What species of wood to use

[Walnut Beast]

I've done a little research and heard various opinions on Elm. What would work the best and dry the best for general construction use between Elm, Ash, mulberry, hackberry. I do have several big dead Elm trees and Ash. But the Ash seem to deteriorate in the woods faster than others. I'm throwing in a couple more Honey locust and Cotton wood 🪵 

[beenthere]

What do you think of when you refer to general construction?  Dimension lumber, or boards?

What are you planning?

[Walnut Beast]

1x stuff 2X stuff 

[fluidpowerpro]

I've heard that a common use for elm is for the seat on wooden chairs. 

[Walnut Beast]

Seems like elm is a pretty good choice from some reading I've done 

[JoshNZ]

I milled a few logs from a giant elm tree recently and I have been really impressed with it. I would say it was wasted as construction material/framing that gets covered, it's a pretty attractive timber with a finish on it. I wasn't super impressed getting it out of the kiln it had dulled and greyed but dressed/finished it looks awesome. Aside from unfinished appearance, milled well, dried well, stayed straight etc. Newly a big fan 



 




 

[Walnut Beast]

That looks beautiful!!! Great to know personal experiences. Thanks

[WDH]

Elm has spiral grain and very difficult to dry flat if flatsawn.  Quatersawn is the way to go if the logs are large enough. 

[Walnut Beast]

Thanks. I was reading about that. What are your thoughts on hackberry and honey locust 

[WDH]

Hackberry is in the elm family and behaves similar to elm.  The honeylocust that I have sawn behaved well, but the wood is hard.

[Nebraska]

Cottonwood works well too. As long as it's kept dry. 

[wisconsitom]

@WDH, check that hackberry affiliation.  Got moved to Cannabinaceae a while back, of all things.

Or did it get moved back🤔?

[WDH]

I never knew that it moved.  My sources still show it in the Ulmaceace. 

[wisconsitom]

Hackberry Celtis occidentalis - Google Search

[WDH]

USDA still shows it in the Ulmaceace.  Weird .  Maybe hackberry got woke. 

Celtis occidentalis

[wisconsitom]

As far as I'm aware, was moved at least ten years ago.

[chet]

I'm not that far north of you, so our elm has probably the same growth characteristics. I've sawed quite a bit of it, my advice is to use something else. On a side note. I tried sawing some this summer for trailer decking, and both trees turned out to have considerable ring sake.  :-\

[WDH]

As far as I'm aware, was moved at least ten years ago.

OK.  Some things are hard to unlearn.  The wavy bands in the latewood like in all the elms is going to confuse many. 

[wisconsitom]

Certainly an odd place for a tree to end up-what else is in Cannabaceae other than the namesake plant, hops, and now this tree?

Caught me by surprise.

[WDH]

Me too, thanks to you.