Got some wood...What did I got?

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nola mike

nola mike

Minister of Fire
Sep 13, 2010
928
Richmond/Montross, Virginia
Found some free wood on CL, trees down since the summer. I have absolutely no clue what I have. I've been trying to ID wood, but seems like without leaves, it all looks about the same to me. I can tell "pine" from "not pine". Can anybody help me out, and maybe give me a "ID'ing wood for dummies" link? Everything I've seen has 1) way too many varieties 2) A lot of emphasis on leaves--not much bark or pics of split wood.

As an aside, I'm thinking I have between 1/3-1/2 cord there. So now I have about 3/4-1 cord total for next winter...or about half (or more) of what I'll need. Cool.
 

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localLEE said:
U gots a lttlle bit of everysuch!
Click to expand...
hah. yep, since I didn't know what I was getting, figured I'd spread the risk and get a variety pack. I know I have some oak, I think maple, and there's a big round of pine that was right next to the truck when I was getting tired...
 
I would say top left is poplar, the log in the middle of second pic looks like ash. but it all looks like fire wood.
 
I agree with Flatlandr, It looks like poplar to me. After drying it'll burn fine with good BTU's. Enjoy, David
 
Good score there.Always great to get a mix of stuff.
 
Thistle said:
Good score there.Always great to get a mix of stuff.
Click to expand...

other thing was since i plan on using it next year, i figured with a mix i should get at least some seasoned...oak i've seen takes longer, so i didn't want all oak.
 
I had some of the wood in the first picture a few seasons ago and am still trying to identify it. If you split it open it will have a yellowish-orange stripe inside and is heavy when dry. I don't believe it to be Poplar but I don't know what it is....
 
You have some sweet gum, box elder, and syamore in there.
 
TreePointer said:
Poplar (likely an Aspen):
index.php


Big log in middle = white ash:
index.php


Logs on top = Wondowum smashicum:
index.php
Click to expand...

great, thanks. actually stopped cutting the poplar(?) when it seemed like it wasn't very dense. and the bottom logs i thought were w*I*ndowum smashicum?
 
nola mike said:
great, thanks. actually stopped cutting the poplar(?) when it seemed like it wasn't very dense. and the bottom logs i thought were w*I*ndowum smashicum?
Click to expand...

Heehee! I guess any log can be a window smasher. Nice load.
 
I think what everyone is calling ash is actually Tulip Poplar otherwise known as yellow poplar. Just my .02
 
I agree that pic 2 is ash. It has the distinct diamond pattern in the bark and no greenish core. Thought the top was a birch?
 
I also think the big middle one is a tulip poplar. If it is, It will have green heartwood when you split it. Dries very light, great for getting a fire started off a small coal bed or cold startup.
 
Ash has a more defined deeper diamond grid pattern, much like expanded metal grate. The furrows of this particular bark are not deep enough to be ash IMHO
 
Hate to break it to you, but it's nearly all Aspen. Including the one some peeps called 'ash'. And did you say you like a mix because if you took all oak you wouldn't season in time?? :bug:

Unless you are planning to burn the wood today always take green Oak over seasoned Aspen. Or let me know where yer cutting and I'll take that nasty ole Oak outa ya way while you harvest the Aspen to your hearts content.

Aspen :long: Why'd ya think it was on CL??
 
mywaynow said:
I agree that pic 2 is ash. It has the distinct diamond pattern in the bark and no greenish core. Thought the top was a birch?
Click to expand...

There are plenty of trees, when young, exhibit this characteristic. Bark ID is great but usually only when a tree gets to maturity. Leaf ID is great but does not help at times like these. One item you can use is branching. Some trees have Opposite branching [as opposed to alternate] which is a dead give away when standing dead or down. Maple, Ash and Dogwood have opposite branchind, which would have helped here if the branches were still on it??
 
ISeeDeadBTUs said:
Hate to break it to you, but it's nearly all Aspen. Including the one some peeps called 'ash'. And did you say you like a mix because if you took all oak you wouldn't season in time?? :bug:

Unless you are planning to burn the wood today always take green Oak over seasoned Aspen. Or let me know where yer cutting and I'll take that nasty ole Oak outa ya way while you harvest the Aspen to your hearts content.

Aspen :long: Why'd ya think it was on CL??
Click to expand...

It may be Aspen [populus species]. It could be hickory or box elder too. Hard to tell without being there and the fact that it is a young tree.
 
I agree with the poplar log in the middle picture.

The others look like Ailanthus(Tree of Heaven), here in VA they call it paradise tree. It burns much like poplar but a little more ash.

It will all burn.

J.P.
 
Ok, so got into bucking/splitting today, and have a few more pics of what I have.
#1: I have mostly this so far, it's got a reddish heart wood, tight rings, and seems like some good stuff.
#2: Rings spaced further apart, very wet.
#3: This seems like a soft wood
#4: Very similar to #1, but the bark is rougher
#5: Also soft, green center, light--poplar?
 

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Here's what I c/s/s today, took about 1.5 hours. And second pic is what I have left. I think I got more than I thought...
 

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