Wood Species Guide
Box Elder
Acer negundo
Also called: Boxelder, Boxelder Maple, Ash-leaf Maple, Manitoba Maple, Flame Box Elder
What Box Elder looks like
Creamy white to pale yellow wood that often carries bright pink to crimson streaks, known as flame box elder. The red is a natural response to wounding and fungus. It tends to fade toward brown with light exposure.
Grain and texture
Usually straight grain with a fine, even texture, though the trees are often crooked and knotty. Burls and spalting are common and prized by turners.
Working Box Elder: planing, cutting and gluing
A soft maple that works easily with hand and power tools and glues well. Spalted or punky areas can tear out and absorb finish unevenly, so stabilize soft spots before turning or flattening.
Finishing Box Elder: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes most finishes well. To keep the red streaks bright as long as possible, use a finish with UV protection and keep the piece out of direct sun. Stabilize punky spalted areas with thin CA glue or a penetrating epoxy before a pour, and seal coat first so bubbles don't rise from soft spots.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Rated non-durable to perishable, so it is an indoor wood. It is reasonably stable once dried. In Florida, keep finished pieces in air conditioning and away from bright windows to slow color fading.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Box elder rarely makes big slabs because the trees are small and crooked, but flame box elder is a favorite for turned bowls, pen blanks, boxes and small accent pieces. The pink and red streaks look great next to clear or lightly tinted epoxy. We don't stock it; ask and we can watch for blanks or small slabs.
Common uses for Box Elder
Turnings, bowls, pen blanks, boxes, small furniture, pulpwood and craft items.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List.
Safety and toxicity
- Skin irritation
- Respiratory / asthma
Box elder and other maples can cause skin irritation, runny nose and asthma-like symptoms. Spalted pieces add fungal dust to the mix.
- In the shop
- Dust collection + respirator when sanding, especially spalted wood; gloves for sensitive skin
- Food contact
- Use with care for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Maples have been reported to cause skin irritation and asthma-like symptoms, and spalted wood carries extra mold dust. Wear a respirator and use dust collection.
Box Elder in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Box Elder listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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