White Elm

Hi Peter

Go grab that wood real quick Elm, be it white, red, siberian, etc. is good turning wood, wet or dry. The outer layer of the sapwood can be a bit stringy but good sharp tools and presentation should get you over that. White or also called american elm has attractive grain, it does not split as readily as most woods, it is to bad but the elms die off before they are mature, and so most american elm that's around is rather small in size. The larger elms around here are siberian and have a darker wood than white elm, they are tolerant of the elm disease. I have turned elm and always rough turn it green, paper bag it and dry before finish turning it There are a couple elm bowl turnings in my photo album

Peter wrote:

Peter, One other thing about fresh cut Elm, is that it smells like the cats have been spraying it After it is dry, the smell is gone. robo hippy.

It comes back when you set up the grain for final sanding, though.

Smells better'n willow, and it's near bulletproof in drying.