Box Elder with dyed stripes

This is my first project after taking a 4 day break. It's Box Elder, 12 5/8" dia. x 3 7/8" tall. There is a 1/16" tall foot, giving it a nice floating feeling. Sanded to 400 & finished with butcher block oil. The lines were burned in with steel wire and the color is green Chestnut Spirit Stain. It also has my double beaded rim treatment.

Photo Details

Chris Wright

Registered: November 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,684

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Date: Sat April 16, 2005
Views: 1,395
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Keywords: box elder with dyed stripes

Comments

Negeltu

Very very nice.

#1 Sat April 16, 2005 11:03am

Rick Prevett

I really like the green on the base. It makes for a 'surprise!' when it's turned over. Slightly OT, is box elder considered a 'bad' wood? The landscaper where I work talked about it like it was a nuisance tree, not worth much. The stuff I see on the net looks beautiful, and I'd love to get some.

#2 Sat April 16, 2005 1:31pm

Chris Wright

Thanks Negeltu & Rick.
Rick - if that guy doesn't like box elder, tell him you'll take it off his hands for "practice wood" and GET AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! Box Elder is one of the dreamiest woods you can turn. Looks like maple, but even dry turns very easily. Similar tear out as maple and sands nicely. I love the stuff. Don't get me started on Box Elder Burl...whew!

#3 Sat April 16, 2005 2:37pm

Gil

Excellent looking bowl, the green stripe and friction lines are a pleasing touch (especially on the foot). Maybe it is my old eyes, but the color seems very close (though a tad darker) to the maple vase. I have not turned either one; so have not seen them up close on a lathe.

#4 Sat April 16, 2005 3:43pm

Chris Wright

Thanks Gil, the color is much different, maybe what you're seeing is that this one has oil over it and the maple piece doesn't. The blue will darken on the maple vase once I oil it later this week.

#5 Sat April 16, 2005 5:22pm

Ugly Duck

Lee Goehring

Rick,
Yeah, Box Elder is a real nuisance weed tree around here, and most other places it grows I expect. It's in the maple family, but the wood is too soft and crooked for lumber, too light for good firewood except maybe campfires, spreads like crazy and crowds out more desirable species, and doesn't provide much for wildlife either other than some short-lived shelter. Etc., etc., etc.

It's one saving grace seems to be it's good for turning.

Hey - maybe we could promote it as an "exotic wood" for turning in some other countries, and make up for some of the fancy imports we pay premiums for. Might even help out the balance of trade.

I think I had too much coffee.

#6 Sat April 16, 2005 6:16pm

Rick Prevett

I need to get out more... Ever since I started turning and reading about turning on the net, all I've ever heard was praise for box elder. And from all the pieces I saw, it looked like a super wood. It really amazes me that the tree is so useless for most anything else. I think Osage Orange is the same here in Nebraska, just good for fenceposts, that's about it.

#7 Sat April 16, 2005 7:29pm

Gil

Rick,
I really do wish to perform a true humanitarian deed today for the good people of the great state of Nebraska. Please send all of your nasty, despicable, and useless Osage Orange wood to Gil Jones, on beautiful Lake Seminole, in the great state of Georgia. I will take that terrible and onerous wood off your hands (and from your wood lathes), and save you all (y?all) from its torturous presence. There is no need to thank me; I do this deed out of the goodness of my pea-pickin little heart.
(Hey Rev, should I be lookin for a new job or what?)

#8 Sat April 16, 2005 7:57pm

Chris Wright

And just in case there is too much of these nuisance trees for you guys to handle, I'll take chunks up to 20" dia. Wink

Speaking of Osage Gil, look for me next posting, it has been cool bowl day here in CA! Woohoo!!!

#9 Sat April 16, 2005 8:07pm

Rev. Doug Miller

Rev. Doug Miller

Funny what being off a day or two can do for you. Way to go Chris!

#10 Sun April 17, 2005 2:36am

Gil

I meant that the wood colors looked close, not the stains.

#11 Sun April 17, 2005 3:42am

Chris Wright

Actually Gil, Box Elder and maple are extremely close in grain, color and turnability. Box Elder is a bit softer though and will generally tear out a bit more if the tools aren't SHARP! I recommend both woods, they're great to work with.

#12 Sun April 17, 2005 7:06am