Uses for sambucus nigra

[stuckinthemud]

I cut and split a pair of sambucus nigra, elderberry, stems which I hoped to use for bow staves. They both twisted severely as they cleaved, but I hate burning useful timber. What is s. nigra good for?

 

[Inspector]

Got a lathe?

Pete

 

[stuckinthemud]

No, not much of a turner. Can turn, do a little when I need to but am mostly a woodcarver. Currently my main interest is crossbows and self bows

 

[Inspector]

Well there goes my suggestion.

What does the wood look like? Can you post a picture or two?

Pete

 

[Limey Lurker]

Elderberry for a bow? I've always known Elderberry wood as the most fragile, useless wood ever discovered.

 

[peter-harrison]

I wouldn't say it was fragile. Useless, maybe, especially for anything large. It's always twisted and this makes it hard to season without a lot of distortion, hence hard to get big pieces. I have made small boxes with it and it's been perfectly ok. Looks-wise, it's quite like tulipwood.