Use for elderwood

Anyone got a use for Elderwood ?
Apart from making whistles . I know the Gypsies used it for making christmass decorations but am not sure how .
I am going to try to make a tap to get walnut sap but am unsure if its strong enough .


David

Some of it has really neat red streaks inside and those are used to make ornamental boxes. You'd want to seal it because it can have an unpleasant odor when wet. It is also fairly allergenic so if you get congested or a rash when working it then maybe it's best not used for woodworking. It's very porous and breaks down quickly so I think it may be pretty good for hugelkulture beds, but maybe not if it would draw too much nitrogen from the soil.

Possibly the best use, aside from making maple syrup, would be to chip it and use it to kill weeds somewhere - if it quickly broke down then you could get rich soil in no time, especially with the addition of manure or lots of chop & drop vegetation. It may also make good litter under rabbit cages, somewhere the animals aren't in contact with it (because it's allergenic), because it would use the extra nitrogen to break down really fast, making a wonderful garden topper.

Goats and other browsing livestock really like to nibble the smaller branches and I think would like to forage coppiced elders.

Some of this is based on info. from the wood database: http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/box-elder/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus_nigra

I was thinking about this tree not the box elder which we dont have here in europe.

David

Hi David L.,

This species here and in Europe just does not get that big (typically) in my experience. I have seen/done turned bowls from root stock, medicnal use, wine, basketry and arrow shafts. Did you have a thought of something you wanted to try?

Regards,

j

I knew Gypsies had a whole range of uses for it . Making christmass decorations and treen but I dont know how .
I am surprized that folks made arrows out of this wood as its structurally not good . I intend to make wine from the fruit and maybe syrup from the flowers .

David