Search for

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 Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects 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 Texture Trade Name Tree Size Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Ulmus hollandica Trade Name Dutch elm Family Name Common Names Cork bark elm, Dutch elm, Iep, Orme, Ulme Regions of Distribution Eastern Europe, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, United Kingdom Common Uses Bent Parts, Boat building, Cabinetmaking, Caskets, Chairs, Decorative veneer, Dockwork, Domestic flooring, Flooring, Furniture , Furniture components, Harbor work, Turnery, Veneer Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The species occurs on the European continent and throughout Great Britain, and is commonly found in hedgerows, and seldom in forests. Heartwood Color Red Yellow Green/grey Brown Pink Orange Brown Dull in color Sapwood Color White Yellow Grain Even Figure Crossed Even Crossed Large early wood pores produce distinct annual rings, which yield an attractive figure on plain sawn surfaces Texture Medium Coarse Coarse Luster Medium Natural Growth Defects Center is often defective Natural Durability Non-durable Perishable Very little natural resistance Sapwood susceptible to attack by powder post beetles Dutch elm timber in old structures in England and Wales are susceptible to the death-watch beetle. Logs may be attacked by the forest longhorn Odor No specific smell or taste Kiln Schedules Schedule A: United Kingdom Drying Defects Slight checking and cracking Expect splits Distortion (twist/warp) is likely Checking Closely space²d stickering and heavily weighted down stacks Degree of degrade can be reduced by reconditioning Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Moderately Difficult to Difficult Radial and tangential shrinkage from 4-7% Dries at a fairly rapid rate Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 10-20 m Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Bole length is 0-10 m Bark width is 5-10 mm Product Sources Supplies of Dutch elm are limited sometimes because of the reduction in numbers caused by Dutch elm disease. Blunting Effect Moderate effect Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Tends to bind on saws Irregular grain may be difficult to convert Gluing Good properties Moulding Requires very sharp cutting edges Butt end of logs may have irregular grain Movement in Service Moderate dimensional stability after seasoning Medium Nailing Resists splitting Planing Requires sharp cutting edges Difficult due to irregular grain Wild grain may cause surface tearing during planing Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Sapwood is treatable Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Moderate blunting effect on cutting edges Difficult to machine Screwing Good screwing properties Veneering Qualities Some Dutch elm timbers are sliced into veneers for decorative applications Steam Bending Wild grain has little effect Degrade by splitting may be caused by knots on the inner surfaces Defect-Free timber responds best Polishing Wax finish Very good results Staining Stains well Strength Properties Crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Straight grain Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5958 9962 psi Density 33 lbs/ft3 Hardness 853 lbs Impact Strength 31 27 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 2550 4638 psi Shearing Strength 1656 psi Stiffness 818 1091 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 10 11 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.53 Weight 37 30 lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 418 700 kg/cm2 Density 528 kg/m3 Hardness 386 kg Impact Strength 78 68 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 179 326 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 116 kg/cm2 Stiffness 57 76 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.70 0.77 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.53 References 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. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London. Lavers, G.M. 1967. The Strength Properties of Timbers. Forest Products Research Bulletin, No. 50 (Spersedes Bulletin No. 45). Ministry of Technology, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California.