Thread: Chinese elm

Hi there Biotechy,
I have used some in carving classes with students here, as we were left a log of the stuff. Thought I'd have a go, but its not overly nice to work, and a pretty ordinary looking timber...sort of a dirty grey!
It seems hard enough when seasoned, and could be used for furniture if you wanted to paint it afterwards. I'm quite sure it is used for such in its place of origin, but personally I'd put it in the "Desperate" pile.
Cheers,

Hi biotechy,


I think the Chinese elm is classed as a noxious weed (well it is out this way.) Local council are the best to advise on the how to remove it. Normally a chain saw and a good dose of tordon to finish it off will sort most of them out. if you have to many of them and your interested I can suggest an arborist who will be able to help you out. trouble with these things is once they take hold the getting rid of them can be a real hassle.

I have been told tha Chinese Elm makes great chisel handles - just checked as I have a few blanks for exactly that purpose.

Cheers

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

Hi there Biotechy,
I have used some in carving classes with students here, as we were left a log of the stuff. Thought I'd have a go, but its not overly nice to work, and a pretty ordinary looking timber...sort of a dirty grey!
It seems hard enough when seasoned, and could be used for furniture if you wanted to paint it afterwards. I'm quite sure it is used for such in its place of origin, but personally I'd put it in the "Desperate" pile.
Cheers,

Hi Andy thanks for that yep its pretty noxious did you try and stain it I did a bit of a search on the net and I came across three or more different species I do know some people use it for bonsai work but I believe it was a different species, I just wish it didn't grow so bloody fast LOL

Originally Posted by Bluegum

Hi biotechy,


I think the Chinese elm is classed as a noxious weed (well it is out this way.) Local council are the best to advise on the how to remove it. Normally a chain saw and a good dose of tordon to finish it off will sort most of them out. if you have to many of them and your interested I can suggest an arborist who will be able to help you out. trouble with these things is once they take hold the getting rid of them can be a real hassle.

Hi Bluegum
I thought Tordon was banned I used to work with a vet whose nick name was tordon because he'd kill anything over the size of a small dog LOL
so far we've been using them for BBQ fuel but thought why not try something with it and if I stuff it up well I won't be so upset if I stuffed up a nice piece of exotic wood I paid a small fortune for
Cheers Mate

Originally Posted by numbat

I have been told tha Chinese Elm makes great chisel handles - just checked as I have a few blanks for exactly that purpose.

Cheers

When you've made them can you post up some pics I have a lot of my saddlery tools that have nice wooden handles but eventually they will need to be replaced and if I can do that might solve the ever growing elm problem LOLL
cheers Bio

Chinese Elm turns easily, takes a good finish, the Chinese Elm down here has a wide white sapwood and a dark brown heartwood.
Cheers
Barry

Sounds like you have a perpetual timber source!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donno what type of chinese elm you guys are talking about the ones we get here take forever to grow.. My mum had an elm that just fell down and i have plenty of the stuff lying around!! donno what it is like to turn though..??

Would someone please show a pic of this stuff? Im wonderin as its so fast growin if its not yet another name for Kiri or Pauliwanna? Cause if it is I will take as much as you can send!!!
Cheers!

I'm no botanist, but I think there is some confusion in what is actually a Chinese Elm.

There appear to be two species known as Chinese Elm

One, Celtis sinensis is a declared noxious weed, is fast growing and clogs waterways in SE Qld and Northern NSW, and is also known as Chinese Hackberry.
http://www.weeds.org.au/cgi-bin/weed...a=all&card=T21

http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/i...nt/annex3.html

The other Ulmus parvifolia is also known as the Chinese Weeping Elm and is somewhat slower growing, suitable for cooler climates, and a recommended street tree in SA.

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/200...s/chinese_elms

The Celtis version is the nasty one, and has unpretty grey timber as previously discussed.

cheers,

P (I had to satisfy my curiosity!)

The Chinese Elm down here is the same one described on Burk's Backyard as provided by BM. There are two varieties, upright and weeping, the bark has a mottled apperance and leads to it sometimes being called Leopardwood. As I said earlier the heartwood is chocolate brown with a wide white sapwood.
Cheers
Barry

I think Midge has clarified the situation a bit - as usual, common names can cause no end of confusion.

As far as I've ever heard, C. sinensis (the weed) is practically useles for anything in the furniture line. It's very unstable, and degrades horribly during drying. It's closely related to the Nth American Hackberry, which is considered useless even as firewood in its native land.

It might be ok for pallets, or small turned items, if stability isn't a requirement, and it ought to be tough enough for handles, but good luck keeping your ferrules on!

I've got several larger trees on my place, and they're about to feel the chainsaw and a dose of glyphosate!

Cheers,