i have had these boxwood billets for 15 years now, made some recorders out of it, it’s beautiful and stable.
got it 15 years ago from a friend which had it for a long time with the thought of making instruments…
maybe enough for 15 flutes?
i was going to list it on ebay (mostly because i don’t know how to figure the value), but if anyone here is interested, PM me before the weekend.
the billets are half round, about 29" length and 4-5" wide. dry and no cracks (waxed on the endgrain)
thanks, eilam.
I am full up on boxwood currently (beautiful stuff too). But as a pricing guide for these half round logs I would weigh it and sell it for $8/lb. That is what my wood supplier in Portland has been charging for years and its possible that it came from the same source.
Eilam, sent you email/PM.
That’s some lovely work you’re showing on your website Eilam.
thank you for the inquiry, i worked a trade with a friend towards a flute.
i also have lumber that was sold as “Boxwood” from south america, it is milled to (from memory) 2"x6"x8’ and i have at least two pieces.
i know it’s not the same, but is very straight and stable, looks and machines very much like boxwood. i made a few recorders from it and they were great. the color is a bit lighter then the European Box which was very rich yellow/orange, could be a bit lighter in weight? very even grain, and stable.
i could dig it up if anyone is interested ?
That’s presumably Castello boxwood. I had a flute made by Luc Verhoeven from it, and I think many companies make recorders from it.
yes chas, thats it. it is so similar to boxwood and even has that clean smell when working with it. it’s very stable, and the pieces that i have for 15 years now, at 8’ long stayed perfectly straight. being cheaper then the European Boxwood, i think would make great choice for prototypes or someone looking into starting out. the recorders i made for it are still great players, and working with it was just like the other Boxwood.
I’ve had some good quality castello in the past and loved the wood. It’s actually much more stable than boxwood. I have never made a flute from boxwood that stayed straigth of did not go oval after some time, even with wood that’s been lying around for 30+ years. The only downside of castello is that it’s a bit coarser and a bit lighter. If it weren’t for the distance I’d buy the billets from you eilam.
Wow Luc, beautiful work you do ! the one on the “how my flutes are made” is Cocobolo right?
yes, this wood is more stable, a bit lighter in weight and color.
Yep, cocobolo it is. It’s a pity that I became allergic to it. Nothing serious, only dermatitis.