Could you tell me what is the best way to store boxwood for drying? I have logs 10-15 cm wide and 1-2 meter long. Can it be left in logs, or it would be better to cut into pieces? If I should cut it into pieces what way shall I do it? I am not sure if I should do it as in case of regular lumber, because it is relatively thin lumber and the most should be saved to be used. Shall I make it flat or quatersawn? I have some tools made of this wood with the pith of the log included, yet the tool has not cracked. I wonder if this type of wood is as much as liable to cracking than other wood while it is drying? Also some people told me sealing the endgrain of this wood for drying will make this wood develope mold. Is this true? Please tell me advices if you have experiences!
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Replies
Seasoning Boxwood
Sealing the endgrain would help, but most of the boxwood I have seen has also been sliced in half lengthwise.
Not sure if it was a typo, but "logs" 10-15cm wide, if this is the diameter, are about 3/8 to 5/8" in diameter. Not sure how one would use "boards" from material this size. If you're hoping to make veneer, with boxwood's quiet grain pattern I'm not sure it would make a difference if sliced flat or quartered. For what it's worth, I've seen a number of bowl turners advise not using the pith because of its tendency to crack and split.
a hem . . .
( cm not mm )
Thanks for the very gentle correction. Gave myself a couple strong dumb-slaps.
half logs and flitches
Several years ago (about 7 I think) I bought several half logs of boxwood.
I use this wood for replica navigational instruments as the grain is very fine, and so the wood takes fine etchings.
For this use I need to have wide boards to get out arcs of ~24" radius and over a foot long. So I cut the half longs flatsawn. I found this to work fine. I painted the ends, stickered the boards and they haven't checked on the ends.
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