Son-in-law had an elm tree cut down this spring. He said it had been dead for about a year. I asked that the first three feet be saved. It is about 24 inched in diameter. The bark was off and the outside of the tree has started to check. We cut the butt off and ended up with a section about two feet long. We then sawed out two slabs two or three inches thick. Man that is some tough stuff!
So I am thinking I'll start off with a scrub plane to knock it down into a couple billets for chair seats, then hog out the saddle of the seat with a gutter adze before it dries too much. It has retain good moisture content about an inch in from the bark. I may also use some of it to turn double baluster legs for the chair.
Any one had any experience working with elm? The only thing I know about it is that you can't split it very well. Bob