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Boring Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Silica Content Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning		Scientific Name Ulmus rubra Trade Name Slippery elm Family Name Common Names Elm, Gray elm, Red elm, Slippery elm, Soft elm Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Canada, United States Common Uses Baskets, Boxes and crates, Building materials, Casks, Cooperages, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Farm vehicles, Figured veneer, Food containers, Interior construction, Interior trim, Machinery parts, Millwork, Moldings, Packing cases, Pallets, Plywood, Skids, Trimming, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Wainscotting, Wheels Environmental Profile Extinct Endangered Abundant/Secure Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview The growth range of Slippery elm in North America extends from southern Ontario east to extreme southern Quebec and southwest Maine, south to northwest Florida, west to central Texas, and north to southeast North Dakota. It is often found in hardwood forests, particularly on lower slopes and flood plains, but often on dry uplands. It thrives on moist soils. Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Dark brown Brown Sapwood Color Brown Yellow Light brown Grey Cream Grain Even Figure Irregular Straight Straight Irregular Texture Even or uniform Fine Coarse Luster Medium Low Natural Durability Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Very little natural resistance Susceptible to attack by fungi Decay's readily Odor No characteristic taste Licorice scent Silica Content Siliceous Kiln Schedules T6 - D4 (4/4) US T5 - D3 (8/4)US Drying Defects Checking Distortion Warping can be expected Checking Ease of Drying Medium to High Shrinkage Air-Seasons at a more rapid rate than most woods, but requires low temperatures in kiln drying Tree Size Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Product Sources The timber is commonly mixed and sold together with American elm under the trade name 'Elm' or 'Soft elm'. Prices are in the moderate range and supplies are high. Comments Wood contains yellow and orange compounds, which can be removed with benezene Boring Bores well, although heavy, strong, and very tough Cutting Resistance Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Woolly Mortising Easy to mortise Nailing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Holds nails well Good nailing properties Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Irregular grain interferes Difficult to plane Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Responds well to treatment Sanding Satisfactory Screwing Possible if prebored Turning Wild grain requires some care in turning operations Steam Bending Excellent response Polishing Fair to Good Results Staining Responds well to conventional finishes Strength Properties Strenght properties are good, average resistance to shock and abrasion Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 7938 12054 psi Crushing Strength 461 862 psi Hardness 843 lbs Impact Strength 60 67 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3317 5836 psi Shearing Strength 1597 psi Static Bending 3822 4410 psi Stiffness 1220 1470 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 18 18 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.47 0.56 Weight 54 38 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % Volumetric Shrinkage 15 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 558 847 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 32 60 kg/cm2 Hardness 382 kg Impact Strength 152 170 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 233 410 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 112 kg/cm2 Static Bending 268 310 kg/cm2 Stiffness 85 103 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 1.26 1.26 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.47 0.56 Weight 865 608 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 4 % Tangential Shrinkage 10 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. Canadian Forestry Service. 1981. Canadian Woods - Their Properties and Uses. Third Edition. E.J. Mullins and T.S. McKnight, Editors. Published by University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. Kline, M. 1986. Ulmus rubra - Slippery elm. In A Guide to Useful Woods of the World. Flynn Jr., J.H., Editor. King Philip Publishing Co., Portland, Maine. 1994. Page 357. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Konpf, New York. Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.