Lie-Nielsen Hophornbeam
Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida
>Subsequent to the upstream discussion of hornbeams, and which (if not both) was used in the L-N chisels, I contacted Tom Lie-Nielsen to ask about the wood he uses.
He wrote:
"No hornbeam is commercially available that I know of, but we have a local source who is supplying us (the old fashioned way where they cut it in the woods for you...) and it is Hophornbeam, Ostrya Virginiana. Locally, it is known as Hornbeam or Ironwood. American Hornbeam also called Blue Beech I am told , and known as Carpinus Caroliniana, does not grow around here, although the ranges of the two species may overlap farther south."
Sir William's conclusion after examining his chisels was correct, and the surmise that some might be made of Carpinus Caroliniana is incorrect.