Can someone explain elm to me, please?

[julianf]

I would like to acquire some elm to make a feature table from, but I don't understand it's availibility at all.

I thought Dutch elm disease killed it all, but I've seen the odd bit for sale. And then someone told me today that it was still availible in Scotland, but not really around where I am (Devon)?

I'm not in a rush at all (the table will be for us, not for sale), so what would be my best plan as to obtaining a live edge section of about 6 or 7 feet in length, preferably with some burr?

Thank you.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If you fancy a trip English Hardwood Supplies in Cornwall

 

[Doug B]

Dutch Elm disease was far more prevalent in the south which is the main reason Elm is so readily available in the north this explains why.
https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/t...-elm-disease-scotland-and-north-west-england/
That said it’s still available all over the country as Phil’s link shows.

 

[TheTiddles]

It’s readily available over the UK, I think most of mine came from Scotland originally but most suppliers have it and there’s is some cut in the south

 

[julianf]

Thank you all. I'm in no rush, so I will keep an eye open for some.

I'll ask in a bit what I would expect to pay, but I'd need to work out the size I want before asking!

(I'm aware there's cubic foot pricing but often slabs don't follow that at all, so I'm not asking for a simple CF number, but more of a real world figure : )

 

[TheTiddles]

Price can vary a lot, but as an example the person who’s post has now vanished was asking 10x what I’d pay.

There is definitely a supplier of good elm near Yeovil and another near Andover

 

[julianf]

This is the sort of look im after (screen grabs off youtube)

Ie i DONT want somthing spotless. Ill do a bit of resin, but, at the same time, i DONT want to be making a river table.

Basically i like bits of resin work, but dont like river tables... Again its for us, noone else.

Again, not looked at the size yet. Need to measure up the room, and speak to SWMBO

 

[Duncan A]

Take a look at the TIMBER YARDS list and phone around: UK & Ireland TIMBER YARDS - PLEASE Add Your Favourites
Duncan

 

[Droogs]

This is a timber yard nearish to me who have some amazingly beautiful bits of elm.

https://www.thewoodplace.com/shop/?filter_wood-type=elm

 

[julianf]

This is a timber yard nearish to me who have some amazingly beautiful bits of elm.

https://www.thewoodplace.com/shop/?filter_wood-type=elm

Yeah, I wouldn't be picky about them.

All I need is a spare £900 now... : /

 

[Adam W.]

My god!

Nearly a grand for a slab of wood.

 

[bobblezard]

My god!

Nearly a grand for a slab of wood.

Nearly two for a piece a bit further down the page...

 

[Adam W.]

I stopped scrolling at a grand.

 

[mikej460]

and to think they used to use it for coffins

 

[julianf]

Hmm...

In fairness, I'm certain not everyone likes the stuff I make.

 

[Droogs]

If it helps you save up, most of the Elm they get is from the Queen's woodlands at Balmoral and Holyrood. It all comes with a certificate of provenance including it's original geo location.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

I gather there are still some very fine English elms growing in Australia (where they are a bit less flapsyhapsy about biosecurity)!?

 

[Chris152]

In fairness, some of those boards at the Wood Place look beautiful, all the hard work's done, the wood's been kilned etc so all that really needs doing is the substructure and some finishing on the top. Pretty waney-edge tables on that scale fetch a pretty penny.

 

[stuart little]

Perhaps take out a mortgage, buy 3, make 3 tables, double the cost of each & sell, then buy one for yourself from the profit! That's if they sell?

 

[jonn]

If it is of any interest so is in my experience elm well suited for drying in microwave ovens. Gently, of course, but the end results have been very good. Got quite a few decent planks from a mate some years back, and much has ended up as 'Danish bowls' treated with white Osmo hardwax oil (see picture).