That tree

[tandemsforus]

Got up this morn to find a tree out back had come down, almost. Should be a fun weekend project! This looks like a classic "widow maker"
My question is
first- I think its one of the elm family
second- The base is 27 inches across so I could get some slabs off it once it's down. If it is elm is it worth slabbing? Never worked with Elm so, not sure how it is for woodworking, or even burning in my stove.....
Thoughts??

John

 

[Roy G]

Doesn't split so firewood is difficult. Has some nice grain but tends to move a lot as it dries. Could get some bowl blanks out of it. Used to make water pipes out of it because it won't rot if it stays wet.

Roy G

 

[llucas]

I have made some very nice bowls out of elm. And I think some furniture made with elm has a great grain pattern.

 

[Cuthriell]

Got up this morn to find a tree out back had come down, almost. Should be a fun weekend project! This looks like a classic "widow maker"
My question is
first- I think its one of the elm family
second- The base is 27 inches across so I could get some slabs off it once it's down. If it is elm is it worth slabbing? Never worked with Elm so, not sure how it is for woodworking, or even burning in my stove.....
Thoughts??

John

It does look like an Elm leaf. Smooth top surface is American Elm and sandpaper like surface is the Slippery Elm. Both are difficult to plane by hand in the direction of growth and I have mostly planed across the grain and used scrapers to work the wood.

 

[Jeff]

Probably slippery elm (aka red elm). It is difficult wood to split and has a moderate heat value in your stove.

Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)

carolinanature.com

Red Elm | The Wood Database (Hardwood)

www.wood-database.com

American Elm (Ulmus americana)

www.carolinanature.com

American Elm | The Wood Database (Hardwood)

www.wood-database.com

BTU Values of Wood Species

Wood species type BTU values of a cord burning wood in a wood stove

www.wood-heating-solutions.com