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Elm
It’s a rare treat when elm is available to woodworkers as lumber! It has a similar open-grainy appearance to American ash but it’s lighter in weight and a bit more colorful. Elm machines easily and shapes beautifully by hand.
Length: Not specified
Thickness: Hit and miss to 15/16 inches
- Common Name(s): Elm
- Scientific Name: Ulmus spp.
- Distribution: Temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere
- Tree Size: 65-100 ft (20-30 m) tall, 2-5 ft (0.6-1.5 m) trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 35-40 lbs/ft³ (560-640 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 830 lbf (3,690 N)
- Crushing Strength: 6,580 lbf/in² (45.4 MPa)
Heartwood: Light to medium reddish-brown.
Sapwood: Pale yellow to nearly white, not always sharply demarcated from heartwood.
Grain: Interlocked grain, difficult to split.
Texture: Coarse and uneven texture with a medium natural luster.
Rated as non-durable to moderately durable in regard to decay resistance, susceptible to insect attack.
Elm is generally easy to work with, though it can have a slight blunting effect on cutting edges. It turns, glues, and finishes well, but it can be difficult to split due to its interlocked grain.
- Furniture
- Veneer
- Plywood
- Flooring
- Boatbuilding
- Boxes, crates, and baskets
Elm is prized for its interlocked grain and attractive appearance, making it popular for a variety of woodworking projects. The wood’s interlocking grain also makes it resistant to splitting, which is beneficial for certain applications but can make it challenging to work with in others.
Note: Elm trees in North America and Europe have been significantly affected by Dutch elm disease, a fungal infection spread by bark beetles. This has resulted in a reduction in the availability of large-diameter elm lumber.