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Author Topic: red elm discoloration  (Read 2018 times)

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Offline dylanholderman

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red elm discoloration
« on: January 03, 2018, 09:58:15 pm »
so i spent about a hour and a half in my freezing garage after work today cleaning the bark and cambium off this red elm stave and when i got done i find these patches of discoloration  >:(
i haven't used elm before and just want to know if this is something i should be worried about.
the discolor looks to be only about a 1/8'' deep and  then returns to being typical white sapwood underneath (sorry i don't have a pic of this the lighting wasn't good enough for my camera to pic up) 
goal is only 25-30# at 28''

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Offline Morgan

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Re: red elm discoloration
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2018, 07:10:02 am »
Hackberry is in the elm family and it gets Greyish black streaks if the bark is left on while it seasons. Haven’t had any problem with it.
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Offline PatM

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Re: red elm discoloration
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2018, 07:14:14 am »
Quote from: Morgan on January 04, 2018, 07:10:02 am
Hackberry is in the elm family

 Not anymore. It got kicked out.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: red elm discoloration
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2018, 08:13:39 am »
That dark coloration looks sort of like the heartwood.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline BowEd

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Re: red elm discoloration
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2018, 08:42:49 am »
I've worked with that red elm many times.You should be ok.
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BowEd
You got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.
Ed

Offline dylanholderman

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Re: red elm discoloration
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2018, 10:59:20 am »
Quote from: Pat B on January 04, 2018, 08:13:39 am
That dark coloration looks sort of like the heartwood.
It's pretty close in color only a shade lighter and seems like there's about 3/4" of normal sapwood in between it and the actual heartwood.

Quote from: BowEd on January 04, 2018, 08:42:49 am
I've worked with that red elm many times.You should be ok.
That's good to hear I'll just treat it as character  :D
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Offline bootboy

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Re: red elm discoloration
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2018, 03:20:27 am »
Red elm is also known as slippery elm right?
Here in Toronto we have a lot of Siberian elm. I've made a few bows from it, however I haven't had much luck. What about you guys. Is it just the species of elm. I've heard that the slippery elm is decent stuff.

That said I really like your garage.
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knapp 'um if you got 'um

Offline dylanholderman

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Re: red elm discoloration
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2018, 08:29:14 am »
This is my first time working any elm, and at least this peice is on the softer side(not complaining I'm sitting here working with hand tools only)
I've heard heat treating should help elm a lot.
And I'd like the garage a lot more if it wasn't filled with some much junk! The walkway between my storage rack and workbench is just big enough for me to walk through sideways 
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