Winged Elm

Flyboy718 · February 13, 2011, 10:39:00 PM

My family land has a lot of elm, ash, oak and a few hackberry on it. I went out looking for something to cut and found a nice winged elm! This should be really awsome! Can anyone that has built a bow out of winged elm give me some dimensions for the layout? Oh, and pics too if you got 'em...

hova · February 14, 2011, 07:17:00 AM

damn thats a nice specimen. im sure you could find some things on pp...

okie64 · February 14, 2011, 08:33:00 AM

The farthest I've made it with winged elm is chasing a ring. Havent made a finished bow with it yet. I will say that it is very tough to split. Another name for it is cork elm. I would think it would be good bow wood.

Pat B · February 14, 2011, 08:38:00 AM

Winged elm is a white wood and if yoy wait until the leaves come out you won't have to chase a ring, just peel off the bark.
The trade bow I building is elm(not winged I don't think)but I am impressed with it as bow wood. The stave I'm using is completely cured and that might make a big difference.

Flyboy718 · February 14, 2011, 09:25:00 AM

Pat, there are plenty of them on the property...I will wait till leaves come out and cut another one and start on that one and let this one just dry out for a year...I sealed the ends as soon as it hit the ground.

Anybody have any tips on the best way to split this thing? The research I did on winged elm says that it is highly sought after for making hockey sticks due to the resistance to splitting and also for making curved pieces of furniture like rocking chairs.

JamesKerr · February 14, 2011, 01:20:00 PM

I know that elm in general makes a great selfbow the best way to split it is with a tomahawk a heavy mallet or sledge hammer and about 4 wedges. thats the way I have split black lockust and hickory I suppose it would work for elm as well

formerbutcher · February 14, 2011, 01:27:00 PM

Kerf it before you try splitting it ! Nice looking tree !

Flyboy718 · February 14, 2011, 01:36:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by JamesKerr:
I know that elm in general makes a great selfbow the best way to split it is with a tomahawk a heavy mallet or sledge hammer and about 4 wedges. thats the way I have split black lockust and hickory I suppose it would work for elm as well

James, good seeing yall on saturday! Thanks for the info on splitting; gonna try it soon, I gotta get a hatchet though.

JamesKerr · February 14, 2011, 01:49:00 PM

When you get ready to split it give me a call and I'll help walk you through it

Flyboy718 · February 14, 2011, 04:33:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by JamesKerr:
When you get ready to split it give me a call and I'll help walk you through it

Thanks bud.

JamesKerr · February 14, 2011, 05:52:00 PM

No problem Jason how are you doing on that red oak selfbow

Flyboy718 · February 14, 2011, 06:12:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by JamesKerr:
No problem Jason how are you doing on that red oak selfbow

It's slowed down a bit...so many other things going on. I got an 8' 2X6 laying on my porch that I need to make a tiller tree out of.

JamesKerr · February 14, 2011, 06:37:00 PM

just take it slow and don't get to fancy with it if you would send me your email address and I'll be glad to help out in any way I can

Flyboy718 · February 20, 2011, 09:52:00 PM

Scored some more winged elm this weekend...will try and get a pic up of the trees I brought home this weekend, in all I have 4 to work with that might produce 6 bows if all goes well. Upon further inspection I have an area of about 3 acres full of young winged elm sapplings!