hardwood · Ulmus rubra
Red Elm wood properties
Also known as: slippery elm, soft elm.
| Type | hardwood |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Ulmus rubra |
| Modulus of elasticity (MOE) | 1,490,000 psi |
| Specific gravity | 0.60 |
| Density (approx) | 37 lb/ft³ (3.1 lb per board foot) |
| Janka hardness | 860 lbf |
| Shrinkage (tangential / radial) | 8.9% / 4.9% |
| Region | Eastern and Midwestern North America |
A 1 in x 6 in x 8 ft board of Red Elm weighs about 12.5 lb (roughly 37 lb per cubic foot). Its Janka hardness of 860 lbf is harder than about 40% of the woods in our database.
Uses and working notes
Common uses: furniture, boxes, baskets, hockey sticks, veneer.
Durability: Non-durable, with susceptibility to insect attack.
Workability: Interlocked grain causes tearout that complicates working; glues, stains, finishes and steam-bends well.
Use this data
Similar woods
Woods with comparable hardness and density to Red Elm:
How these numbers were sourced
MOE, SG (12% MC), Janka and shrinkage from The Wood Database (cites USDA FPL Wood Handbook). Uses, region, durability and workability summarized from The Wood Database. Red Elm is not listed in the FPL/Hoadley dimensional change coefficient table, so CT/CR are omitted. Price indicative.
Values shown as estimates rather than sourced constants: typicalPricePerBF_usd.
Sources
These calculators are for planning and estimation. Engineering results (shelf sag, wood movement) use published average material properties; real boards vary by grade, grain, moisture and defects. Verify load-bearing designs with a professional.