Reddish wood identification

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Danno77

Minister of Fire
Oct 27, 2008
5,008
Hamilton, IL
That's an 8ft log that I slid (by hand) into the bed of the truck. It wasn't too heavy, maybe that will help with ID.

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The color is really quite something. Reminds me of red cedar. Does not smell like anything noticeable.

Mulberry?
Grain is oakish, but none of the red oak out there is this red, mine is usually more pale orange.
I'm thinking about cutting it square for some future project, but wanna determine whether or not it's worth it.
 
Looks a little like old walnut to me, the color, grain and the way it splits. The weight is right if it's that old it will have dried.

What's with those "buds" on the side of the log? and that sapwood looks kinda thin for walnut so maybe not?
 
benjamin said:
Looks a little like old walnut to me, the color, grain and the way it splits. The weight is right if it's that old it will have dried.

What's with those "buds" on the side of the log? and that sapwood looks kinda thin for walnut so maybe not?
Definitely not walnut. Walnut is my specialty!

Weight is similar to seasoned walnut, though, if that helps make a comparison...
 
I am thinking red elm.
 
smokinjay said:
I am thinking red elm.
Firewood or rustic mantel (if it is red elm)?
 
Danno77 said:
Walnut is my specialty!

I'd a thunk... but walnut can sit around for decades and lose all of the sapwood, change color and even change "texture" a bit.

What kind of log was that a part of? How long was it sitting like that? definitely a rot resistant wood, look at how the small hollow spot is "clean" with no punky edges around it.
 
benjamin said:
Danno77 said:
Walnut is my specialty!

I'd a thunk... but walnut can sit around for decades and lose all of the sapwood, change color and even change "texture" a bit.

What kind of log was that a part of? How long was it sitting like that? definitely a rot resistant wood, look at how the small hollow spot is "clean" with no punky edges around it.
It was standing. Bout 20ft tall, half is firewood now.
I think I can get a 5 ft 4x4 out of it, maybe a ?x5 or ?x6...
 
Danno77 said:
benjamin said:
Danno77 said:
Walnut is my specialty!

I'd a thunk... but walnut can sit around for decades and lose all of the sapwood, change color and even change "texture" a bit.

What kind of log was that a part of? How long was it sitting like that? definitely a rot resistant wood, look at how the small hollow spot is "clean" with no punky edges around it.
It was standing. Bout 20ft tall, half is firewood now.
I think I can get a 5 ft 4x4 out of it, maybe a ?x5 or ?x6...

Thats pretty small, and what lee see's I would call it firewood.
 
Well, if it's not worth it, I'll buck it p and split it. I'm not gonna waste my time on junk with all this nice walnut sitting around, lol.

PS, can you see the nice hickory I cleaned up, too? That's gonna be some nice firewood.
 
Never noticed any cherry out in my timber, certainly no sassafras, either. Had to look that up. Course, this seems to be different from what I'm used to out there, which is why I asked! It's been dead a longggg time. I should take a mm reading for fun.
 
benjamin said:
Danno77 said:
Walnut is my specialty!

I'd a thunk... but walnut can sit around for decades and lose all of the sapwood, change color and even change "texture" a bit

+1 Yes. I have a piece or 2 of Walnut that was standing dead one of my late Uncle's gave me in the early '80's. Its that same exact purplish-chocolate color/texture,very tight grain,mellow working & sapwood was already gone.Part of original old-growth tree found near field next to river bottom.
 
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I am gunna run it through the table saw. It's hard to get a good handle on the grain, but darnit if this doesn't look like oak grain to me.

Measured 14% on the moisture meter.
 
Cherry. Firewood. Not lumber at that size.
 
sassafrass. Would have never guess it. Have not seen any in over 30 years.
 

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That looks redder than the Red Elm I've come across...
 
My vote is cherry I have some in th wood pile that looks just like that. Fire wood I already have a mantle. :)
 
Creekyphil said:
pretty straight tree, any chance its a softwood?
Probably not given the top. There was just enough to tell, but it was all crap and I left it.
 
uncontrolabLEE said:
Id guess either cherry or sassafrass.

Holy catfish Lee. Can sasafras grow that straight?
 
Have lots of Sassafras in my area,,,,looks nothin like that. Sassafras is a more yellowish green. If ya smell it...you will definately know if its Sassafras or not.
 
Joey said:
Have lots of Sassafras in my area,,,,looks nothin like that. Sassafras is a more yellowish green. If ya smell it...you will definately know if its Sassafras or not.
Sass is milk chocolate colored. You're thinking of locust which has a similar bark.
 
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