Chinese Elm?

[paulc]

Anyone worked w it? It is all over Savannah and I got a couple pieces now drying. I assume if the back has been violated its gotta be backed? I've mostly had success w hickory that I don't back...

Thanks, Paul

[bassman211]

I could be wrong , but I think Badger said it was very good wood for bows. I know American Elm  can make a good bow with the right piece of wood, and heat treat.

[Pat B]

Seems like I've read that Chinese elm isn't a good bow wood unlike other elms. I've never used Chinese elm but have used red and and winged elm, both very good bow woods IMO.

[PatM]

True Chinese Elm is likely the best of all Elms. That's the stuff Badger was talking about.  The type  more commonly called Chinese Elm is actually Siberian Elm. Bowyers have varied opinions on it.

[paulc]

Based on Wikipedia photos I've got Chinese elm...Paul

[Hamish]

Guys have made 100lbs warbows from Chinese elm. Not sure if they needed a good heat treat or not.

[bassman211]

Though I will never get my hands on either  it is nice to learn facts like that.

[jeffp51]

Most of the stuff in the US is Siberian elm.  I have made several broken bows out of if, but I think the tree had fungus.  I have also made one really, really good bow out of siberian elm. It can make a really good bow if you get a good piece of wood.

[loefflerchuck]

Sounds like you did your research and it is Chinese. A lot of people get Chinese and Siberian mixed up but it's pretty easy to tell them apart by the bark. I have not tried Chinese elm but Siberian elm is one of my favorite woods. It smells wonderful working it and makes a great, fast bow. Small diameter trees are best to take advantage of the stronger in tension elm. I remove the bark and use the unbroken sapwood ring under the bark.

[jeffp51]

Chuck it's interesting you say it smells good.  The stuff I had smelled like a wet gym sock.  Maybe the least pleasant smelling wood I have worked with.  That might be why that particular stave didn't hold up.

[Hamish]

Wet elm usually has an earthy smell. I have heard it described as smelling like "cow shit".
I never noticed it with small saplings or branches, but have from large sections from big trunks. Maybe it has more to do with the heartwood?

[bassman211]

Chuck says it smells wonderful, Jeff wet gym sock,Hamish cow shit. Quite a deviation in people's nasal membranes. Got a big chuckle out of  the Hamish description.

[loefflerchuck]

Maybe it’s like cilantro, love it or hate it. Other people have commented on the pleasant smell of Siberian elm saplings, specially when heat treating. I may be in the minority or it may be a young or mature tree thing. Anyone else wanna give an opinion on Siberian elm musk?

[PatM]

It also depends where it's growing and just the individual tree.  I used to cut Elm from a particular swampy area and some of it smelled terrible and other trees smelled pleasant.

 In another area all of it smelled fine and great when heat treated.

[Selfbowman]

That’s some funny sh..., there.