box elder

[oldbearx2]

Hey all I have a couple of large box elder trees in my yard that have to come down. Has anyone ever carved box elder, if so how does it carve and look afterwards. Hate to spend a lot of time and effort if it ain't worth it. have fun, carve oldbearx2

Harold

[Kenny_S]

Never carved in box elder but there are some who have and with great results. The carvings I saw at of it were stained and pretty.

The Summer 2004 issue of WCI has a favorable review of Boxelder on page 47. Let me paraphrase from the article (my apologies to Roger Schroeder, the author):
The wood is creamy white to yellow with coral-red streaks. While boxelder is a delight to carve, it can be brittle. Tearouts are a problem. If you'd like to carve a species beside those commoners, you won't go wrong with boxelder.
It was rated 3-1/2 stars out of 4.
Jim

And the spring shoots make GREAT wooden whistles! They'll be coming up long after you take down the trees!

Al

I carved a Cherokee Booger Mask from box elder and liked it very much. I would use it again.
al.rudd

Ditto that I have carved it as well I just love the beautiful rose coloured centre of the wood.
Colin