Siberian Elm: The Most Underrated Wood There Is

Justin calls elm the most underrated wood ever, and once you have seen a finished elm table it is hard to argue with him. Most of the elm we mill is Siberian elm, the invasive tree that grows in yards and alleys all over Colorado. Most people know it as a nuisance. Cut open, it is super pretty.

What we make from it

A lot of tables, hardwood flooring and some wall paneling. Beautiful stuff.

How we dry it

Elm holds a lot of water, and it does move. We air dry it to around 18% before anything else, as slowly as we can, covered, in dry storage and out of the sun. Boards that cup or twist too much get culled. Our slabs only go up for sale after they have been kiln dried.

Will an elm table stay flat?

Done right, it will stay flat as a tabletop. You will read plenty online about elm warping wildly and bugs getting into it, and that is not what we see, although elm absolutely does move while it dries. One tip if you work it yourself: do not resaw elm after it is dry. It carries growth stress that drying does not remove, and resawn boards go everywhere.

The best way to sell elm

Show somebody a finished piece first. They say "this is amazing," and then we tell them it is elm. If an elm is coming down in your yard, here is how to save the log.