Elms share similar qualities

E LM TREES are found all over Ethe northern hemisphere with the white elm (Ulmus omericana) in the eastern half of the United States and Canada and the rock elm (Ulmus thomasi) in the eastern regions of both countries. The English, Dutch and wych elm of Europe as well as the nire from Japan also are important.

As a wood, elm has a characteristic appearance. The growth ring figure is prominent with coarse texture and an often irregular grain. The wood is pale brown, sometimes with a reddish tint, although wych elm has a greenish cast. The white elm timber tends to resemble English elm with a straighter grain. The wide sapwood is pale, but the heartwood is the typical elm brown with a reddish tinge.

Rock elm which has no distinction between sapwood and heartwood is light brown. With a straight grain, it has a finer texture and a greater strength and density than the whire elm. It averages about 49 pounds per foot in the seasoned condition as compared to 38 pounds per foot for the white elm.

White elm seasons readily with medium shrinkage while the rock elm is inclined to check and twist with high shrinkage. Generally, elm is not particularly strong nor stable.

All elm is classified as non-durable, subject to fungal attack. It does not take preservatives readily. However, the wood has a long life in

Story at a Glance

Elm grows in many counlries unstable, lacking durability lolerates water wel! . . widely used in cooperage industry.

waterlogged conditions. It is good for structural uses where it is permanently wet. The famous Rialto structure in Venice is said to stand on elm piles. Rock elm has been a long time favorite for dock and wharf constructions, ships' fenders, bent frames of small boats, stringer, rubbing strips and belting. Its use in boat building has declined because of its susceptibility to decay.

Rock elm is fairly hard to work by hand but is satisfactory in machining, finishing clean and smooth. It has good nailing and screwing properties and takes stain, varnish, paint and polish well. White elm works in a similar fashion except for being inclined to a woolly sawn surface. Both woods are good for steam bending. White elm is used extensively in both the U.S. and Canada in the slack cooperage industry for staves, heading and hoops. It dso is used as veneer for cheese boxes and other veneer products. Some is used for furniture, caskets and agricultural machinery. It is frequently used as a substitute for rock elm dthough it is not as tough or shock resistant.

Aeroquip Tie Down Systems for Flat Bed Trucks

Personals

(Continued from page 28)

W. L. Duke is now a v.p. at GeorgiaPacific Corp., Atlanta, Ga., in the eastern wood products manufacturing div.

Jerry Buie has joined the sales staff of Slaughter Brothers, Inc., San Antonio. Tx., covering south and west Texas. according to Melvin Allen, div. mgr.

J. Peter Grace,chairman and c.e.o,W.R. Grace & Co., has been named the 1985 recipient of the Spirit of Life Award presented by the Hardware,/Home Improvement Industry Council.

Richard W. Beckman has been appointed v.p. of finance and administration at Yorktowne, a unit of Wickes Cos. Inc.

Kenneth Kermes is the new exec. v,p. for finance and corporate development at Black & Decker Manufacturing Co., Townson. Md.

B. Taggert Edwards, former senior v.p., St. Regis Corp., is now exec. v.p., timberlands construction products, Champion International Corp., Stamford, Ct., replacing William H. Burchfield, who is now exec. v,p., business management.

Lynn Oleaum has retired from the flooring dept. at Mungus Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.