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Which elm for chair seats?

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Which elm for chair seats?

#1

Steve Kubien

Which elm for chair seats?

Steve Kubien

>Afternoon everybody,

I am sloooooowly working away at a Welsh stick chair. I'm using white oak for the legs and sticks and was going to use white pine for the seat but it just looks too blah next to the oak. So, I decided to use elm. My semi-local wood place has both grey and red elm. At present they've only got the red in 6/4 or thicker stock. Which one am I 'supposed' to be using? Is one better than the other in terms of work-ability or structurally? I've never worked with elm before. Can someone describe the appearance of either?

Oh, maybe I'll end up painting the seat a nice green or blue and leave the legs and sticks natural. Anyway, any info on the elm is much appreciated.

One more question... Do the Welsh/windsor chairmakers in the audience have a favourite wood for transparent finishes like BLO, or tung oil, or shellac etc?

More questions to follow, I'm sure.

Thanks,

Steve Kubien

Re: Which elm for chair seats?

#2

Re: Which elm for chair seats?

Alice Frampton, UK

>John Brown reckoned Red Elm was a near the local stuff in Wales as he'd seen, fwiw. He tried Grey but found it too hard, iirc.

Cheers, Alf

Re: Which elm for chair seats?

#3

Re: Which elm for chair seats?

John Hoffman

>Which elm? Where elm? Don't know which one to use red or grey but would like to know where I can get some 8/4 air dried for seat stock? Anyone?

thanks

John H

Re: Which elm for chair seats?

#5

Steve Kubien

Re: Which elm for chair seats?

Steve Kubien

>Thanks Alf,

I suppose if it's good enough for JB, it'll be good enough for me.

Cheers,

Steve Kubien

Re: Which elm for chair seats?

#6

Re: Which elm for chair seats?

dave caudill

>Its funny the timing of this post. We just had a big windstorm and a very old Elm in downtown Olympia blew over during the storm. Of course I immediately wonder how I can get my hands on some of the wood for a Welsh stick chair. Of course I have never made one but have a book and would love to try it. The tree was so big when cut up they had to bring in a large semi to haul the pieces of the trunk out.

I'm sure the city will not allow any private use as it would be showing favoritism. Likely it will sit in a yard where they haul all of their junk and rot.

Dave who would love to anyones finished Welsh stick chairs.

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