Elm

[jimsong]

I have an off the wall question. Has anyone had any experience with building boats out of elm? I know it's tougher than the hinges on the gates of hell!
It used to be the preferred wood for saddle trees and the hubs of the big wooden wagon wheels. (The saddle trees are made of plastic nowadays, and not too many big wagon wheel manufacturers are on the stock exchange recently.) But I have never heard of it's application in marine use.
The reason I ask, is that I have a good sized elm tree that has to come out. My original intent was to make puncheon benches from it, but if I could find a way to slab it off into 3/4 inch boards, and put said boards in the attic for a few years, maybe I could make a pirogue from my own home grown tree.

 

[oldsparkey]

Nope....

No idea on this end.

I would let it really dry out before making a boat from the wood.
It should make a nice boat but I would do some research before starting that project , especially the weight of the wood when dried.

Would Elm be in the same class as Oak????????/

Chuck.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Chinese elm, commonly known as "piss ellum" around these parts, burns OK. Makes a very nice shade tree when alive. It has few other socially redeeming graces.

If you are working with a greenhorn, let him try to split some elm. He'll give up soon - if he's smart.

 

[BlackwaterJohn]

I'd be interested to know if the tree is sound. Much of the elm over here is hollow or rotten due to Dutch Elm Disease. It's pretty hard to find a good sound elm or elm at all in these parts. I've got no idea how it would work up into a boat either. Pretty hard and heavy.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Elm soaks up water and gets heavier than hell. Avoid it. Even aluminum is a better material for boats.

 

[jimsong]

Well, Back to the original plan of puncheon benchs, and cord wood.

 

[Kayak Jack]

If you plan to make cord wood of it, plan on splitting it with a chain saw. Even power splitters stutter and stagger on elm.

 

[seedtick]

Think they call it pisselum cause it smells like somebody wee wee'd on the caampfire when you burn it

 

[Kayak Jack]

Yeah, sometimes when it's fresh cut too, I hear.

 

[BEARS BUDDY]

Yes on both counts.

 

[Bellybuster]

I built a roll top desk out of well dried elm. Really interesting grain in elm but prone to checks and gouges while planing.
Awesome for furniture but a boat????? I'd think maybe not

 

[Kayak Jack]

Elm, like hemlock I think, soaks up water voraciously. gains weight worse'n me at a banquet.

 

[sackett]

Tends ta move around a lot while drying. I'de be inclined to use it in a stripper. That would cut down on the weight,and since it'ud be glassed on both sides,wouldn't soak up no water. Ain't likely ta last too long as outside benches

 

[tx river rat]

Makes a good self bow I have built a couple, if it is sealed should be a tough hull, my elm bows don't weigh anymore than my oak ones and less than the bodark bows are mulberry ones.
Ron