wych elm drying - anything to watch out for?

[stuckinthemud]

Hi Guys,
So I have ordered a wych elm stave that is still in the tree until next week.  I have asked for it to be cleaved to check for heli twist before I confirm the purchase and they are OK with that.  I intend to rough it down to a stave then leave it indoors somewhere cool until Easter.  I have never worked with elm before and never roughed out a stave before seasoning - all my staves are left bark on with the ends carefully sealed with builders white glue and by my standards 3 months is force-drying - my staves usually store for 3+ years before I use them.  What do I need to watch out for?

[bownarra]

Not much She dries with no problems.
By the way if you want more elm just send me a PM.

[Pappy]

You might want to clamp in down to something while drying, roughed out it will probably turn inside out as it dries if you don't. Most white woods will if put up green.
 Pappy

[druid]

Be carefull about bugs in the cambium if you left any. Also left wider blank, some elms tend to curve depends of growing conditions (not twisting) so you should have more space for taking out the final product.

[Hawkdancer]

Never worked with elm or any kind!  My impression is that Wych elm is European.  Lost my Dendrology book!  What is the scientific name, or have I asked this before?  The mind goes first, I don't remember what is second!  That may be why I am making bows at my age!    So far, I am 1 for 1!
Bownarra, where are you -maybe we can work a trade.
Hawkdancer

[stuckinthemud]

Ulmus glabra, "wych" literally translates as bendy/flexible . It is a European  species growing from Ireland right across to the Ural mountains (according to Wikipedia)

[Hawkdancer]

I could ask "There's trees in Ireland", but I won't !  The correct pronunciation  is what I really want to know.
Hawkdancer

[dratera]

Twisting beyond what can be fixed with heat, clamp it down good. I have had to throw away way to many staves and blanks of w. elm because of this