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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 Boring Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Scientific Name Ulmus glabra Trade Name Wych elm Family Name Common Names Alm, Elm, Mountain elm, Scotch elm, Skogsalm, Wych elm Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, United Kingdom Common Uses Bedroom suites, Bent Parts, Boat building, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Caskets, Chairs, Chests, Concealed parts (Furniture), Desks, Dining-room furniture, Dowell pins, Dowells, Drawer sides, Fine furniture, Floor lamps, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Hatracks, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Living-room suites, Office furniture, Planks, Radio - stereo - TV cabinets, Rustic furniture, Shipbuilding, Stools, Tables , Turnery, Utility furniture, Wardrobes Environmental Profile The future survival of this species is at risk Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Generally secure within its natural habitat Been assigned a Candidate status in Finland Distribution Overview This northern European species is native to Great Britain, particularly to the western and northern regions of the country. It is often found growing as a wild tree in Highland glens or upland valleys, and is also cultivated as an ornamental in parks. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Red Orange Light brown Greenish streaks sometimes occur Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Clearly differentiated from the heartwood Grain Even Straight Straight Texture Medium Coarse Fine Natural Durability Moderately durable Resistant to termites Non-resistant to powder post beetles Non-resistant to marine borers Susceptible to insect attack Very little natural resistance Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Schedule A: United Kingdom Drying Defects Checking Distortion Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Dries at a fairly rapid rate Lumber should be stacked carefully with closely spaced stickers. Tree Size Bark width is 15-20 mm Bole length is 10-20 m Sapwood width is 10-15 cm Tree height is 20-30 m Spreading crown Blunting Effect Medium effect Boring Fairly easy to very easy Cutting Resistance Satisfactory sawing properties Gluing Glues well Nailing Good nailing properties Planing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Planes to a satisfactory finish Resistance to Impregnation Sapwood is treatable Heartwood is resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to Work Responds well Sanding Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Satisfactory Screwing Satisfactory characteristics Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Steam Bending Watch for buckles and fractures Very good Polishing Fair results Staining Satisfactory staining qualities Strength Properties Hardness (side grain) = medium Crushing strength = high Bending strength (MOR) = high Heavy and Dense Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 9217 14244 psi Density 37 lbs/ft3 Hardness 990 lbs Impact Strength 42 30 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 4149 6708 psi Shearing Strength 1613 psi Stiffness 1426 1615 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 14 18 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.49 0.53 Weight 44 36 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 648 1001 kg/cm2 Density 592 kg/m3 Hardness 449 kg Impact Strength 106 76 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 291 471 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 113 kg/cm2 Stiffness 100 113 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.98 1.26 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.49 0.53 References HMSO. 1985. Broadleaves. Forestry Commission Booklet No. 20. Text by H.E. Edlin. Revised by A.F. Mitchell. Forestry Commission, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. 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. Laidlaw, W.B.R. 1960. Guide to British Hardwoods. Published by Leonard Hill [Books] Limited, 9 Eden Street, N.W.1, London. Lavers, G.M. 1966. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50. Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Nairn, P.M., Editor. 1936. Wood Specimens - 100 Reproductions in Color - A Series of Selected Timbers Reproduced in Natural Color with Introduction and Annotations by H.A. Cox. The Nema Press, Proprietors of Wood, London. Patterson, D. 1988. Commercial Timbers of the World. Fifth Edition. Gower Technical Press, Aldershot, UK. ix + 339 pp.