Can you use Boxelder for outdoor projects?
Spalted boxelder, with its raspberry streaks, is highly prized for accent work and turnings. The wood isn't suitable for outdoor projects. Where boxelder grows to commercial size, it's mixed and marketed with soft maples for retail sale.
What is the red stuff on boxelder wood?
The red streaks are composed of a pigment from a fungus (Fusarium negundi). The light wood lends itself to boxes, carvings, turnings, treenware, toys, and simple furniture or storage projects. Spalted boxelder, with its raspberry streaks, is highly prized for accent work and turnings.
What is spalted boxelder wood?
The red streaks are composed of a pigment from a fungus (Fusarium negundi). The light wood lends itself to boxes, carvings, turnings, treenware, toys, and simple furniture or storage projects. Spalted boxelder, with its raspberry streaks, is highly prized for accent work and turnings. The wood isn't suitable for outdoor projects.
What is the weight of Boxelder wood?
The wood of boxelder, at 27 pounds per cubic foot dry, weighs nearly the same as white pine and rates as the lightest and weakest of the American maples. Close-grained and creamy white in color, boxelder tends to be brittle.
What is box elder wood?
What can you make from box elders?
How tall is a box elder tree?
What color bowls are good for elder bowls?
Where is box elder maple native to?
Is Box Elder a maple?
Can box elder be used for turned objects?
See 2 more
Is Box Elder a hardwood or softwood?
Boxelder is a low-density hardwood and has softwood-like properties. It burns fast and gives high heat but for only a short time.
What is boxelder used for?
Owing to its quick growth and its drought resistance, the box elder was widely planted for shade by early settlers in the prairie areas of the United States. Maple syrup and sugar are sometimes obtained from the box elder. Its wood is used for crates, furniture, paper pulp, and charcoal.
What kind of wood is Box Elder?
Acer negundo, the box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple or ash-leaved maple, is a species of maple native to North America. It is a fast-growing, short-lived tree with opposite, compound leaves.
What makes Box Elder wood red?
Fusarium reticulatum (F. negundi) has been suggested as the cause of red stain in boxelder (Acer negundo), but the role of the fungus in producing the pigment has never been confirmed.
Is boxelder good for firewood?
If you have access to free boxelder firewood I definitely wouldn't turn it down. The wood burns just fine and actually makes pretty good kindling. However, if you're out searching for a good firewood to last throughout the winter, your time is better spent on a better, more desirable firewood choice.
Can you use box elder wood for smoking?
Silver maple, red maple, and boxelder are called soft maple. These maples make for excellent smoking and cooking woods producing beautiful even coloring and a moderate flavor level.
Is Box Elder toxic?
The seeds of the boxelder tree (Acer negundo) containing the toxin hypoglycin A have been associated with Seasonal Pasture Myopathy in horses. Seasonal Pasture Myopathy (SPM) is an equine muscle disease which can be fatal in 90 percent of cases.
Is Box Elder poisonous to humans?
There have been a few rare reports of people being bitten by box elder bugs when the pest feels threatened but they are not poisonous in any way and do not leave any long-lasting effects on the individual.
Does the red in Box Elder fade?
Colors range from light pink to dark red, but the stain fades over time when exposed to light. Red stain in boxelder is of special interest to woodworkers who use the attractive stained wood for decorative purposes (Fig. 3). The stain does not appear to cause significant loss of structural integrity in the sapwood (6).
How do you keep box elder wood red?
1:364:20Flame Boxelder: keeping the red. Also chainsaw duplicator! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen just put put some acetone in there and then on the smallest. Tip. Well then go ahead and putMoreThen just put put some acetone in there and then on the smallest. Tip. Well then go ahead and put the red in the in the container. So that's about one ounce of acetone.
What attracts box elder bugs?
How did I get box elder bugs? Box elder bugs are attracted to cool temperatures and warm sunny side houses. They cluster in warm areas on siding and roofs to make their way indoors. Once inside, they hibernate through fall and winter.
How do you keep box elder bugs away?
To prevent boxelder bugs from invading your home in the fall, repair holes in window and door screens, seal cracks and crevices around the outside of your home, and install door sweeps on all exterior doors.
Are boxelder bugs harmful to humans?
Generally, no. Boxelder bugs are mostly nuisance pests. These bugs can bite. Their mouthpieces are designed to break through the skin of a fruit and are capable of piercing human skin, but they don't generally care to bite humans.
What attracts box elder bugs?
How did I get box elder bugs? Box elder bugs are attracted to cool temperatures and warm sunny side houses. They cluster in warm areas on siding and roofs to make their way indoors. Once inside, they hibernate through fall and winter.
How do you get rid of box elders outside?
Exterior Treatments for Boxelder BugsBlast them with water.Deploy diatomaceous earth.Spray residual insecticide.Replace seed-bearing boxelder trees.Vacuum them up.Trap them.Use a homemade weapon.
