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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Certified Source Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Size Varnishing Scientific Name Ulmus americana Trade Name Soft elm Family Name Common Names American elm, Elm, Florida elm, Soft elm, Swamp elm, Water elm, White elm Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Baskets, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Casks, Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Farm vehicles, Figured veneer, Food containers, Interior construction, Interior trim, Machinery parts, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Pallets, Plywood, Skids, Trimming, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wheels Environmental Profile Abundant/Secure Some long-term concern for the species May be rare in some parts of its range Extinct, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Rare within its range Considered vulnerable in its natural habitat because its numbers are threatened by serious adverse factors throughout its range. However, the species likely exists today in relatively large numbers. Distribution Overview The growth range of American elm extends from southeastern Saskatchewan east to Cape Breton Island, south to central Florida, and west to central Texas. It is also widely planted in western United States, beyond its native eastern range. reported to grow in mixed hardwood forests, and prefers moist soils, particularly in valleys and flood plains. Heartwood Color Brown Red Reddish brown Light brown Golden brown with a reddish cast Brown Sapwood Color Red Brown Grey Brownish white Grain Even Interlocked Straight Straight Occasionally interlocked, but not always Texture Fine Medium Woolly Coarse Natural Durability Perishable Non-durable Durable Very little natural resistance Susceptible to attack by wood borers, and Dutch elm disease Odor Has an odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules T6 - D4 (4/4) US T5 - D3 (8/4)US Drying Defects Checking Distortion Warping can be expected Ring failure Ease of Drying Thick Stock Requires Care Medium to High Shrinkage Moderately Difficult to Difficult Little degrade Requires slow and careful seasoning to prevent degrade. Tree Size Tree height is 10-20 m Tree height is 20-30 m Product Sources The Lake States in the United States are reported to have the best Elm stands, but the species is also distributed throughout the eastern part of the country. The timber is readily available from commercial dealers, and is priced in the moderate range. Certified Source Certified Source Substitutes Keyaki (Zelkova serrata) Blunting Effect Moderate Blunting effect on machining is moderate Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Cutting resistance is rather small if edges are kept sharp. Sawn surfaces are often woolly Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good properties Movement in Service Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Moderate dimensional stability after seasoning Medium Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good nailing properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Woolly Reported to respond to sharp and thin cutting edges to produce a clean and smooth finish Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is permeable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Good Cutting edges should be kept sharp to prevent torn rays Screwing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Good screwing properties Steam Bending Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy The wood has good steam bending properties Polishing High finish Staining Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Stains well Varnishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Strength Properties Max. crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = high Can be used as a substitute for rock elm Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7056 11662 psi Crushing Strength 431 769 psi Hardness 813 lbs Impact Strength 49 49 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 2876 5370 psi Shearing Strength 1480 psi Static Bending 3332 5880 psi Stiffness 1093 1401 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 14 16 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.54 Weight 55 35 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 496 819 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 30 54 kg/cm2 Hardness 368 kg Impact Strength 124 124 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 202 377 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 104 kg/cm2 Static Bending 234 413 kg/cm2 Stiffness 76 98 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.98 1.12 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.48 0.54 Weight 881 560 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 8 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. California Department of Forestry. Comparative Physical & Mechanical Properties of Western & Eastern Hardwoods. Prepared by Forest Products Laboratory, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California. n/d. Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. HMSO, 1981. Handbook of Hardwoods, 2nd Edition. Revised by R.H. Farmer. Department of the Environment, Building Research Establishment, Princes Risborough Laboratory, Princes Risborough, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991. Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. Betterway Publications, Cincinnati, Ohio. Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1991. Good Wood Handbook - The Woodworker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London. Kaiser, J. 1989. Wood of the Month - Elm: An American Favorite Suffers from an Imported Disease. Wood of the Month Annual, Volume 1, Supplement to Wood and Wood Products. Pg. 31-32. Kline, M. 1985. Ulmus americana - American elm. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 355-356. Lincoln, W.A. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc, Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Western Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Rendle, B.J. Editor. 1969. World Timbers, Volume Two - North & South America (Including Central America and the West Indies). Published by Ernest Benn Limited, Bouverie House, Fleet Street, London. USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.