Surfabilly
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
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Posted on Feb 08 2016 05:17 PM
Six years ago, an elm tree in my front yard was blown over by extremely high winds. While my dad and I got the majority of it cleaned up, there's still about an 8 foot piece of the trunk remaining. As I've contemplated building a lap steel guitar, using Gibson parts I'd bought when I thought I wanted to upgrade my Epiphone Les Paul Jr. 90, I've been thinking about the possibility of using this elm tree trunk for the body; there's enough there for another couple of guitar bodies, as well. Before seeing this through, how well would elm work, for a guitar body?
— Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!
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so1om
Joined: May 10, 2012
Posts: 492
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Posted on Feb 08 2016 08:42 PM
Why not? I'm not sure why we having seen more of them. Maybe a cost for mass product? Machining? How does it take a finish... I say go for it.
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DannySnyder
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 11078
Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Feb 08 2016 08:54 PM
We don't see a lot of elm because there was a huge blight in the early 20th century that killed most of them domestically. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_elm_disease
As a carpenter I saw a lot of elm in 18th/19th century homes, then nothing. It's just beautiful wood, easy to work with and lovely tight grain.
— Danny Snyder
"With great reverb comes great responsibility" - Uncle Leo
I am now playing trumpet with Prince Buster tribute band 'Balzac'
Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta
Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party
Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF
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Gilette
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 05:02 AM
Elm contains sugars which attracts woodworm and causes the wood to be hygroscopic and prone to warp. Logs are usually kept in water for some years to wash out the sugars and bring the sapwood up to colour. Apart from this I think it can make a beautiful guitar body, but don't try to make it out of a single slab. Combine 2 or 3 pieces to stabilize it.
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Surfabilly
Joined: Apr 21, 2006
Posts: 852
Connersville, Indiana, USA
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 06:55 AM
What sized boards should I look to make from this tree trunk? I know I can get several 8 foot lengths, and plying a friend with a beer offering should get me access to a planer to get raw cut boards down to workable dimensions. I won't know, until I have workable boards, how many guitars I'll be able to make with my available elm wood, but I've got enough for one lap steel, one "Tele" and one "Strat."
Since the tree fell, nearly six years ago (in May), I've not been able to give away what remains, and I have plenty of friends and acquaintances that camp, and/or burn wood at home. As for the sugars, it was fun whenever we put a piece of elm on the camp fire, at the campground. Every now and then, we'd hear a woosh, along with the fire burning brighter and the flames getting higher.
Gilette wrote:
Elm contains sugars which attracts woodworm and causes the wood to be hygroscopic and prone to warp. Logs are usually kept in water for some years to wash out the sugars and bring the sapwood up to colour. Apart from this I think it can make a beautiful guitar body, but don't try to make it out of a single slab. Combine 2 or 3 pieces to stabilize it.
— Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 01:21 PM
Noooooo. Don't bun that Elm. If it is good, look online and find your local wood turning club. My bet is they don't get many opportunities to transform that into something cool often. They should jump at the chance to help you "recycle" it.
My neighbor and my morning walk buddy are both hard core wood lathe nuts. They look at the trees growing along our local trail with bowls in mind. I on the other hand ponder what sort of off road dirt bike Mecca could I transform those woods into.
Like I said......
bad boy ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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Gilette
Joined: May 04, 2014
Posts: 734
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 01:51 PM
Still it could be a great piece of wood for a guitar.
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eddiekatcher
Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2778
Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Feb 09 2016 03:35 PM
It would make a unique guitar for sure. Ran into my wood turning neighbor when I dashed out to grab the mail. He agreed that a good chunk of elm would make a wood turner a happy guy.
ed
— Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?
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so1om
Joined: May 10, 2012
Posts: 492
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Posted on Feb 11 2016 12:47 PM
You could possibly trade the wood for something more appropriate for a guitar. Or for cash or something else entirely
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