What is Holly Wood used for in marquetry?
In marquetry, holly contributes its natural whiteness, or it can be colored as needed. Because of its unusually tight grain, holly often becomes the choice of carvers and woodblock engravers. It also turns exceptionally well.
What is a holly tree used for?
Holly – a really useful tree ~ by Chris. The wood is essentially white (except for the heart wood) and accepts dyes readily - so when dyed black, it was sometimes used as a substitute for ebony (on the handles of tea pots). On the Continent, it was used in making whip handles and walking sticks.
What are the properties of Holly Wood?
It has a fairly large shrinkage rate, with a lot of seasonal movement in service, and its strength properties are mediocre for a hardwood. Scans/Pictures: As you can see from the pictures below, unlike other light-colored woods, Holly remains light-colored even after a finish has been applied, (assuming a non-yellowing finish was used.)
Why is Holly Wood used for engraving?
In marquetry, holly contributes its natural whiteness, or it can be colored as needed. Because of its unusually tight grain, holly often becomes the choice of carvers and woodblock engravers.
Is holly a strong wood?
Holly lumber is a tough, heavy wood and is noted to be hard in all categories. The irregular grain pattern of Holly Lumber makes it extremely difficult when sawing or planing the wood. With very sharp knives or wood working tools, Holly machines very well.
Is holly wood good for firewood?
Holly. This type of hardwood is yet another excellent type of firewood that can burn while still green. It burns even slower and hotter when appropriately seasoned. All in all, Holly is known as a good source of fuel for fires.Oct 17, 2020
Is holly wood poisonous?
The tree has leaves, so it is a hardwood, but the leaves stay on for three years, which make it an evergreen. The red holly berries are mildly toxic to people when ingested and will cause vomiting and/or diarrhea.Jan 9, 2013
What is the holly tree used for?
More recently, preparations of holly leaf have been used for coughs, digestive disorders, water retention, and yellowed skin (jaundice). Ilex aquifolium leaves are used for treating fevers that come and go, joint pain (rheumatism), swelling, water retention, and chest congestion.Jun 11, 2021
Is Holly wood easy to split?
One thing I did find with holly was it was easier to split by axe than using the cone splitter as the wood seemed to turn to frass without gripping enough to pull the log onto the screw thread.Jul 16, 2016
Are holly trees a hardwood?
Density: Holly is a very hard, dense, fine-grained hardwood with a specific gravity ranging from . 50 to . 64. The average dry weight of Holly is approximately 40 pounds per cubic foot.
What spirits live in holly branches?
These beliefs made felling a holly bad luck, but cutting boughs of holly to hang around the house in the winter months was believed to provide shelter for sylvan spirits. The grateful “fairies” would in turn bestow good luck upon the home's inhabitants.
What is holly a symbol of?
The Druids regarded holly as a symbol of fertility and eternal life, thought to have magical powers. Today, Christians have adopted the holly tree as a symbol for Christmas. The sharp leaves are said to symbolize the crown of thorns worn by Christ, while the berries represent his blood.Nov 24, 2019
Is holly a real wood?
Holly is a domestic wood that is excellent turning, carving, and inlay. Very rare due to the slow rate of growth and small size of the trees that are harvested. Must be cut in winter to avoid blue-stain or graying of the wood.
Can you cook with holly tree wood?
However, the wood from these trees doesn't make for the best firewood depending on what you're trying to accomplish. The reason for this is because holly burns extremely well without producing a lot of heat, so it's best for the aesthetic rather than a heat source.
What are holly leaves and berries used for?
More favorably, holly leaves and berries have been touted in folklore as a cure for smallpox, a speedy mender of broken bones, and an all-around lucky charm. The wood has quite a reputation.
Where does Holly grow?
Northern winters keep holly small, but it thrives in Arkansas and east Texas.
How many species of holly are there in the world?
You can find 175 species of holly growing practically around the world, with the largest number in Brazil and Guiana. Thirteen species grow in the U.S. alone, but commercial loggers harvest only the largest of these, Ilex opaca.
How heavy is a holly tree?
Older trees feature wart-like outgrowths. Weighing in at about 36 lbs. per cubic foot dry, holly rates as moderately heavy and hard, but not strong. With indistinct, fine grain, the wood of holly displays no figure.
What is the sticky substance that birds use to eat?
