Elm slabs

I am currently working with Elm, but there are so many different trees, it is hard to predict how yours will act. I’d been warned it is ‘stringy’ and cross-grained, but haven’t found any of that in mine. I’ve seen beautiful cabinets and desk tops, finished to a honey-gold in elm. Sand up a sample piece and put a finish on it, so you can see what it will do. When I get further along, I’ll post a photo of what I’m making. It is a project just for me, and I keep getting stalled with other side jobs!

I have made a dining room table and several benches out of elm; it is a beautiful wood but prone to tear out; use a sharp, high angled plane! I used 7 coats of Minwax “tung oil” on the table; it gave a nice warm luster without being too glossy.

Wow, that is nice. Thanks for the inspiration

Beautiful table.

I made a mantle clock out of grey elm. Even after being on the bottom of a stack of lumber for three years the boards still bent some. I found it pretty hard but with beautiful chatoyance.

Great use of Dutchman keys to stabilize the splits. Sometimes we forget to celebrate the imperfections in the wood.

thanks! Elm is underated as a hardwood; it really is a rich warm wood to work with!