Thread: English Elm

Welcome along uriarra.
If the elm is good it will be worth more slabbed or cut into useful pieces. The grain is usually very attractive.

If they were cut down 2 yrs ago, its quite possible that they won't be suitable for milling any more, especially if the ends hadn't been sealed as they will probably have checked and split internally.

Have a read of these 2 threads here and here to get some ideas on what is needed to be done before you make any money.

It's a good and under-rated turning timber.

BUT, the UV turns the sweet looking cream sapwood and choc coloured heartwood both into a boring dark beige over time.

Was traditionally used for Windsor chairs IIRC.

i've just milled an elm tree that i picked up from ivanhoe golf club last week. i haven't milled many but this one has a black stain creeping in from the ends of where it has been sawn. the tree was blown down less than 6 weeks ago. i dont know if elm suffers the same plight as pine (blue stain) but if your logs are 2 years old this might be a problem. and log degrade certainly will show itself in the sawn timber

I Have Milled A Bit Of Elm And It Is Very Nice Timber,it Will Distort Badly Around Knots,i Have Wrecked More Saw Blades In Elm Than Any Other Timber.the Last Log I Milled Was 1 Meter In Diameter And I Checked It With Metal Detector And It Seemed Clear,i Hit 8 Gauge Wire In The Centre,it Took The Teeth Of A Brand New Blade.it Must Have Been Used As A Fence Post When It Was 6 Inch In Diameter.
Cheers Dave1963

Thanks to all who replied.

I think the next time one of these trees comes down it will need to be sealed. There are some hefty trunks in the pile which I might see if I can drag out and 'save' as I think the scraps will be burnt.

Thanks again for the replies. Can anyone recommend someone local to the ACT who may come and check it for milling potential?

Uriarra, you could try Chris Pollack at Yass, 02 6226 4513, only had one dealing with him but he was good, know a couple of others who were satisfied.
Cheers
Barry