UK sources of Candian Rock Elm for steam bending (small sections)

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

I think PISN has already answered this when I incorrectly posted it in Building and Repair but I said I would post it here so I will.

Does anyone know a source of good clear CRE for bending in the UK? This is for dinghy ribs with a very small cross section.

Thanks in advance.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

For anyone else looking for unusual timber in the UK - my suggestion was to contact John Boddy in Boroughbridge - a big timbermerchant with a history of building small boats.

Yard Photograph (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=54.096827,-1.399963&spn=0.005964,0.01914&t=h&z=16) Immediately south of the small riverside marina - the field to the east has a very large standing stone - one of a group known as The Devils Arrows (http://www.boroughbridge.org.uk/process/17/DevilsArrows.html).

The choice of exotics used to be staggering - Sinhalese stripey ebony, Huon Pine, Cocobolo etc. but the stuff they do best is Native and European.

[obscured by clouds]

http://www.covboat.co.uk/

go to the article on 'using sustainable timber' or somesuch, where there is a list of timber merchants /specialists who might help.

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

...
go to the article on 'using sustainable timber' or somesuch, where there is a list of timber merchants /specialists who might help.

and the following sentence.
We got some American Elm recently for the restoration of an Uffa Fox International 14 and can confirm that it will bend to tight curves without steam.

[goodbasil]

What is called Canadian Rock Elm in Britian is called American Rock Elm in Canada.
What the Americans call Canadian Bacon is called back bacon here.
(No wonder we have an identity crisis.)

[Clencher]

Andrew, try this:

www.btswales.co.uk (http://www.btswales.co.uk)

They seem to know what they are on about when it comes to steam bending boat timbers, although I haven't used them. Yet.

I did get some superb S. American cedar and Yellow Pine (White Pine the other side of the pond, P. strobus) planking stock from:

www.sykestimber.co.uk (http://www.sykestimber.co.uk)

last year, pricey, but very good quality, and a most obliging company to deal with. They have a fair stock of hardwoods.

I know of nowhere in the UK you can now get American Elm or Canadian Rock Elm. If you find somewhere please let us know.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Thanks very much indeed - that first website seems to be absolutely excellent as a source of quercus robor ribs and I shall be using them. The query over Am Elm relates to a small quantity for a specific restoration project and I think I might have a solution to that - see "Compwood" thread in Building and Repair..

[ishmael]

Andrew,

I don't know the project, but white oak is much better in rot resistance than elm. Pretty difficult to get good bending stock in either across the deep blue sea, I imagine. The best time to use it is right off the saw.

In an open dinghy it doesn't make that much difference because the frames are open to the air, but in cabin boats I've seen that had elm frames there was a lot of punky stuff. White oak held up much better.

Two cents.

P.S. White and red oaks are a bit difficult to tell apart, and red oak is probably on a par with elm -- not great. Red has an open grain structure which allows water to be drawn into the wood and retained. White has blockages called tyloses in the little passages so it simply doesn't soak up much water.

Good luck. Oh, BTW, what are you using to mill this? I'd suggest getting some thinker balks so you can play with grain orientation.

[Andrew Craig-Bennett]

Thanks Jack; this demand for American Elm relates to a very specific open boat which has to be restored (we are talking almost "museum quality") as original. Otherwise I would use English Oak which is a first class timber much the same as your White Oak.