Basswood v Boxwood

[JamesT1]

Hi Guys

 

Been building models for many years,,,  no ships,, I am looking at a change when I retire in a few weeks,, so long term build,,, always liked working in wood and have built a couple of small models recently to get used to working in this medium...

 

I've been looking through a lot of build logs recently... and notice a few talking about boxwood...  in the UK I can get some basswood but not boxwood...what is the difference between boxwood and basswood..

 

Many thanks

 

 

Jim

[James H]

Moved to correct forum. 

 

Originally in an area for site/tech questions.

 

ADMIN

[druxey]

Huge differences! Let's take some of them:

 

Price: boxwood is far more expensive.

 

Hardness: basswood is soft and tends to be fuzzy when carved, boxwood is hard and takes crisp and tiny details

 

Color: Basswood is pale in color, boxwood is a warm yellow.

 

Note: In the U.K. limewood is more easily found. While similar to basswood, it is a little harder and carves far better.

[davyboy]

Hi Jim,

There is a huge difference,Basswood aka Limewood is fairly soft and it's difficult to get a sharp edge on it. It'sOK if you're double planking. European Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens) is very hard,hard to find and expensive. Most of the references on the forum to Boxwood are refering to Castello which is a South American timber misnamed Boxwood,very nice timber but not the real thing. Also hard to find in Europe and not cheap. AFAIK most kits supply Walnut for planking etc,OK but grainy. Personally I use Pearwood,nice colour and showing little grain,also readily available in Europe 

 

I can't speak for UK timber dealers as I buy my wood from a German dealer. However I'm sure there are UK timber dealers around on the internet. Maybe some of the British members could help there. TIP :- If you wish to buy wood in,don't buy strips. Buy sheets and cut your own planks etc from them,much cheaper.

 

Dave 

 

  

[Roger Pellett]

Jim,

 

Since you live in the UK if you are adventurous and perhaps well connected you might be able to find some prime boxwood.

 

The true boxwood is used in ornamental landscaping throughout the British Isles and sadly some very old trees are dying from some sort of asiatic pest.  During a visit to one such garden in Yorkshire I asked the gardener what is done with dead trees.  They are cut down and burned.  Maybe you could recycle some?

 

Roger

[vossiewulf]

1 hour ago, Roger Pellett said:

They are cut down and burned.  Maybe you could recycle some?

I'd think if they are trying to eradicate a pest, that burning might be a requirement and not optional. 

[Morgan]

Jim,

 

Boxwood can be found from specialist timber suppliers in the UK, but it depends on whether you want finished strip or intend milling your own timber.  Finished sheet and strip can be found from marquetry suppliers or musical instrument timber suppliers, it is however expensive. If you intend milling your own then exotic timber suppliers are best for boxwood logs, unless you can find ‘home grown’ for disposal from a neighbours garden, this is a much cheaper option.  Also, timber suppliers who provide pen-blanks (for turning your own pens) often provide boxwood planks which can be milled, this is a mid range price option.

 

I have heard of members recycling old wooden rulers which are made of boxwood and found at boot fairs, junk shops, etc.

 

Have a look at www.originalmarquetry.co.uk for finished boxwood.

 

Gary

 

[No Idea]

Hi - I’m a UK builder and I get all of my wood from these people 

 

http://shop.exotichardwoods.co.uk/boxwoods/page/4/

 

The  Castillo boxwood they supply is great quality and their service is excellent too

[No Idea]

Also these people supply the ready cut strip wood. The don’t seem to have any boxwood at the moment but they do have many other woods

 

https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/cherry.html

[JamesT1]

Many thanks for all the help and advice folk,, much appreciated..

 

James H... Apologies for posting in the wrong section...

 

No Idea & Morgan,,, many thanks for the links,, now I know where to look in the UK.....

 

My real boss,.,, sitting watching her soaps at the moment is dreading this,,,  she has other plans for me,, at the moment

 

Happy modelling folk

 

JT

Edited April 30, 2019 by JamesT1

[JamesT1]

3 hours ago, davyboy said:

Hi Jim,

There is a huge difference,Basswood aka Limewood is fairly soft and it's difficult to get a sharp edge on it. It'sOK if you're double planking. European Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens) is very hard,hard to find and expensive. Most of the references on the forum to Boxwood are refering to Castello which is a South American timber misnamed Boxwood,very nice timber but not the real thing. Also hard to find in Europe and not cheap. AFAIK most kits supply Walnut for planking etc,OK but grainy. Personally I use Pearwood,nice colour and showing little grain,also readily available in Europe 

 

I can't speak for UK timber dealers as I buy my wood from a German dealer. However I'm sure there are UK timber dealers around on the internet. Maybe some of the British members could help there. TIP :- If you wish to buy wood in,don't buy strips. Buy sheets and cut your own planks etc from them,much cheaper.

 

Dave 

 

  

Thanks for the tip davyboy…    I have been looking at strips and ordered a couple of basswood strips earlier just to have a look at them,,,  think I'll start to look at the sheets from now...….  

[Carlos Reira]

Boxwood is the same as the shrubs and hedgerows and topiaries and all that. It's not uncommon here in the US but I think of the UK as swimming in boxwood. I can smell it from here. It takes lifetimes for boxwood to attain any size suitable for "lumber." It once had numerous uses, of which Admiralty models was one. Anything that required hardness and precision could benefit from being made of box. Fine tools etc. Molds for butter, for decorative plaster or wax elements. In medieval and Renaissance times, amazing miniature carvings were made from boxwood. It can hold detail as well as ivory. It's prized for netsuke, Japanese novelty pocket carvings. Early postage stamps were engraved on boxwood end grain. This practice was developed by Thomas Bewick and eventually became the go-to method for mass media printed illustrations, the famous Victorian line-art images that advertised everything from undergarments to machinery. It could hold up to thousands of imprints without degrading.