Box wood supplies....

[Michael Messer]

While I don't like to destroy old things, for anyone looking to make box wood bridge saddles for their resonator guitars, eBay has loads of these vintage carpenters rulers and as one would expect, the quality of the wood is excellent

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165714352241?hash=item2695585871:g:OpUAAOSw509jQJTk&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAoA25OCbKFNGp9o%2Fy7j6OwwxxDyYE5%2B4lPaW9%2F5whPvxzgfSh9lNgSCHzME0Kh5q7%2BJtjCV%2B3DjW2m%2F4AElrCucfYLK9gHsbdU6cPQqLxZ5gEJ5rMB1RS3K3sG9XhMvk%2B9%2FZed1drdIDQ8n5LIiNJo83qzHnVGWoVgyfGk8f53TWeoTaup0Zph8oPhl%2BFSFNalhK8PDM0LmFhK00TOUTwjaY%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4K5-aOaYQ

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l1313&_nkw=sybren+box+wood+ruler&_sacat=0



One ruler would make around thirty bridge saddles

Having said that, I have a beautiful old Sybren No73 ruler in very good condition that I would never destroy, so I would get another if I was going to make some saddles. This one I have linked will not go for more than around £15

Shine On
Michael

[snakehips]

Hi Michael,

Those old rules & rulers remind me of my carpenter grandfather. In Scotland, they are usually called "Joiners" instead of carpenters !
He carried on of those everywhere with him. I remember being fascinated by the wood and brass hinged parts, especially now as a kid, I was using plastic rulers.

Anyway, a while back, when I was looking for boxwood for a pile of used & new biscuits I had, I asked Steve Evans (Beltona reso guitars etc, for those who don't know) if these rulers would be any good to use, because as you say, they can be obtained fairly cheaply.
Steve advised me that the grain of wood would not be in the most ideal direction, to use these rulers for guitar biscuit saddles, that the wood would split too easily.

Vintage wooden rulers are, as you say, not too expensive BUT I can see my Grandfather being upset with me, cutting up a perfectly good/usable ruler !!!

[Michael Messer]

I hadn't considered the point about the grain.

Your grandfather is right, I would not destroy the ruler I have with its brass hinges and other components, it is beautiful. BUT it is box if anyone is desperate!

I ought to see if I can get some English box wood from my guys in Shanghai. I am sure they would send me some as that is what all MM Guitars saddles have made of in recent years.

Shine On
Michael

[pete1951]

Though it won’t be seasoned for a few years, English Box should be plentiful at the moment. The box moth , the larvae of which , eats box is working it’s way up the country at the moment. Most gardeners/tree surgeons are removing badly effected trees. Keep a look out and ask your local tree people.
Pete

[ken1953clark]

Would this be any good?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274674445167?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=et847ViWR6a&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=uERWSnUQTGC&var=574900481363&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[ken1953clark]

Or this?

www.workshopheaven.com/english-boxwood-265mm-x-65mm-x-45mm-bx10247/

Wish I had a band saw, could make a few Bob :-)

[pete1951]

Having a block means you can get ‘quarter sawn’ strips. These are stronger and more stable than ‘slab’ sawn bits ( which old rulers are likely to be)

.

Pete