Coytee Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Backstory: we had a couple (approximate 24" diameter) oak trees withering. One was standing dead, other was leaning and only not falling because it was against another. The leaning tree had around 30/40 feet of clean trunk before the first branch. Pulled down a cedar. Took these logs (most cut to 10' length but some cut to 16' length) to a mill and had them cut into lumber. The guy at the mill evidently was wide eyed.... my brother in law says the Mill guy told him they get calls from people about cutting their log or tree.... and they come in with a 10" diameter tree which in this guys world, is near useless. He said he didn't take my brother in law seriously when he told him he had some large logs....well....they were! Guy cut them and said the oak was furniture/cabinet grade stuff.... it really turned out well. My brother in law is going to use the oak for flooring in his Katrina ravaged house and use the cedar to line the closets (the cedar was stunning, all the whitewood was trimmed off and it was all red) So, other day, I see an elm tree laying at an angle. Go look at it this morning and it's slowly uprooting. It looks like it's at an easy 45 degree angle and only being held by said roots so it really needs to come down for safety reasons if nothing else. Tree probably has 30+ feet of clean trunk.... probably 20" diameter.... what I don't know is, is it good for anything? Should I just drop it & leave it rot or get it sawed up? Do people use elm for flooring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Elm is the predominate tree in the US. I know it was used to make wagon wheels back in the day. I have used it in the fireplace and it seem ok for that. The grains are kinda stringy making it tough to split. I would think it could work as flooring as it is tough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 It may partially matter what kind of elm. Apparently it is pretty tough and is used in furniture framing and things like butcher block cutting boards. For planking you have to drill holes for fastening. If you don't need it for any projects maybe use it for firewood? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 A certain type is used for burl veneers but again it isn't the easiest to work with without a flexible backing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 2 minutes ago, JL Sargent said: Elm is the predominate tree in the US. I know it was used to make wagon wheels back in the day. I have used it in the fireplace and it seem ok for that. The grains are kinda stringy making it tough to split. I would think it could work as flooring as it is tough. Good one. Wagon wheels, barrels, truck bed planking, pallets, crates.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Elm splits real funny all the way from the beginning of the split to the end and it fights you all the way. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 Good for street names. 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 11 hours ago, DizRotus said: Good for street names. but still a nightmare. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted August 13, 2019 Moderators Share Posted August 13, 2019 And making trees 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HDBRbuilder Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 For firewood, elm crackles and spits...not the best thing desired for open-front fireplaces...gum is even worse!! Most timberland owners try to get rid of their elms and replace them with commercially-viable oak, black walnut, and even conifers in my area...elm makes for great yard shade trees, though...but an elm log is worth less than the effort to remove the tree, IMHO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieb Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 === Elm! - huh - — — what is it good for - absolutely nuthin’ — 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted August 13, 2019 Share Posted August 13, 2019 Slippery Elm good for sore throat ...🙀 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted August 13, 2019 Moderators Share Posted August 13, 2019 19 minutes ago, richieb said: === Elm! - huh - — — what is it good for - absolutely nuthin’ — Cool song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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