Why do I have so many boxelder bugs in my house?
If you're seeing boxelders around your home constantly, it's probably because they're getting food nearby. Boxelders feed almost exclusively on the seeds of boxelder, maple, and ash trees. Once they find a good food source, they'll spend all summer feeding off of it and mating nearby.
Preserving Flame color of Box Elder
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to preserve the red color in Flame Box Elder. I know light tends to fade it. I'd also like to know the definitive answer as to what causes this condition. I've read stress and/or insect infestation. Thank you. Charles Gillingham
Boxelder | Wood
Fast-growing boxelder was widely planted throughout the East and Midwest for street shade and windbreaks until the early 20th century. However, because it lacked the beauty, resistance to storm damage, and long life of its more glamorous cousin, the sugar maple, the practice eventually was discouraged.
What is box elder wood?
Box elder wood is a yellowish-brown hardwood with straight grain. There may also be other colors that are part of it. Our assessment of its appearance is quite good.
What can you make from box elders?
In addition to boxes, other things you can make from box elders are crates. Everyday use of bins is as a place to store goods for shipping.
How tall is a box elder tree?
The tree is 35-80 feet tall, and the trunk diameter is 1-2 feet. It’s a fast-growing but short-lived tree species. Box elder wood is yellowish-brown, with straight grain and a fine even texture.
What color bowls are good for elder bowls?
The combination of yellowish-brown and red seems very good. If you make a box elder bowl with a combination of these colors, it appears to be quite expensive.
Where is box elder maple native to?
Box elder maple ( Acer negundo ), also known as ash-leaved maple and Manitoba maple, is native to North America. It has been introduced and naturalized to South Africa, South America, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and Asia.
Is Box Elder a maple?
Health risk: Box elder is a species of maple belonging to the genus Acer. The genus is reported to cause colds, skin irritation, and respiratory effects such as asthma.
Can box elder be used for turned objects?
Box elder can turn well. So, it seems suitable to be used for turned objects. Apart from that, other work like glues and finishes well.
What is Elder Wood
Elder wood comes with a soft, weak, and light lumber than all other species of maple, and Box Elder’s overall strength. Its strength-to-weight ratio is poor. The sapwood is pale white, but sometimes with a yellow or green hue similar to yellow poplar.
Types of elder
The European Elder that is also called Black Elder, is the tallest of the Elders. It grows up to a height of 30 feet. The tree’s berries start green, then turn red before changing to black. Black is a sign that they are ripe and ready to be picked. The berries are poisonous in their raw state. However, that does not mean it is not safe for use.
Specialization of elder wood
Elder wood specializes in turned objects, small ornamental objects, wood pulp, charcoal, boxes, and crates. It is sometimes called Ash-leaved Maple because of its non-typical leaves. It also belongs to the hardwood family.
Boxelder
It tolerates climate extremes and drought. It grows to greater stature, providing needed shade and shelter. Boxelder is soft, light wood that never attained the woodworking status of the hard and grained sugar maple. It grows to any great size.
What can you do with elder wood?
Elder wood makes real pencils. However, they are not for actual drawing since charcoal does not stand up to sharpening once the protruding length has worn down. They make nice gifts for kids and they turn charcoal into dust when you keep it in your pockets.
Choosing a piece of Elder Wood
When choosing a piece of Elder wood, trace back its origins so that you get its strengths and weaknesses. Its properties determine if it is perfect for your project. Its characteristics, description, and composition of Elderwood help you choose the proper tools for the carving project.
Sanding and Preparing the wood
Do not start sanding with fine sandpaper on unfinished Elderwood. That destroys rather than smoothens the surface. Use a medium paper first as you prepare the surface and move to finer grades. Start sanding in the direction of the grain using a #120-150 grit paper if theElder wood is still raw. That is before you move to the #220 grit paper.
Why was boxelder discouraged?
However, because it lacked the beauty, resistance to storm damage, and long life of its more glamorous cousin, the sugar maple, the practice eventually was discouraged. In the open reaches of the Great Plains through which flows the Missouri River, though, the boxelder was welcome.
How much does boxelder wood weigh?
The wood of boxelder, at 27 pounds per cubic foot dry, weighs nearly the same as white pine and rates as the lightest and weakest of the American maples. Close-grained and creamy white in color, boxelder tends to be brittle.
What is the red streak on a boxelder tree?
Sometimes a boxelder tree contains wood that carries raspberry-colored streaks and flecks, a property that woodturners find especially appealing for bright bowls, slender goblets, and attractive platters. The red streaks are composed of a pigment from a fungus (Fusarium negundi).
What is a boxelder tree?
