I was surfing around trying to get an ID on some wood we are cutting and ran across your site. It looks like a lot of good information and some interesting folks ! I cut for the two stoves I have and to give some to family and friends, not nearly as serious as some of you. I've been searching your past posts and I think I have some Siberian Elm ?? It looked like Elm before we started cutting but although the bark has fallen off the standing trees it's still dripping wet inside. Can I get some thoughts on what this is please? Thanks !!
I think it's elm.... does that help?! Looks like red elm or often called slippery elm. Great firewood in my opinion, very rot resistant when laying on the ground.
Welcome to the nut house....er neighborhood! Your splits sure aren't very stringy if it is elm. Did it split easy?
By the way...good to see another Iowan on board. At some point we shall rule all of FHC!!! MUHAHAHA! Well ok, probably not but it is good to keep those guys east of the Mississippi River on guard!
Zooming in on some splits, it seems to have some large pores.... Kinda like red oak. But I don't really see the Rays that are notable in oak... Never had any red elm, so I don't know what it looks like....
We left about 15' of the trunks for later because it was so wet but the upper portion we cut split easy w/ 22 ton Huskee. It has more of the elm smell than that of of the red oak I'm used to and I couldn't find rays with a glass on the pieces I looked at. Thanks for the help.
Welcome to the forum Steve. We do not have that wood in our area but it does look like red elm. If so, it is good wood. Not surprising that it is full of moisture. Will probably need a year to dry enough to burn right. As you stated, it is typical for the upper portion of dead trees to be dry but that lower third or sometimes the lower half can be full of moisture. We have the American elm here and it can be tough to split but we learned many years ago that if we wait until the bark has fallen off or at least most of it, then it many times can be split by hand. A 22 ton should do the job on everything you'll split. We have a 20 ton and no problems. Most folks don't need the big splitters but like so many things, they thing the bigger the better. I was not too surprised to see at Tractor Supply the other day almost all the splitters they have on hand are 35 ton models. Yes, they are stronger but are they really needed? Takes more gas and oil and money, etc.
Welcome to the hood Steve M - Real nice peeps here who know a lil about this addiction and in fact most are certified addiction counselors---Sure you'll fit right in---especially if you can host a brotha to chase those IA whitetails---trade hunts much?
I agree with those who say Red Elm. It does resemble Red Oak, but the absence of medullary rays rules out oak. We'd definitely be able to see the rays with those high-res pictures.
Yes. This is truth. Those rays would be super obvious if RO. Must be the meds making my eyes all googly.....
And just kidding about the hunt-it's a devil of a tag draw for a NR---I agree with the others btw=Red Elm, starts out real wet, not bad BTU's when dry though--- Eric VW How are you my friend? Playing a lil fast and loose with the Percs?
Yep, red elm. Red elm is apparently easier than american elm to split. I burn a fair amount of elm every year, and my wife loves how it burns. That may be partially because I purposely cut many dead standing elm as I know they will be less moisture content, allowing me to get ahead.
