Beetle lines in elm, still useable?

[Jake_C]

I did some searching and didn't find this discussed on the forum, my apologies if I missed it. I've got a nice American elm log that unfortunately got knocked down by a dead ash a couple years back. Cut at 111” and 12” diameter and straight. The log was cut wet in December 2022 and while removing the bark I found lots of beetle trials underneath. Went ahead and let it dry under a dry overhang where it's sat un-split ever since. I've made an Osage self bow before, and although I love Osage there’s limited supply on the property. I know that with elm there’s no need to chase a ring, and that the back of the bow can be the outermost layer of wood just under the bark. Unfortunately there isn’t a long enough section unmolested by beetles to make a bow from. So what now? If I sanded past the beetle lines would that be an acceptable back for a self bow? I could always sinew back it but I’d prefer not to. Never worked with elm before. Worst case scenario i can get plenty of axe handles or canoe paddles out of it. Thanks in advance!

[Hamish]

I would try working down to a growth ring below the damage. If the tracks disappear, you're good to go.

[ajooter]

Do you have any pictures?  I've had some hop hornbeam with bug trails and it doesn't seem to affect the integrity of the back.  I guess it would depend on how severe they are.  I've never chased a ring on elm.  I would never attemp it on hop hornbeam....way too thin ringed.  If it's like ash or hickory I would say go for it.

[Jake_C]

Tried to upload pictures with the post but it said the files were too big, let me try again here.

[bassman211]

You would have to get rid of the bug lines, and chase a good ring to get a self bow from that log. If the rings are to thin to chase, and you still insist on using the log for bows sinew backing may work for you. Elm is excellent bow wood.

[Eric Krewson]

Those look like wood wasp trails which generally don't go too deep. If you find pin head sized holes in the log from powder post beetles your log is toast, they go in the top of a log and out the bottom and do this along the way inside the log. In this case I split a log in half and found this in the middle of the log.

[Jake_C]

Thanks for the advice guys, I’ll have to split it down here soon and see what I’m dealing with, hopefully the rings are big enough to chase. At least I’ll get plenty of tried out of it.

[paulsemp]

I've basically had zero luck working with any white wood where the back showed signs of sitting on the ground and decay or standing dead. I know it may just be the top ring and I know you can chase down but it just doesn't seem like the wood is the same after it turns into that. Dead white woods is a no-go for me. Osage and black locust is a totally different story with decay on the outer rings.

[Hamish]

Good point Paul, that stave looks like mold has gotten into it.

[Pappy]

Same as Paul, I may think different if I had now wood to work at all , but if that way mine I would be cooking brats with it. 
 Pappy

[Jake_C]

Shouldn’t be any mold, was cut right after it was hit and stored in a dry spot off the ground, I guess we’ll see when it’s split

[Hamish]

Whilst your tree might not have been dead when the other tree knocked it down, it might have been sick, old or damaged, and already suffering from localised rot.

Even if you store wood out of the weather, it can still develop mold, if its left in log form. Splitting into staves dries much faster.

If there is no air movement, this can allow mold to develop.

[Pappy]

When I have wood like that I cut a small piece from the stave and make a Minny bow and do a bend test, if it bends well and sorta separates as you bend it father I will use it, it it bust like a dry stick I will pass on it. 
 Pappy

[jameswoodmot]

looks very much like it was either dead when it came down or has been left too wet and has started to rot. It looks similar to the trees affected but dutch elm disease (but not).
Split it open, if the wood on the inside is discoloured its probable no good but the trees we have here with DED often will just have a dead outer growth ring or two and you can chase it down and the wood under it is fine.