boxwood - any good?

[mickthetree]

Evening all

I've seen the wikion boxwood so it would seem it grows into tree form in the UK if left. How long do they take to grow into trees?

Is all of the wood useful (including limbs) for the woodworker?

I found four trees that look to me to be box. The leaves are spot on and the bark similar. The trunks are about 8->10inch max at the base and they seem about 20ft tall at most I'd guess.

Going to ask the landowner if they could spare a branc or two.

 

[Lons]

Hard and even grained mostly available in small sizes. I've only used it for small carvings but takes fine detail beautifully.

I guess it depends what you want to use it for.

Bob

 

[AndyT]

As far as I know branches are useful, not just the trunk. For things like chisel handles, the presence of small knots actually gives extra strength from the interlocking grain. For small pieces I've seen it successfully dried and offered for sale in the round, with the bark on.

 

[twothumbs]

Just a bit of background. Boxwood was used for engineers and Archtects measuring scales up until the late '60's. Used due to its dense and fine grain and stability. It would cut folded paper where plastic couldn't......like a paper knife. Also prized by model makers and possibly small instruement makers. Polished up well. Good luck with your asking.

 

[chipmunk]

Box is a woodturner's dream because it turns so well and will take fine details like screwthreads but it can be very tricky to dry in the round in large sections.

Here's a link to another place....

http://www.bodgers.org.uk/bb/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=2122

The best quality box (straight knot free and without grey patches) these days is reserved for musical instruments and fetches high prices but decent box is still pretty easy to get hold of...

http://www.toolpost.co.uk/pages/Hardwoods/Timber_Specialities/timber_specialities.html#boxwood

HTH
Jon

 

[Jonzjob]

I was given some very dry box a while back and unfortunately as has been said, it cracks. It was cracked and split when I got it.

It's a 12" rule sat on the top.

It is like cream to turn and one of my favorites!

 

[bugbear]

Ah - seasoning:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread. ... es-we-made

The big problem was that in the old days,boxwood was dried very differently than now. They used to bury it in a pile of horse manure,and let it all dry together for 50 years.

BugBear

 

[yetloh]

How long do they take to grow into trees?

Box is very slow growing and only ever makes a small tree, so a large specimen could well be a couple of hundred years old. If you are thinking of planting for the future, I hope you are still in your pram

Jim

 

[Jonzjob]

I had meant to say earlier that the piece in the photo has got to be well ove 250 years old.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Ah - seasoning:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread. ... es-we-made

The big problem was that in the old days,boxwood was dried very differently than now. They used to bury it in a pile of horse manure,and let it all dry together for 50 years.

BugBear

Ah! a bit of horsebox!

 

[Jonzjob]

Mine ain't not horsebox, it's totally dumb. Or at least I've never heard it say anything? :?