-
Congratulations to Bernie Hyrtzak, People's Choice in the January 2026 Turning Challenge (click here for details) -
Congratulations to David Croxton for "Geri's Basket Illusion" being selected as Turning of the Week for February 2, 2026 (click here for details) -
AAW Symposium demonstrators announced - If the 2026 AAW International Woodturning Symposium is not on your calendar, now is the time to register. And there are discounts available if you sign up early, by Feb. 28. Early Bird pricing gives you the best rate for our 40th Anniversary Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 4–7, 2026. (There are discounts for AAW chapter members too) For more information vist the discussion thread here or the AAW registration page
-
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
What type of tree is this?
- Thread starter Robert Feingold
- Start date
Leaves would suggest elm. At least that is my first guess. Usually kind of stinky like the cats have been tagging it.
robo hippy
robo hippy
I agree with Reed that this looks like a species of elm (likely not American or Red which are susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease), particularly given the leaf characteristics of strongly dentate leaf margins and asymmetrical leaf bases at the petiole end. There is particularly marked contrast between sapwood and heartwood, where I can see how it could be mistaken for walnut (but the leaf characters are all wrong for Juglans). The deep furrowing of the bark with acute angular intersections also look good as far as it being an elm. If we could get a much closer view of the end grain characters, specifically with a fairly clean cross section slice, it would help a lot - if wavy parenchyma bands are present in the latewood, then it is an elm (Ulmus sp.) of some kind. There are several different species and cultivars used as shade/landscape trees. Were there any remaining fruit remaining on any of the branches? (This would also be a very telling character!)
Attempting tree ID from 1200 miles away; a great addition to my day!
Rob Wallace
Attempting tree ID from 1200 miles away; a great addition to my day!
Rob Wallace
Last edited:
I'm certain that it's Siberian Elm. Slings water like crazy when turned wet. My favorite treatment for non-figured is sandblasting.
Thanks for the in depth reply.
There are some small buds at the base of each leaf. See my 2nd photo. Are they fruit buds? There doesn't seem to be any fruit. What would it look like?
I never turned elm. I've seen the attractive contrast on natural edge bowls. How does it turn? Is it common?
Thanks,
Rob
There are some small buds at the base of each leaf. See my 2nd photo. Are they fruit buds? There doesn't seem to be any fruit. What would it look like?
I never turned elm. I've seen the attractive contrast on natural edge bowls. How does it turn? Is it common?
Thanks,
Rob
I agree with the others ^^^ that it's an elm.
In my experience, it will be full of water and can be a tad odiferous - like a barn or litterbox... I don't care for using the wood for wet foods because of the off-taste it can cause but it's fine for dry items. Elm's on the harder side of the density scale with interlocking grain. The interlock can make for fuzziness - especially on the roughing out. When sanded/polished to a high grit and finished with oils, it has a warm and beautiful quality. The grain is said to have a "pheasant feather" look to it.
In my book, it's not that high on my favorites list but it's worthwhile turning at least once for gaining some experience dealing with the interlocking structure.
I agree it looks like Siberian Elm. We have lots of it around here.
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
- Messages
- 3,540
- Likes
- 22
A tree grows in Brooklyn. Good title.
Street planting in the city would be a natural place for a rapidly-growing tree like elm. Tolerance for less-than the best in air quality recommends the genus as well. Small of leaf, which makes the Siberian a good prospect. The nodes below the leaves are likely next year's buds forming before dropping this year's.
Bad news is the smell, good news is it's almost bulletproof to dry with interlocking grain. Handsome stuff when it's done, not that the spouse will forgive you entirely for the odor you bring in when she sees it finished. I want to get rid of the last stem of a willow, another stinker, out by the new shed, but she still remembers last branch's turning, which was almost three years ago. At least I think that's what she remembers. Main trunk on this one went down twelve - fifteen years ago. Can't hold a grudge that long, can she?
NB Do not microwave elm or willow, unless the oven's yours and outdoors.
Street planting in the city would be a natural place for a rapidly-growing tree like elm. Tolerance for less-than the best in air quality recommends the genus as well. Small of leaf, which makes the Siberian a good prospect. The nodes below the leaves are likely next year's buds forming before dropping this year's.
Bad news is the smell, good news is it's almost bulletproof to dry with interlocking grain. Handsome stuff when it's done, not that the spouse will forgive you entirely for the odor you bring in when she sees it finished. I want to get rid of the last stem of a willow, another stinker, out by the new shed, but she still remembers last branch's turning, which was almost three years ago. At least I think that's what she remembers. Main trunk on this one went down twelve - fifteen years ago. Can't hold a grudge that long, can she?
NB Do not microwave elm or willow, unless the oven's yours and outdoors.
It's a Brooklyn Dodger tree and you left the most valuable part: the crotch!
So elms in generally have a musty cat pee odor, a fuzzy grain, and an iridiscent look like looking at a birds wing on edge? I turned some like that taken in the Dallas TX area and knew it wasnt walnut but didnt know what else it could be.
But hey, its free, plentiful and wet. What more do you want. labor is free unless you turn gallery pieces on a daily basis.
But hey, its free, plentiful and wet. What more do you want. labor is free unless you turn gallery pieces on a daily basis.
tree id
Here is some useless information. The tree in the novel A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith was an ailanthus (Tree of Heaven). How it ever got to Brooklyn is unknown and the subject of many undeserved jokes about that great city.
Here is some useless information. The tree in the novel A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith was an ailanthus (Tree of Heaven). How it ever got to Brooklyn is unknown and the subject of many undeserved jokes about that great city.