Sick Oak?

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BillLion

BillLion

Minister of Fire
Sep 4, 2013
513
Greater Hartford, CT
So, I got the easiest score ever last month. My neighbor had his white oak taken down and I literally just had to roll the rounds across my property line. Sweet!

My concern is as I was splitting today I noticed some of the rounds had a blueish-black color to them. I assume it's OK and I split them anyway, but I'm curious: Is this some sort of tree disease? Is there any concern about burning them after they season? Should I separate them from the normal colored ones?

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Sorry if this Is an ignorant question; 3rd season burner but 1st year scrounger/splitter here. Thanks!
 
BillLion said:
Thanks for the reply. That makes sense. The weird thing here is I don't see any trace of any metal object in the tree; maybe I just haven't got to it yet.
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That metal piece is in hiding, just waiting for you to take a saw to it:p
 
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That's why most Loggers will not touch Yard Trees or trees on Fence line, The mill does not want them.
 
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There is something as small as a nail or as large as a car bumper hidden in there somewhere, and you'll never find where it is with your eye, but your saw sure can find it!!!! Be careful when cutting! Cool pictures by the way!
 
Even sick White Oak is better than most other wood.;). That's blue oak mixed in there Bill.
I think you have luckily missed the iron somewhere in the tree.
 
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The nail or whatever could be rusted away into nothing by now. Or it could be thousandths of an inch from the surface you cut. Never know.
 
The guy who took the tree down may have just missed it when he was cutting. Hopefully, it was already bucked to you required length and you won't have to put your saw to the wood. If you are cutting, take it slow. You'll know when you hit metal and there is definitely some metal in there somewhere.
 
Bill, I found out the hard way what those pretty blue streaks were in my rounds... and just why that round started throwing out sparks.... and just why my new chain came down with a case of pre-mature dullness.
 
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BillLion said:
Thanks guys; I had no clue. Probably seems basic to most of you, but it was new to me. It's amazing how much there is to learn.

I appreciate you guys and all the collective wisdom and experience here!
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It was new to all of us at one time - the whole point is for us to share our wisdom (or lack thereof in my case!) with others.

That's a lot of blue in that oak, I've never seen that much. Makes me think something bigger than a nail is in there, or was at one time.
 
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Am I the only one that thinks that doesn't look like White Oak?
 
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Not many of those left around any more either.
 
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Kenster said:
Bill, I found out the hard way what those pretty blue streaks were in my rounds... and just why that round started throwing out sparks.... and just why my new chain came down with a case of pre-mature dullness.
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Wow; school of hard knocks on that one; glad I found out here! :) Fortunately, the arborist cut it all down to 16-18" length rounds, so I don't need my chainsaw on this score. Will definitely keep that in mind for the future.

red oak said:
It was new to all of us at one time - the whole point is for us to share our wisdom (or lack thereof in my case!) with others.

That's a lot of blue in that oak, I've never seen that much. Makes me think something bigger than a nail is in there, or was at one time.
Click to expand...

For sure, it actually looks quite striking. Weird to think a little nail could have caused all that.

BrotherBart said:
Am I the only one that thinks that doesn't look like White Oak?
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The arborist who cut it told me it was chestnut oak. But I posted pics here and was told by several people it was actually white oak. Here is the thread (with some more pics) in case you want to take another look at it for positive ID:

https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/score-let-there-be-oak.115902/
 
Seeing the bark from the side in the other thread it looks like White Oak. In the end pic in this thread it didn't. Nevermind.
 
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Reading this thread I was going to say chestnut oak, it has a funky looking bark. It is my favorite oak for splitting.

While splitting stained oak I always try to find the source.

I know, it doesn't take much to entertain me.
 
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