American Elm

[Paul M. Kaplowitz]

I grew up in New Haven, CT, The Elm city. James Hillhouse had started planting American Elms in 1685. By 1990 they were all gone. Dutch Elm disease had destroyed the Elms from MA to MO.

In 1997 we moved to Charleston, SC. If you want to cut a hardwood down that is 16" or more at breast height, you have to get a permit fron the town Arborist.

I thought he would be a good source for trees since he issued the permits. He has been terrific. One day I got an email from him asking if I wanted an American Elm 29" in Diameter. I asked if he was sure that it was an American Elm as I thought they were all dead. He informed me that we had a large healthy population of Elms here.

Over the years I have gotten several Elms and the wood is beautiful.

Here's my question - why didn't the blight come here. Could it be possible that the beetle that carries the blight needs cold in it's life cycle?

 

[hockenbery]

Florida elms are doing well ( American, Florida, Winged)
U of F extension service has this to say
“While Dutch elm disease has killed many elms in the northern parts of the country, it has not yet been detected in Florida. However, arborists watch elms closely for the symptoms so any outbreak can be quickly quarantined and controlled.”

Southern states tend to have lower densities of elms which may have prevented the spread of Dutch elm disease.

 

[robo hippy]

It goes through an area like a tornado or hurricane, doing a lot of damage, but leaving some trees untouched. I grew up in St. Joseph, MO (where the Pony Express began, and Jessie James ended), and can remember boulevards lined with elm. Almost all of them are gone. I was visiting another turner there one Christmas, and noticed a big one in their front yard.... Side note, Winnipeg, Canada has the highest percent of American Elm trees in north America. That info courtesy of a cab driver when I told him I loved the wood lathe... I believe the same is true with the American Chestnut.

robo hippy

 

[Perry Hilbert]

I get most of my spindle turning wood as cut offs from a skid making operation. He gets most of his logs from towns and highway depts. (He once told me he never has to pay for timber, it finds him.) Two years ago, he cut up a half dozen elm trunks to make skid lumber. I was happy for the 4x5's cut off the ends, some 14 inches long. It is stored carefully in the barn and used sparingly, because I do not know when I will next have such an opportunity to get elm. It turns very nicely. In Summer of 2017, the guy had a huge order for skids and was cutting mulberry, cherry and black walnut into skid lumber. A shame, but I got some really good turning pieces out of that. He does some custom cutting and I was going to have him cut a black gum into slabs for me. But I have been getting so much for free from him, I just haven't bothered. .

 

[Bob Howell]

Elm has beautiful grain pattern that makes dramatic bowls.

 

[John Torchick]

I get most of my spindle turning wood as cut offs from a skid making operation. He gets most of his logs from towns and highway depts. (He once told me he never has to pay for timber, it finds him.) Two years ago, he cut up a half dozen elm trunks to make skid lumber. I was happy for the 4x5's cut off the ends, some 14 inches long. It is stored carefully in the barn and used sparingly, because I do not know when I will next have such an opportunity to get elm. It turns very nicely. In Summer of 2017, the guy had a huge order for skids and was cutting mulberry, cherry and black walnut into skid lumber. A shame, but I got some really good turning pieces out of that. He does some custom cutting and I was going to have him cut a black gum into slabs for me. But I have been getting so much for free from him, I just haven't bothered. .

That is unreal! I met a fellow who got a pallet that was from SE Asia. The runners were mahogany! Good to have a wood source. Tree businesses are a good source. Get acquainted, make the owner a bowl or pen from a piece of wood he cut, and call periodically to see what is on the cut list. I am limited in storage for wood although I know one turner who keeps stacks of wood in the back of the lot, covered with a heavy tarp. I think he brings some in periodically to dry and turn. May even turn while green.

 

[Perry Hilbert]

That is unreal! I met a fellow who got a pallet that was from SE Asia. The runners were mahogany! Good to have a wood source. Tree businesses are a good source. Get acquainted, make the owner a bowl or pen from a piece of wood he cut, and call periodically to see what is on the cut list. I am limited in storage for wood although I know one turner who keeps stacks of wood in the back of the lot, covered with a heavy tarp. I think he brings some in periodically to dry and turn. May even turn while green.

I first met the saw mill guy, 20 years ago, when I bought lumber to put stalls in the barn. I also get oak cut offs for our Lion's club park pavilion fire place and my smoker. Met another saw mill owner, and have a trip scheduled in a few weeks to see what I can scrounge from his operation. They mill residential trim from oak and poplar. They kiln dry most of their wood. There is a packing crate maker a few miles away. They throw out a great deal of 6 x 16 pieces of 1/2 inch plywood, but a few times a year, they throw out some hard wood chunks in about 5inch cubes.