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I had 8 logs sitting in front of my barn for 3 years and wanted them out of there. Some were box elder and some were spalted maple but I did not seal the ends and they were cracked all the way through. I showed these to the electrical inspector that inspected my solar system and told him there still might be something of value in those logs and I'd make him something once I got to splitting them.
This is a small dish from the female box elder log that I made for him. It is about 6" dia. and 2" deep and finished with Danish oil, clear lacquer and 3 stage buffed and waxed. It was also cracked but I filled the cracks with black epoxy!

cheers, Jim

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Looks good Jim…just like all of your work. Does Box elder still release its aroma after 3 years?
 

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Love those colors and grain pattern. Great shape on the dish!
 

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Nice grain patterns Jim! Glad you got to make something useful from the logs. My first though when I saw your dish was eclipse. Don't ask me why! :)
 

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Nice bowl Jim and good save. That's one big knot you turned around. I hope you weren't trying to bribe him.
 

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Jim,

I'll bet if you had known how the Colors & Grain were in that old Elder really was, you would have been making things from them a long time ago! :) Yes? :)

Beautiful!

Stunning! Awesome!
 

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And I thought that was a pile of fire wood….. Very nice job Jim I really like the save you made with the black epoxy. I'm sure the inspector will be happy..
 

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Very nice Jim, But!!!!! how come you didn't seal the ends of those logs.

Bob
 

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I don't know if I'll ever see Box Elder or get to turn it Jim, but I sure like the colours in it!
 

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I just got a bunch of box elder from a guy I work with, it's on of my favorites to turn
 

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great turn,Jim
beautiful wood
The harm that there is no such tree in my country
 

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Beautiful.
 

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Thank you all for the nice comments. I knew this was cracked before I put it on the lathe, but it had that neat red knot in it that I wanted to capture in the piece.

Hi John, I didn't know box elder had an aroma. My smeller is shot. too much breathing of solvents, I think…like lacquer thinner. i don't even smell it any more.

Hi Dave. No bribe. He had the label signed before we ever looked at that pile!

Hi Joe, I have been making things out of the red(female) box elder for many years now. I go searching for it. On Tuesday I looked at a whole tree of it that blew down in the wind. Too big for me to handle but I did bring a wedge home and it has three red rings in it. It will on the lathe soon.

Hi Bubbl, when you get your lathe, I have a lot of neat wood for you to pick from!!

Hi Bob, I didn't seal them because they were too heavy for me to handle at the time and I just left them covered up. They were a surprise drop and I was not sure what they were at first.
Cheers, Jim
 

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The color and grain pattern of box elder is beautiful and so is your workmanship Jim.
 

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Thanks Charles and Lee!!!!!!!!!!

cheers, Jim
 

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Wow. The colors are eye catching. Are there certain regions of the country where these trees are more typical?
 

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lovely piece of timber Jim, never know what sort of striking finish you're going to get with that BE,
cheers
Pete
 

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Thanks Barbara and Pete!!

Hi Barbara, I know it is in Illinois and Michigan, Not sure where else. I found out from an old wood cutter, Harvey Irish, that only the female box elder tree gets and red in it.

Cheers, Jim
 

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Didn't know there where female trees. I have the ticket to Chicago. See you late September.
 

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Hi Brian! That is what old Mr Irish told me and he has been in the tree cutting business for 60 years. we had a long discussion that day. Super nice guy. he owns the pace and he was out running the log splitter in the yard!

I look forward to seeing you. Give me a little lead time as my daughter and I are going to Cedar Point in Sept.

Cheers, Jim
 
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