Safe to burn?

[Brent@TurnRobust]

Clearing out a bunch of box elders on my property, and finding this weird red color. Do you think it's safe to burn this?

 

[Jim Reynolds]

I've never heard of box elder flame being dangerous. Here is a reference to the cause. It would make a pretty bowl although the red fades.

 

[John K Jordan]

Do you think it's safe to burn this?

“Burn” or “turrn”. Yes to both. We have a lot here.
If you burn, maybe do it outside.
If not familiar with box elder, it feels and turns about like soft maple. I personally don’t turn it any more.

The piece you have shows a lot more color than most I’ve seen. It looks beautiful at first but the color fades rapidly. Years ago I made some pieces with lovely bright red streaks. Today all the red streaks are dull brown.

Using UV resistant finishes and keeping pieces out of the light may help, at least for a while. Some say oxidation affects color.
Some who love and want to keep the color in any wood do so with dye applied with a small paintbrush.

This article focuses on color in exotic wood but in include info on some US domestic species, including box elder.
The bottom line: don’t expect color to last.
(oops, forgot to paste the link)

Preventing Color Changes in Exotic Woods | The Wood Database

www.wood-database.com

However, maybe it will surprise you. For example, I did some tests with some pieces purple heart and it all eventually turned brown. Then I acquired some reportedly grown in Mexico. That particular wood has refused to turn brown after years on the shelf.

JKJ

 

[Brent@TurnRobust]

You guys crack me up, I'm turning red with embarrassment. Maybe I should have waited until April Fools Day.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Wow! I've never seen boxelder red that intense before. It's too bad Nature won't let us keep that color permanently.

I'd turned it a lot years ago. The first time I cut a log of it where it was dropped, it was just after a snowfall. With chips flying out of the back of the saw, suddenly it threw a big bright red streak out onto the fresh snow. First panicked thought- my leg!! Second thought a split second later- boxelder, dummy!

 

[Richard Coers]

I used to get excited with that color, until I my work got old enough for the big fading to more of a dull salmon color. Red box elder is a temporary enjoyment. Best to sell it for great money before it fades! LOL So many turners think the fading won't happen to them.

 

[Tom McDonnell]

Go ahead and burn it, nobody wants that.

 

[Kevin Weir]

Hmm, the fading might depend on the tree, the soil, etc. I’ve had many pieces that have kept the red colour for many years with only very minor fading. If someone offers me red box elder, I take it in a New York minute.

 

[DMcIvor]

Are you trying to flush all the literalists out from cover, Brent?

 

[Ted Pelfrey]

Clearing out a bunch of box elders on my property, and finding this weird red color. Do you think it's safe to burn this?

View attachment 69725

Blasphemy!

 

[Brent@TurnRobust]

Are you trying to flush all the literalists out from cover, Brent?

Kinda figured I'd get a bunch of guys with chain saws wanting to come over and help me clear them all out just for the wood.....

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Wow! I've never seen boxelder red that intense before. It's too bad Nature won't let us keep that color permanently.

I'd turned it a lot years ago. The first time I cut a log of it where it was dropped, it was just after a snowfall. With chips flying out of the back of the saw, suddenly it threw a big bright red streak out onto the fresh snow. First panicked thought- my leg!! Second thought a split second later- boxelder, dummy!

LOL. I was scouting my place for downed trees. I found a log I wasn't sure about. I cut a cross section and the ground was covered in orange sawdust. Yep, that's Osage orange, all right.

 

[hockenbery]

Do you think it's safe to burn this?

Hey Brent you worried about being safe from Woodturners?

It may be a challenge finding pieces safe to turn.
Good luck!

 

[Mike Zip Hamilton]

@hockenbery I thought you would chime in with your best sun tan lotion advice.

 

[hockenbery]

@hockenbery I thought you would chime in with your best sun tan lotion advice.

For you folks with too much latitude. We have winter here too.
High in the 60s forecast for Thursday. Won’t be exposing much skin then.

 

[Earl McLain]

Wow! I've never seen boxelder red that intense before. It's too bad Nature won't let us keep that color permanently.

I'd turned it a lot years ago. The first time I cut a log of it where it was dropped, it was just after a snowfall. With chips flying out of the back of the saw, suddenly it threw a big bright red streak out onto the fresh snow. First panicked thought- my leg!! Second thought a split second later- boxelder, dummy!

I had an immediate mental picture of the chipper-shredder scene near the end of Fargo (the movie).

@Brent@TurnRobust If i wasn't stuck in a hospital with my bride, i'd definitely offer to come up and help you clear that mess up!!

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

LOL. I was scouting my place for downed trees. I found a log I wasn't sure about. I cut a cross section and the ground was covered in orange sawdust. Yep, that's Osage orange, all right.

That is such nasty stuff you can just send it down to me so I can dispose of it properly

 

[Tom Albrecht]

You guys crack me up, I'm turning red with embarrassment. Maybe I should have waited until April Fools Day.

I knew it right off the bat Brent. I was going to tell that I would come buy and load it up so I could take it home to burn it for you.