Elm this, and Elm that...

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I'm not sure that's elm????
Yes, it is. In fact, some of the elm I just split has a deep red color to it that browns out in the sun. SVK's and mine look very similar. The idea behind all of this elm around here is to let it sit in the round for 6 to 8 months before splitting it. When the bark falls off, it's ready. These rounds in my truck were so big and heavy that I had to noodle cut them into quarters before loading. On occasion, I have to go down to to six blocks. The bark fell off as I cut the 8' log to 18" rounds, halves, quarters, and sixths.
 
is winged elm a good firewood and I have some old dead standing winged elm with checking all over so it looks like it should be easy to split with a maul or maybe fiskars since there is so much checking.
 
Yes, it is. In fact, some of the elm I just split has a deep red color to it that browns out in the sun. SVK's and mine look very similar. The idea behind all of this elm around here is to let it sit in the round for 6 to 8 months before splitting it. When the bark falls off, it's ready. These rounds in my truck were so big and heavy that I had to noodle cut them into quarters before loading. On occasion, I have to go down to to six blocks. The bark fell off as I cut the 8' log to 18" rounds, halves, quarters, and sixths.


It's the same stuff I have been cutting here in Colorado. Very heavy and hard. It's been down 3 years and most of the bark is off most of it. I've had to switch to all semi chisel chain because it just years up my full chisel after a few cuts. This stuff is like cutting concrete.
 
I ran into some similar elm last week -- hard as nails and tough to split with a slight spiral to the grain. The tree had been standing dead for about five years. Bark was gone. The bottom 15 feet of the tree's trunk still had wood with moisture in it and will require some drying. The rest will be burnable immediately. The log splitter yelled at me several times while working. Regardless, it will produce a bundle of heat.

The tree removal company tried mulching branches in excess of 4" dia. and they had to shut down the chipper. They called me over to process all the larger pieces for firewood. I said, "Hey, guys, you told me this chipper could handle branches up to 6" dia."

The foreman said, "Not this stuff. It's all yours."
 
I ran into some similar elm last week -- hard as nails and tough to split with a slight spiral to the grain. The tree had been standing dead for about five years. Bark was gone. The bottom 15 feet of the tree's trunk still had wood wi
th moisture in it and will require some drying. The rest will be burnable immediately. The log splitter yelled at me several times while working. Regardless, it will produce a bundle of heat.

The tree removal company tried mulching branches in excess of 4" dia. and they had to shut down the chipper. They called me over to process all the larger pieces for firewood. I said, "Hey, guys, you told me this chipper could handle branches up to 6" dia."

The foreman said, "Not this stuff. It's all yours."

I am assuming you are using semi chisel chain to cut this stuff also? The bottom of the trees are clean with no bark and it dulled my full chisel right away. 24 inch at the base. It seems the base is the hardest to cut. The funny thing is people around here that don't know firewood still would rather buy Aspen than this stuff?
 
I am assuming you are using semi chisel chain to cut this stuff also? The bottom of the trees are clean with no bark and it dulled my full chisel right away. 24 inch at the base. It seems the base is the hardest to cut. The funny thing is people around here that don't know firewood still would rather buy Aspen than this stuff?
well for sure dont tell em!!!!!!!!! that way,,you get all the "bad" stuff!!!!!!!!!! :laughing:
 
Found another stand of small elm in a reprog area that was logged 25 years ago. Wet, clay soil.

Leaves were pretty large as far as elm go. Bark is different than the American I've cut but similar to the other stand of elm I've found about a mile and a half from this. Of the two larger ones, one was the traditional "martini glass" elm shape and the other one was more like a tootsie pop with a rounded canopy.

IMG_5570.JPG IMG_5571.JPG

What be this elm?
 
Bark really doesn't look identical to any of the other elm I've cut and that's what stumps me. Looks closer to red than any of the others.

The leaves seem to be larger than Siberian though?
 
Anybody? @Whitespider
I may just have to drop one of these and find the answer.
How big are the leaves... like 6-8 inches long?? Are they real rough on top... like 60 grit sandpaper?? That would be Red Elm.
However, that bark looks like Rock Elm, and so does the leaves... leaves would be 5 inches or less, and smooth, even shiny smooth.
If it's Rock Elm you've got some of the best firewood ever created by God.

Note... Siberian Elm leaves are small... like 2½ inches or less.
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