Boxwood supplier?

Uilleann Pipes
1

Does anyone know of or have some boxwood they would be willing to sell? I picked up a small mini lathe to play around on and I would like to turn some mounts for my pipes.

2

You could try these,
http://www.octopus.com.tr/store/?page=products&rid=39&cat=204


RORY

3

You can try gilmerwood.com as a source that usually has box in the USA.

4

I have seen boxwood listed here, but not all the time.

http://www.goosebaylumber.com/Exotics.htm

Tim

5

Octopus is the only real supplier, their stuff is orders of magnitude better than any other I ever found.

http://www.octopus.com.tr/store/?page=products&rid=25&cat=108

6

http://www.gilmerwood.com/boards_boxwood_unique.htm

7

“Full heartwood.
No sapwood.
Very rare apricot squares.
We recommend you apricots.”

As a copywriter, I have to vote for the Octopus site. Pure poetry. :thumbsup:

8

The poets have it for me too.

Octopus stock Buxus spp (sempivirens?). Where as Gilmer stock Calycophylum multiflorum - Castello Boxwood.

Is there a difference to you wood turners/pipemakers, as to tone etc.

Pwrt

9

Castello Boxwood is much inferior to true boxwood. Even with razor sharp tools you will not get the “creamy” finish on it that you get with true box. I do keep some in stock, but it is restricted for making wooden chucks for special projects. At one time English Box was so common that it was used for such purposes, but it is now getting rare. Box Hill in Surrey, UK, was a veritable forest of boxwood trees at one time, but they are now just a sparse growth of no great size.

10

Do the apricot squares come with coffee? or do you have to buy a combo to get that ?

Tim

11

You guys are making me want to get some true boxwood. I’ve used Castello and really like it, but I’ve not used true boxwood before. I’ve been contacted by Octopus before but have never made an order with them. They are in Turkey right? Seth

12

Perhaps this place?

http://www.exotichardwoods.co.uk/Woods_List/Boxwood.asp

13

“Traditional uses include wood engraving, barometer sumps, scales for scientific instruments and violin pegs…”

Barometer sumps? Is that function of box’s tight grain & density, or is box also especially dimensionally stable?

14

Why not ask from Gaita makers ..Seivane,Arpha etc

15

I’m quite happy with the finish DMQ got on the Castello boxwood here: http://www.uilleannobsession.com/extras_k&q.html (scroll to the bottom and look at the Odd Blonde). The turnings are buxus boxwood. Nice, subtle contrast.

16

Yes, so don’t forget to haggle. What ever price you are quoted ,suggest that it is far to much and offer 50% and take it from there, you may be pleasantly surprised .

RORY

17

Thought I’d post this link to an older discussion of Octopus and some important issues about the purchase and use of boxwood:

https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/boxwood/37803/1

Kevin Krell

18

Bob White, a London pipe maker, reportedly turned a chanter out of a 250 year old boxwood table leg. The piece warped soon after it was reamed. So much for enough aging to prevent warping.

19

Made a flute from Octopus boxwood, every piece warped so bad I scrapped the whole thing!
If you can get some of the Boxwood in Spain, it is old growth, nice large logs. I got some from a pipe maker over there, lovely stuff!