Wood ID-I've heard 8 different types

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
  • Like
Reactions: Kool_hand_Looke
Kool_hand_Looke said:
What's best way to tell if it's red or white oak?
Click to expand...
If it is in fact oak by the presence or absence of tyloses. White oak has tyloses in the grain that plugs the grain. That's why it can be used for whiskey barrels and not leak. If you were to take a piece of red oak wood, you could suck water through it like a straw. Or, I've seen people blow smoke through a piece of red oak. I've often thought that May lead to some of the disagreement about how long it takes oak to season. I think white oak would take longer to season since moisture can't move through it as easily. JMHO
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jon1270
What I can see in the pictures , bark and grain, it is Black oak. It stinks like piss, splits not easy but will burn great once dry. I just got done with a 55+ inch black this summer. Every split will smell and some will have a dark or black tint to it.
 
Somebody on here quoted a saying about a red man and a white man. Some quippy saying to help remember.
About the pointed leaves and the rounded leaves.
Red Oaks have leaf veins that extend out past the leaf margins that create pointed spurs at the edges of the lobes. White oaks have leaf veins that stop before the edge of the leaf margins creating rounded lobes.
 
Interesting to hear someone from Illinois say "piss oak." I always thought that was our local vernacular. I believe what we call "piss oak," is really swamp oak. It does stink like piss when you split it though, and your stacks will stink next summer!
 
White Oak all the way. Stringy, stinky, yep thats it. The ol smell of stanky socks!
 
Splits look like Siberian elm to me.

Where did you get the wood? They were often planted in yards and along city streets because they grow fast and are resistant to Dutch elm disease.

Bark on the trunk tends to be really thick, and falls of pretty easily after the rounds sit for a while. They tend to be really wet and heavy, but dries relatively fast, and the color lightens considerably.
 
EatenByLimestone said:
Do you have a picture of the buds off it or from a similar tree where you found it? Every tree species has a unique bud/bud arrangement. Bark ids can be tough because the bark changes so much over the life of a tree.

Most people don't look at this bark and see silver maple.



Click to expand...
OP looks like red oak.

This tree- I absolutely 100% would have guessed silver maple. Looks exactly like the one that my neighbor had in my folks neighborhood.
 
I throw my bid in for chestnut oak. The second picture with the bark makes me think this.
 
jeff_t said:
Splits look like Siberian elm to me.

Where did you get the wood? They were often planted in yards and along city streets because they grow fast and are resistant to Dutch elm disease.

Bark on the trunk tends to be really thick, and falls of pretty easily after the rounds sit for a while. They tend to be really wet and heavy, but dries relatively fast, and the color lightens considerably.
Click to expand...
I got it in some "non-accessible" ground that's reserved for conservation. The conservation cops used to come out here and band trees that were standing dead or needed to be cut down, some of them are still banded. When we bought this place a game warden came out and had a glass of tea with me. Haven't seen him since. I'd like to get one of them out here to band more wood or walk me through a few different speices.

The ONLY thing I'm sure of, is it smells like piss oak. Bad.
 
Yup. Pecan is in the same genus. But Hickory Pie doesn't sound nearly as tasty... especially if you ever happen into one of the unripe nuts. I tried an unripe beach nut this year also. They are pretty bitter. On a side note, it's fun to tell buddies how you can make flour and pancakes out of acorns. Then you hand them an acorn from a red oak and tell them to try one. The tannin makes it the most bitter thing they've ever tasted!
 
Joful said:
On the other end of the spectrum, I split a bunch of Sassafras this weekend. Almost smells like you should eat it.
Click to expand...

Sassafras smell like fruit loops to me. The little mitten shaped leaves are cool also. If I remember right, there are 3 different shaped leaves on that tree.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

ReggieT
Wood ID?
Replies
4
Views
494
The Wood Shed
stoveliker
stoveliker
spuldup
Wood splitter - standalone or tractor powered
Replies
32
Views
5K
The Gear
Isaac Carlson
Isaac Carlson
D
Dead trees, how long is the wood good?
Replies
69
Views
17K
The Wood Shed
DonTee
D
N
Dark red/purplish heartwood...?
Replies
37
Views
6K
The Wood Shed
Dieselhead
Dieselhead
M
New Wood Stove Advice Needed
Replies
15
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Muad
M
Top Bottom
Back