Author Topic: Help identifying elm  (Read 6307 times)

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Offline Enharrington

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Help identifying elm
« on: June 10, 2015, 10:00:11 pm »
Hey guys I was hoping someone could help me identify which elm I have here. I live in upstate New York north of Albany.  I am confused because the bark is less furrowed than other elms I have seen. It is slightly more scaly.  It's was not a very old tree. I dont think American because it is about 1/3 dark heart wood and I thought American elm had almost no visible heart wood.  I don't think slippery elm because the leaves are very smooth and a shiny dark green on the top.  And I don't think rock elm because none of the branches had any cork like wings on them.  The leaves were around 3  to 5 inches In length.  Any help would be appreciated.   Thanks - Erick
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2015, 06:59:23 am »
American is my guess. But its all good elm for the most part.
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Offline PatM

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2015, 07:33:47 am »
  American will still have a variable amount of heartwood depending on growing conditions.

Offline Enharrington

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2015, 07:57:01 am »
Ok American elm  it is.  Thanks guys.  I was hoping for rock elm.  I'm curious to try a more dense elm.
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Offline Marc St Louis

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2015, 09:08:35 am »
Rock Elm does not have wings on the branches, that's Winged Elm.  I would be more inclined to think Slippery
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Offline PatM

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2015, 09:26:30 am »
Rock elm has shaggy corky twigs  but they are not uniform like those on winged Elm.
 Red or Slippery has thicker branch extremities that are not as whip like as American Elm.

Offline Enharrington

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2015, 09:37:45 am »
Thanks for the help guys. It's hard to find useable Information with Just Google search and the book I have wasn't all that helpful to with elm either.  I have limited experience making bows but so far elm is my favorite by far with HHb second.  I'm just looking to experiment with different elms so I can be more selective while harvesting staves.   Along with this elm I was able to get a red mulberry that came down in a storm. However it is a fine ringed large tree.  The smaller ringed mulberry is not as strong right? I've only worked with mulberry once before and it was a fine ringed tree.  The bow broke at about 20 inches.  Idk if I stressed it too much or maybe over dried it but it exploded.
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Offline chef-d405

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2015, 03:11:44 pm »
Bark looks wrong for slippery elm. Looks like American elm to me. Slippery elm has white streaks in the trunk that look like someone poured bleach down it.

Offline sleek

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #8 on: June 11, 2015, 03:45:04 pm »
Red elm?

Either way, how long and wide is it?
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Offline Enharrington

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #9 on: June 11, 2015, 04:14:18 pm »
I was thinking not slippery elm because the book I have says slippery elms leaves will be very rough.  The tree was still small.  Maybe eight inches at the base.
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Offline sleek

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #10 on: June 11, 2015, 04:28:52 pm »
How long a stave did you get from it?
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Offline Enharrington

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #11 on: June 11, 2015, 04:38:32 pm »
Longer than six foot.  And one stave was out of a flat side of the tree so has no crown
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Offline sleek

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #12 on: June 11, 2015, 04:42:41 pm »
Would you be willing to trade for some osage? :D
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Offline sleek

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #13 on: June 11, 2015, 04:48:41 pm »
Ok, full disclosure,  to be fair, the wood you have is superior to osage in many ways. I dont know the exact species of elm, but I have made bows from the same stuff you have and they were amazing. So, if not osage, maybe some other deal, or if not dont be shy to tell me to shove off, cause thats good wood  >:D
Tread softly and carry a bent stick.

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Offline Enharrington

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Re: Help identifying elm
« Reply #14 on: June 11, 2015, 04:57:22 pm »
I've never worked Osage so absolutely I'd be willing to trade.  It soaking wet as it was cut two days ago.  I peeled the park off and sealed the ends.  I can take a picture of the two best staves I got and post them on here tonight if you'd like.
"I'm afraid the strain was more than he could bear"-doc holiday