Over the Fence Scrounge ID and Adult Beverages as Legal Tender

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IanDad

IanDad

Member
Oct 5, 2009
45
Central PA
My neighbor had a standing dead tree since before we moved here. I never saw leaves on it. Of course, I have been eying this old neighbor's tree although I would not feel comfortable dropping it myself as it is too close to her home.

So....

A guy shows up whirling a Dolmar on Saturday and proceeds to whack it down. I immediately do what any sane person would do and run out and get this character a case o' brew. I present said beverage to this guy and he happily agrees to let me have the whole tree! I help him throw the rounds over my fence. Yeah Beer!

Anyway, I have no idea what kind of wood this is, but have no intention of burning this until 12-13 at least. Any ideas on what this is? Of note: the photos were taken when the wood is wet so the end grain is actually lighter than what it appears to be in the photos.

TIA
 

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WOODBUTCHER said:
Elm and I bet it stinks!

Woodbutcher
Click to expand...

Hmmm. Didn't smell anything at all, but it has been dead for several years. I will try and split it once it quits raining and see if it lives up to elm's bad rep for splitting headaches.

IF it ever quits raining... Any other guesses on what this is?
 
It looks like American Elm to me, and there are a lot of dead ones here in central PA. Elm is a good firewood. It has a reputation for being hard to split (well deserved, sometimes) so you hear a lot of negative comments along the lines of 'I hate elm,' but I don't think those comments are about burning elm, mostly about splitting elm. Those rounds are fairly short so maybe they won't be too bad to split. I have split some elm that was not bad to split.
 
Elm. Dead enough it should be reasonable splitting.
 
I agree it looks like elm.

In my part of the world elm dosen't keep too long before it rots. If you have a way of keeping it dry till next year then I would do that,

Good trading!.
 
I also vote for Elm. A few years ago my neighbor gave me some Elm wood. I remember it being tough enough to split that I had to break out the wedges and sledge hammer. It was not unreasonable though and I remember it burning well. Nice score and you can't beat the price!
 
Thanks all. I mostly burn oak and locust, so I guess I will get er split and mix it in the better woods next year.
 
Looks already answered, but 100% American elm! Have fun! Cheers!
 
This is one of those times when I would bet half my paycheck on the ID of the tree . . . elm. Classic look of elm from the bark (both the bark that is there and the large pieces of missing bark) and the inside wood.
 
Right. We have cut and split many an elm tree over the years. It will burn good so long as it is not stringy when you split it. This has been dead for a while and at least some of the bark has fallen. That is a good sign. However, methinks you will still find moisture in the bottom of that tree. It needs time to dry before burning but should dry rather quickly. You are also likely to end up with some powder post beetle work the wood but it won't do any harm.
 
American Elm.Not as good as Oaks or Locust,but definitely worth getting.Great score for good trade.
 
BJ64 said:
I agree it looks like elm.

In my part of the world elm dosen't keep too long before it rots. If you have a way of keeping it dry till next year then I would do that,

Good trading!.
Click to expand...

I am of the "no covering until snow" bent, but I guess I can tarp it if need be. Will it rot in one year without a tarp if its up on pallets and out from under tree cover?
 
IanDad said:
BJ64 said:
I agree it looks like elm.

In my part of the world elm dosen't keep too long before it rots. If you have a way of keeping it dry till next year then I would do that,

Good trading!.
Click to expand...

I am of the "no covering until snow" bent, but I guess I can tarp it if need be. Will it rot in one year without a tarp if its up on pallets and out from under tree cover?
Click to expand...

NO.
 
BJ64 said:
I agree it looks like elm.

In my part of the world elm dosen't keep too long before it rots. If you have a way of keeping it dry till next year then I would do that,

Good trading!.
Click to expand...

Elm will rot quite fast if it is down and touching the ground. Around here it will stay standing for many years after it dies. We have never had any elm rot after we cut it. Key is just keeping it off the ground. We do cover it before the snow flies but hate using tarps.
 
IanDad said:
BJ64 said:
I agree it looks like elm.

In my part of the world elm dosen't keep too long before it rots. If you have a way of keeping it dry till next year then I would do that,

Good trading!.
Click to expand...

I am of the "no covering until snow" bent, but I guess I can tarp it if need be. Will it rot in one year without a tarp if its up on pallets and out from under tree cover?
Click to expand...

No . . . as long as it is off the ground elm will do well . . . to be honest while it can be miserable to split when fresh cut or cut before it's been dead for years, I like elm as it burns a decent amount of time . . . my wife likes elm as the "fuzz" from its stringiness catches easier and faster than many other wood species when she reloads the stove (although she still loves the white and yellow birch best for ease of ignition.)
 
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