Chinese Elm Wood Grain

Moderately dense elm weighs nearly 40 lbs.

Chinese elm wood grain.

The most basic division of elm species is between hard and soft elm. The usually dramatic grain resembles ash. The wood is very tough and has extensive interlocked grain. The grain is often handsome and dramatic.

Difficult to carve and carved by only experts. Ulmiform patterning is evident even on the face grain of elm as thin zig zags between growth rings. Per cubic foot dry. Shown below is a piece of lumber from a small tree that was killed by dutch elm disease.

We asked his opinion on some of the working and drying properties and this was his response. Elm heartwood ranges in tone from reddish brown to light tan while the sapwood approaches off white. The wood itself is rare very hard with fine lined grain. It is no longer found in china and is imported from southeast asia and africa to makers in china.

This sample was sent to us by eric beckman who is harvesting chinese elm. Unlike other elms freshly cut chinese elm has a peppery or spicy odour. The greatest diversity is found in china. Elm wood was valued for its interlocking grain and consequent resistance to splitting with significant uses in wagon wheel hubs chair seats and coffins.

The wood of the hard elms sometimes referred to. Siberian elm is often mistaken with ulmus parvifolia chinese elm even though they look completely different. Hard and soft scans pictures. It is one of the densest and hardest of woods.

Interlocked grain means that the lengthwise grain from year to year goes different directions instead of being perfectly vertical in the. Chinese elm heartwood ranges in tone from reddish brown to light tan or flesh coloured while the sapwood approaches off white.