Red Elm (Slippery Elm)
Ulmus rubra
Hardness
On the soft side; easy to work, but marks with hard use.
Overview
Interlocked grain makes elm nearly impossible to split, wonderful for steam-bending and seats. Warm reddish tone and a handsome, coarse grain.
Commonly built
- Windsor chair seats
- Bent furniture parts
- Bowls
Appearance
Reddish-brown heartwood with a coarse, often dramatic grain; resembles a softer, redder ash.
Recommended uses
Uses to avoid
Similar species
Comparable on hardness, type, and workability, useful when this species isn't available.
Working notes
Interlocked grain resists splitting (great for chair seats) but causes tearout when planing, sharp tools and care needed. Outstanding steam-bending. Glues and finishes well.
Wood movement
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn red elm (slippery elm) panel moves roughly 0.49 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content). Use the wood movement calculator to run your own board size and moisture range.
How much does Red Elm (Slippery Elm) move? → See flatsawn vs. quartersawn figures and a worked example.
Common questions
How hard is Red Elm (Slippery Elm)?
Red Elm (Slippery Elm) has a Janka hardness of 860 lbf, a measure of how well it resists denting and wear.
Is Red Elm (Slippery Elm) suitable for outdoor use?
Red Elm (Slippery Elm) is best used indoors; it is not naturally suited to sustained outdoor or wet conditions.
How easy is Red Elm (Slippery Elm) to work with?
Red Elm (Slippery Elm) has Good workability for cutting, shaping, and joinery.
How much does Red Elm (Slippery Elm) move seasonally?
A 24-inch-wide flatsawn red elm (slippery elm) panel moves roughly 0.49 inch across a typical seasonal humidity swing (about 6% to 12% moisture content).
Finishing notes
Open, interlocked grain takes stain evenly and finishes to a warm tone. Benefits from grain filler for a smooth surface. Interlocked grain can tear during prep, so sand carefully before finishing to avoid finish-highlighted scratches.
Community photos
Real photos from woodworkers who've used red elm (slippery elm), reviewed before they appear here.
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Wood data varies by source and sample. How we source and review our data.