Ulmus rubra
Other names: Slippery elm, brown elm
DISTRIBUTION
The Eastern to Mid-west USA.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Red elm has a greyish white to light brown narrow sapwood, with heartwood that is reddish brown to dark brown in colour. The grain can be straight, but is often interlocked. The wood has a coarse texture.
(American grey elm is now only available in very limited volume.)
WORKING PROPERTIES
The wood of red elm is fairly easy to work, it nails, screws and glues wells, and can be sanded, stained and polished to a good finish. It dries well with minimum degrade and little movement in performance.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Elm is moderately heavy, hard and stiff with excellent bending and shock resistance. It is difficult to split because of its interlocked grain.
DURABILITY
Rated as non-resistant to heartwood decay, and classed as permeable to preservatives.
AVAILABILITY
USA: Limited in both lumber and veneer as supply is threatened by Dutch elm disease, but more available in the south.
Export: Limited.
MAIN USES
Furniture, cabinet making, flooring, internal joinery, panelling and coffins.
