Thread: Milling an ELM TREE in Bendigo (VIC)

In 2012 when the local council (Ballarat) dropped a few Elms along the Avenue of Honor in preparation for the 100 years ANZAC shindig, I grabbed a few trunks that they had left lying on the roadside for a couple of weeks (nay...not grabbed...rather, saved from the chipper) and slabbed them at about 70mm thick. Left them to air dry and have quite literally, only in the last month, started sawing them down to size and climatising (sp) for use in a hallway bench seat project.

I've never used Elm before but these bits look lovely. A nice brownish color and these particular pieces have a simple and pleasant grain/ring pattern in them.

The slabs were end-sealed simply with paint and haven't split much at all. There are a few small knots that have opened up but that's what you get.

I'll try to remember to post some pics tomorrow night of the "refined" boards and a few of the slabs I still have in their "fresh from my shoddy home made Alaskan mill for a 22" bar" form

I figure: whatever the timber, if you can get some boards from it, it's worth it. So get milling and get those puppies drying


EDIT: Oh, and I also took notes of which soldiers these trees were dedicated to. While the old ones have since been replaced, I thought that it would be respectful to be able to note the history and dedication behind the timber used in my projects. I did contact the council before I took them, but they were extremely slow in responding so I went with my gut on "saving" the logs from an otherwise useless and less considerate purpose. Which was fortunate, because not long after, the bits I left behind were removed.

Elm is well worth the trouble. Our dear forum friend Woodward was very fond of it for furniture making.
Don't cut too thin as it can be prone to cupping. Sticker tight and close to the ends. Air dry slowly.

Thanks for the replies!

At it's thickest, the trunk section (which should be about 3m long when felled) is about 650mm diameter. Thanks for the advice re cutting the slabs a bit thicker...

There's also a few big branches that might slab up nicely, or perhaps they'd enjoy going through a bandsaw...

Will keep y'all posted and post some pics when it comes down.

Phil

Elm branches tend to make very unstable timber.

Hi Phil,
Seeing that Woodturners Bendigo, have their Wood Show on, why not approach them.
There are some very experienced Woodies there.

Hi.
I slabbed 3 or 4 Bendigo Elms about 30 years ago.
The rot caused by the beetle infection leaves a very nasty sludge inside. Make sure you clean or cut that out thoroughly or it will spread.
It is a lovely timber and I made quite a few pieces of furniture out of mine. Still have some of it left too.
Be aware that the city council has a log contract and may not just 'give it ' to you - if it is on the nature strip , it belongs to the city....

Originally Posted by jhovel

if it is on the nature strip , it belongs to the city....

Heh...I've been caught out with that twice before. The first time was fair and square, but it was the a neighbour out bush (who commissioned the felling) that got the warning. Second time was for a claret ash (we had planted in our own front lawn 30 years before) that BARELY encroached on the nature strip (I'm talking the thickness of the bark) and yet they came out to tell me off.

*meh* Got some great pieces out of it

Anyhoo, here's one of the smaller roughly cut down sticks from the elm I collected. The photo color isn't great, but the timber is nice light brown and once it's smoothed and has a finish applied, it should look fantastic.

Thanks for the advice re the Elm branches. I'll look closely before considering slabbing them or possibly putting them through the bandsaw.

My tree is well and truly on my property, but will still make some 'anonymous' queries with council around regulations, etc...