Big American Elm

[lindnova]

Not many big elms left in my area. I had a deadfall that broke the top off a couple years ago in a widow maker that just fell recently. I took some pictures. Cut most for firewood and kept a nice 8 ft log for slabbing. The last elm I slabbed warped terribly, but got some nice wood out of it after I fought the warp and planed it down.

It is an american elm by the bark cross section, but the wood does look darker than normal for an american. Also the growth rings are interesting. For the first 50 years or so it grew very slow to 6" in the understory then after some logging that happened in the 70's it took off and grew real fast another 20 inches in the next 40 years..

Anyone know what the dark marks are from? Wood was very heavy wet - on par with oak.

 

[Del_]

..

Anyone know what the dark marks are from? Wood was very heavy wet - on par with oak.

The dark marks are almost certain to be from insect or bird damage or possible even shotgun going after squirrels. Reaction wood. Some are likely knots from limbs.

 

[Jakers]

The dark marks are almost certain to be from insect or bird damage or possible even shotgun going after squirrels. Reaction wood. Some are likely knots from limbs.

Yup, I'll second that

 

[Marley5]

Not many live Elms left here either but still some standing dead.
Found a nice one last weekend, pretty wood and kinda smells like hickory when cutting it.
Oh and burns good.

 

[lindnova]

Burn good = Yes! Smell good - no. I usually wait until the bark falls off before cutting then they are clean and nearly dry.