Red Oak

Yep, thats the good stuff...

Thats got to be worth some dough on Long Island here in a few months?

Was your Red Oak diseased at the base? I have two in my woods marked to be cut for wood for that reason. It weakens them and they die or blow over.

Red oak drives me nuts. Fun to split, stinks like vommit for weeks, takes FOREVER to dry, bark falls off and makes a mess, then it finally burns and you can't live without it!

I don't get that people don't like the smell of red oak. It smells good to me too.

GolfandWoodNut said:

I don't get that people don't like the smell of red oak. It smells good to me too.

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I like it as well, mmmmmmmm

I think red oak smells awesome, unless I split a big knot or a crotch. Those smell nasty.

The smell of freshly cut Red Oak is the best part of the whole deal. That is saying something when you consider the ease of splitting and great BTU content.

I agree...red oak's usually a nice burn.

I hate to bicker but (some) red oak does NOT smell good. No. No it does not. Nope. I've cut some oak (white I think) that smell like vanilla, sweet and wonderful. When you burn it I start jonesing for whiskey and Islay. Some is eh, all right, some doesn't stink but Goddammmit I cut a tree last year and I had to put a fan on the deck to keep the stench from getting into the house!

The stink of Red Oak makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I split about 2 cords of it this spring and for a few weeks there was quite an aroma in the yard. My neighbor mentioned the smell. I'm not sure if he was complaining or not, but he did say that it was pretty strong on his side of the fence. As long as you have the time, I think there is nothing better than Red Oak. When green, it is the easiest splitting wood I have ever dealt with and can sure make some heat too.

I had a truckload and pulled up at my brother's house and his wife said what smells like "Piss" and I would have to agree . If ur talking about how the smell reminds u of how great it is to burn then I agree .

fahmahbob said:

I think red oak smells awesome, unless I split a big knot or a crotch. Those smell nasty.

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stay away from the smelly crotches..words to live by.

btuser said:

I hate to bicker but (some) red oak does NOT smell good. No. No it does not. Nope. I've cut some oak (white I think) that smell like vanilla, sweet and wonderful. When you burn it I start jonesing for whiskey and Islay. Some is eh, all right, some doesn't stink but Goddammmit I cut a tree last year and I had to put a fan on the deck to keep the stench from getting into the house!

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No bickering necessary. It seems that some folks just do not like the smell of red oaks. Pin oak (another red oak) smells even stronger. I've never found it to smell bad but have smelled some nasty stuff from time to time. Cottonwood is one I don't care for as is popple and willow. I remember when I used to saw lumber and I really looked forward to sawing the red oaks. The odor is strong, but to me, it is pleasant.

Red oak is the only thing I've ever cut that has a strong, distinctive odor. It's satisfying, like looking at my stacks at the end of a good day. A reward for hard work done.

It has to be one of the heaviest woods out there too. I took this bad boy down last fall and to clear land to dry my stacks. I was beat by the end of the day. Good stuff to burn though.

You're complaining at the smell of red oak? I've got a cord of elm on my driveway right now that smells like somebody took a dump right there (Am I allowed to say that? I was trying to think of a nicer way to say it but I'm not feeling very creative at the moment).

Wendell, this is just one more reason to wait for that elm to die before cutting. Not only waiting for it to die, but wait until the bark has fallen off.

stejus said:

It has to be one of the heaviest woods out there too. I took this bad boy down last fall and to clear land to dry my stacks. I was beat by the end of the day. Good stuff to burn though.

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but by looking at the bark on those rounds I'd think that was white oak. The white oaks around me have amost a flakey bark, whereas the red oaks have a tighter, more veined look to them. I'm guessing of course which kind they are because I only can guess by the leaves, which are rounded at the end and not pointed (red man arrows, white man bullets ect.) Anyhow, that's what I've heard, and that's what make me think I hate the smell of red oak but really enjoy the smell of white oak.

The stuff on the ground is red oak. The stuff standing is not.

I think it smells vaguely like steak sauce. I like the smell.

Nothing better than the sweet smell of red oak in the yard after splitting or cutting it. I just stacked about a cord and a half of it that was cut in June and it still smells good, not as strong though.

Clarkbar2311 said:

fahmahbob said:

I think red oak smells awesome, unless I split a big knot or a crotch. Those smell nasty.

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stay away from the smelly crotches..words to live by.

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