Gene DiNardo
ArboristSite Lurker
As Wood Shop said, we get a lot of that red streaked Box Elder here in pa.
It is my understanding that the red is caused by a beetle that only affects
the Ash Leaf Maple (Box Elder). If you keep it out of direct sun light the red will last quite a long time. I have some in my shed in boards that is 7 or 8 yrs. old and some unfinished turnings that are still quite red.
The lumber is pretty soft and light (bout the same as Poplar) but it works well and can be used as cabinet/craft wood. The surface when hand planned
can exhibit some pretty nice chatoyance (a kind of iridescent glow that changes depending on the angle it's viewed from). I have found it to be exceptionally easy to dry and is very stable. Very little drying loss from warping, checking, or case hardening. I often use it as a secondary wood
for drawer bottoms for it's strength to weight ratio.
It is my understanding that the red is caused by a beetle that only affects
the Ash Leaf Maple (Box Elder). If you keep it out of direct sun light the red will last quite a long time. I have some in my shed in boards that is 7 or 8 yrs. old and some unfinished turnings that are still quite red.
The lumber is pretty soft and light (bout the same as Poplar) but it works well and can be used as cabinet/craft wood. The surface when hand planned
can exhibit some pretty nice chatoyance (a kind of iridescent glow that changes depending on the angle it's viewed from). I have found it to be exceptionally easy to dry and is very stable. Very little drying loss from warping, checking, or case hardening. I often use it as a secondary wood
for drawer bottoms for it's strength to weight ratio.