They mashed its bark to obtain a sticky, gluelike substance called birdlime, which was spread on tree branches.
What wood is used for the winter solstice?
Holly. The snow-white wood of winter. Traditionally, decking the halls with boughs of holly marked the beginning of yuletide. The ancient Romans probably started this tradition—they used holly to decorate for (Saturnalia), their celebration of the winter solstice.
Is Holly a woodblock?
Because of its unusually tight grain, holly often becomes the choice of carvers and woodblock engravers. It also turns exceptionally well. Holly grows singly rather than in stands, and loggers harvest it along with other hardwoods.
What is Holly used for?
Holly was used as a supplement or replacement for hay when food was in short supply, or the land covered with snow so animals could not graze.
Where is the word "holly" used in Christmas?
the corners of streets were decorated with holme ' (holme = holly ). Various carols dating back many years also make reference to the use of Holly at Christmas.
How many holly trees were taken from Needwood?
In his ‘ Plant Book’, Professor David Mabberley notes that some 150,000 holly trees were taken from Needwood about this time, to provide bobbins for the cotton mills of Lancashire.
What is the name of the evergreen plant that is used in Christmas carols?
Various carols dating back many years also make reference to the use of Holly at Christmas. Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe are all associated with the festive season. All are evergreen plants, whose foliage tends to last quite well in garlands, wreaths and other displays.
What is the insect that eats holly?
Another insect associated with holly is a butterfly - the holly blue, which feeds on its berries. Holly was also used extensively for hedging in gardens. For example, Evelyn's holly hedge at Say's Court, Deptford was recorded as being 400 feet in length and some 9 feet high.
Why are evergreens used in houses?
Holly with its evergreen leaves (with their prickles) were placed at the entrance of a house because they were thought to stop ‘evil forces’ entering.
Where is Holly found?
I n various older texts on botany and gardening, it is said that ' … in Germany, Holly abounds in many forests…. In France, it is abundant, more particularly in Brittany. The tree appears to attain a larger size in England than in other parts of Europe " Certainly, in the past there were large areas where Holly was abundant.
What is holly veneer used for?
In the past holly veneer and veneer inlays were very popular. Certainly, the use for specialty items, such as engravings, scroll work, carvings, and so on has been very important. Whip handles was one old use, as well as for keys, pegs and other items in musical instruments.
What is the density of holly wood?
Density. The density is approximately 38 pounds per cubic foot, typical for many hardwood species. Kiln-dried lumber will weigh about 3 pounds per board foot.
What is the shrinkage of flatsawn lumber?
Shrinkage of flatsawn lumber during drying is nearly 8 percent, which is higher than most species. Gluing and Machining. Gluing is reported to be fairly easy for a hardwood species. Machining is high quality, although irregular grain, from time to time, does mean that tools must be very sharp.
How strong is Holly?
Holly is reasonably stable when the moisture changes, but irregular grain can result in some warping occasionally. Strength. Holly’s mechanical properties are in the middle for North American hardwoods. The strength (MOR) of holly is 10,300 psi. The stiffness (MOE) is 1.1 million psi. Hardness is 1,020 pounds.
How to dry maple wood after sawing?
The wood needs to be put into a kiln at a low humidity within hours after sawing; hence, most drying is done at the sawmill site. Dry promptly using a white hard maple schedule. Irregular grain, which is rare, does cause a small amount of warp. Use 12-inch sticker spacing and weights on pile tops.
How big is a holly tree?
The tree is often 60 feet tall and up to three feet in diameter, although the larger trees have been found. Timber cutting over the past two centuries has reduced the number and size of holly trees in the forests.
How hard is sapwood?
Hardness is 1,020 pounds. Color and Grain. The sapwood is much whiter than the heartwood, but both are very white. Actually, sapwood is quite wide in the tree, so often the lumber is 100 percent sapwood. The wood can be buffed to provide a high polish.
How Does Holly Tree Wood Burn?
Holly is a pale white wood that burns very quickly, producing a good flame in the process. However, it has an average to below-average rating for how much heat it gives off so it’s not ideal for winter survival.
Does it Have an Odor or Color?
One exciting thing about holly is that it burns green, adding a magical pigment to the flame. When used as firewood, holly doesn’t give off an odor despite the nice smell it gives off in nature.
Does Holly Tree Wood Make a Good Campfire?
