to me that maybe secondary woods, drawer sides, dust shields, drawer
dividers might be feasible.  Benchtop, not so much.

Kirk in HMB, who loved the whirligig seed pods of the box elder.

On Mon, Jun 10, 2019 at 3:16 PM Ken Wright  wrote:

> Does anyone have any experience using box elder?  What would you use it
> for if you had some?
>
-- 
Kirk Eppler in HMB, CA, who picked up off charter tools this weekend.
268665 "John M Johnston (jmjhnstn)" <jmjhnstn@m...> 2019‑06‑11 Re: Box Elder
Lots o great info here and pics as well.

https://www.wood-database.com/box-elder/

Cheers,
John

“P.S. If you do not receive this, of course it must have been miscarried;
therefore I beg you to write and let me know.” - Sir Boyle Roche, M.P.

On Jun 10, 2019, at 6:15 PM, Ken Wright mailto:wizard@b...">mailto:wizard@b...>> wrote:

Good gathered Galoots,

It looks like we're going to have to take down a fairly large box elder
tree in our back yard.  Does anyone have any experience using box
elder?  What would you use it for if you had some?

Ken

--
Registered Linux user #483005

If you ever think international relations make sense, remember this:
because a Serb shot an Austrian in Bosnia, Germany invaded Belgium.

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268668 Mike Rock <mikerock@m...> 2019‑06‑11 Re: Box Elder
An old friend, who passed a few years back at the age of 104, had water 
powered mills and lots of wood stuff.  He ran sawmills most of his 
life.  His wood turning was awesome.  Kind of like Harry Nohr. He made 
us a set of Christmas candle holders from Box Elder and it had great red 
and green streaks throughout against the very white of the wood.  The 
red/green was most prominent near the base of the tree. He turned them 
wet and let them take on 'character' as they dried.

God bless him

The rest of the tree kept the shop warm.
268669 Tom Hamilton <tom@c...> 2019‑06‑12 Re: Box Elder
Ken, if you’ve got any turners in your neighbor they will be lining up to
get their hands on some Box Elder blanks.   It turns beautifully and makes
unique pieces with the red coloring.

Cut the trunk into pieces a couple inches longer than the diameter and post
on the local turners website.  It will disappear.

Thanks for sharing,  Tom, in Douglasville, wishing I was close to your Box
Elder tree.


-- 
Tom Hamilton
Chapel Hills Turning Studio
832/298-7225

Recent Bios FAQ