You'll find boxelder (Acer negundo) parading under a number of local names - ash-leaf maple, sugar ash, and Manitoba maple to name a few. Throughout most of its range, boxelder inhabits stream and river bottoms, and lake shorelines. In these moist places, elm, hackberry, black walnut, cottonwood, and willow make up its neighbors. Except for the occasional specimen in the western part of its range that grows to 75' tall and a diameter of 4', boxelder commonly peaks growth at heights of 40-50' and 2-3' diameters. Rarely does a boxelder reach 100 years of age. Boxelder's pointed leaves resemble those of white ash, but with more scallops. Double seed pods joined into a v-shape hang on the tree's branches from early summer on. At first glimpse, boxelder's gray-brown bark could also pass for that of white ash - its flattened ridges appear similar - except that the furrows run much shallower. The wood of boxelder, at 27 pounds per cubic foot dry, weighs nearly the same as white pine and rates as the lightest and weakest of the American maples. Close-grained and creamy white in color, boxelder tends to be brittle. Sometimes a boxelder tree contains wood that carries raspberry-colored streaks and flecks, a property that woodturners find especially appealing for bright bowls, slender goblets, and attractive platters. The red streaks are composed of a pigment from a fungus (Fusarium negundi).
What is a spalted boxelder?
The light wood lends itself to boxes, carvings, turnings, treenware, toys, and simple furniture or storage projects. Spalted boxelder, with its raspberry streaks, is highly prized for accent work and turnings. The wood isn't suitable for outdoor projects.
How to prevent breakouts in wood?
Avoid drilling with twist drills. They tend to wander in the wood and cause breakout. Use a backing board under the workpiece to reduce breakout.
How to stop wood from burning when ripping?
Hesitating or force-feeding the workpiece while ripping increases the wood's chance of burning. Use a constant feed rate. While routing, keep the wood or the tool moving at a constant rate.
What is boxelder used for?
Boxelder has been used for food containers such as crates and barrels. Crafters have cut wooden utensils (treenware) from the wood. Add to this list toys, basic furniture, and cabinets, as well as carvings. Beyond that, both woodturners and box makers prize the red-streaked stock for making eye-catching turnings and decorative boxes. Commercially, boxelder pulp has gone into the making of fiberboard.
What did Native Americans do with the bark of boxelder trees?
Native Americans sought out the burls and knots on the lower trunks of boxelder trees for pipestems, bowls, dishes, and drums. They boiled the inner bark to make a tea that served as an emetic. They also boiled down the sap for syrup and treats.
Can you cut sugar maple wood?
If you’re familiar with machining the “hard” maple known as sugar maple, you’ll f ind the much softer boxelder a lot easier to work. That said, like sugar maple, it, too, will burn if precautions are not taken. When ripping boxelder, feed the workpiece at a constant moderate rate to reduce or eliminate burning. The same is true when routing, only here trim excess wood in several light passes.
Why is my box elder pink?
The attractive coral pink spalt in box elder is caused by a mold. Once the wood is seasoned to where its moisture content drops below about 20% the mold goes dormant. The Box Elder lumber is Kiln Dried.
Is box elder maple good for furniture?
It has outstanding shaping characteristics and is a nice wood to work with. It's strength properties aren't much better than those of yellow poplar...so, it's not a good choice for furniture components that will take a lot of abuse, like spindles in chairs...It's only about 75% as dense as hard maple...but for light duty projects it has adequate strength.
Is Box Elder stock pink spalt?
Too bad the stock you have isn't loaded with coral pink spalt, since that's box elder's greatest claim to fame, but it's still worth using.
Do you have to put anything on green lumber?
Ron, if it's green lumber, you'll have to coat the ends, sticker stack it and let it season...But you don 't have to put anything on the wood as a preservative. Just getting it dry is the most important thing.
What is box elder wood?
Box elder wood is a yellowish-brown hardwood with straight grain. There may also be other colors that are part of it. Our assessment of its appearance is quite good.
What can you make from box elders?
In addition to boxes, other things you can make from box elders are crates. Everyday use of bins is as a place to store goods for shipping.
How tall is a box elder tree?
The tree is 35-80 feet tall, and the trunk diameter is 1-2 feet. It’s a fast-growing but short-lived tree species. Box elder wood is yellowish-brown, with straight grain and a fine even texture.
What color bowls are good for elder bowls?
The combination of yellowish-brown and red seems very good. If you make a box elder bowl with a combination of these colors, it appears to be quite expensive.
Where is box elder maple native to?
Box elder maple ( Acer negundo ), also known as ash-leaved maple and Manitoba maple, is native to North America. It has been introduced and naturalized to South Africa, South America, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and Asia.
Is Box Elder a maple?
Health risk: Box elder is a species of maple belonging to the genus Acer. The genus is reported to cause colds, skin irritation, and respiratory effects such as asthma.
Can box elder be used for turned objects?
Box elder can turn well. So, it seems suitable to be used for turned objects. Apart from that, other work like glues and finishes well.