Between the just-okay heat output, rate of burn, and how long it takes to dry out enough to actually hold a flame, holly isn’t ideal for a campfire. Even worse is that it doesn’t do well for a home furnace either due to common rot or insect problems.
Other Uses
Holly is a more expensive wood and it’s generally difficult to work with unless certain conditions are met and followed, so it’s uses are minimal. High-end furniture can sometimes be made with holly as well as the handles of household cleaning objects like brooms or mops.
Wood Recommendations
Whether you’re looking for a better wood to burn or something easier to find for your woodworking needs, there are a lot of excellent woods out there for either purpose.
Final Thoughts
Holly is difficult to find and expensive, so if you do have it you might want to think twice about burning it as firewood. It would serve a better purpose to sell to a craftsman and use part of that money for wood that will burn better.
Why is Holly Wood good for witchcraft?
Because holly burns very hot , it is suitable for any fire festival. Holly wood makes very good wands which can be used to banish unwanted entities, and command evoked spirits. Holy planted near a home is said to repel poison and protect from witchcraft and lightning.
What is Holly associated with?
Holly is associated with Saturn by Nicholas Culpeper [ 1], and the Mars and the element of fire according to other sources. Holly can be used in consecration and in spells for material gain, physical revenge, beauty, protection (esp. against lightening), luck and dream magic.
What are the benefits of Holly sticks for rabbits?
Holly sticks are good for rabbits to gnaw, having a tonic and appetite-stimulating effect. Tea is made from the leaves of Ilex Paraguayensis , I. Gongonha and I. Theezans. These act as a blood purifier and diuretic. Bibliography.
Why did the Romans send boughs of holly to their friends?
An edict of the Church of Bracara once forbid Christians to decorate their homes with holly because of its origins as a Pagan practice.
Why do we hang holly branches outside the house?
But a small branch should be retained and hung outside the house to protect it from lightning. In the Scottish tradition, holly branches outside the house are considered a strong ward against evil, and it is unlucky to burn holly under any circumstance [ 2].
What is the Holly King's inverse?
In NeoPagan lore, the Holly King rules the dark half of the year, from the autumn to spring equinox, being strongest at midwinter, while his counterpart and adversary the Oak King is the inverse. In heraldry, holly represents truth.
Why do people decorate their homes with Holly?
In Britain, people decorated their homes with holly in the winter to invite sylvan spirits to shelter there [ 3]. One legend says that holly first sprang from the footsteps of Jesus Christ, with its thorns and red berries representing his suffering and blood [ 3].
What are Holly leaves used for?
Holly leaves proved to be particularly nutritious as winter feed for livestock. Some farmers even installed grinders to make the pricklier leaves more palatable. Coppicing also allowed the holly’s hard, white, close-grained wood to be used for inlaid marquetry and to make chess pieces and tool handles.
Why do people bring holly leaves into houses?
Holly leaves and berries reflect the light and add colour to the dark days of Yule. This is one reason people bring it into houses, but it has another significance as well. Christian symbolism connected the spiny leaves with Jesus’ crown of thorns. The berries became associated with the drops of blood shed for humanity’s salvation.
Why are holly trees not cut down?
Like several other native trees people believed it had protective properties. There were taboos against cutting down a whole tree and they were often left uncut in hedges when these were trimmed. A more arcane reason for this was to obstruct witches who people ...
Where does the name Holly come from?
In Scotland the Gaelic name for holly is Chuillin. This appears across the country from Cruach-doire-cuilean on Mull, where the local McLean clan adopted holly as their clan badge, to Loch a’ Chuillin in Ross-shire in the north. The town of Cullen in Banffshire may also have derived its name from a local holly wood.
What is the significance of the sight of holly leaves and berries?
For many of us the sight of holly leaves and berries is linked with Christmas, whether we celebrate this as a secular or a religious festival. Christmas brings with it many traditions. It is probably the one time when a lot of us still practice at least a few old folklore customs today.
Why did farmers use evergreens?
More practically farmers used their distinctive evergreen shapes to establish lines of sight during winter ploughing. The Duke of Argyll even had a prospective road rerouted to avoid cutting down a distinctive old holly in 1861.
What are the berries associated with?
The berries became associated with the drops of blood shed for humanity’s salvation. This is related in the Christmas carol, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’. Yet even this is an echo of a pre-Christian celebration. A boy in a suit of holly leaves and a girl in ivy, paraded around the village.
