Another wood id thread

[PapaDave]

I've got what I think are 2 different types of Maple. The smooth bark one is some kind of soft maple (got it all over the property), but the rough bark type is unknown(also came from property, but different area). Anybody care to enlighten me?
The rough one is more dense. Can't teach it anything. :lol:

 

[smokinj]

red or silver maple

 

[PapaDave]

Thanks SJ. You're referring to the rough bark split, right?

 

[smokinj]

Thanks SJ. You're referring to the rough bark split, right?

even the smooth bark looks to be a limb of a silver.

 

[PapaDave]

Do silvers have multiple trunks?
That's the type all over the property. Seems kind of soft compared to the rough, and leaves more fluffy ash. Doesn't last as long in the firebox either.

 

[Thistle]

Quite often the Silver Maple has multiple trunks.I seen plenty of huge ones in people's city yards,old abandoned farmsteads & right-of way edges in rural areas around here.Get massive size with age,most dont live over 75-100 yrs too often though.

 

[PapaDave]

I'll have to post pics of live trees, and see what you guys think.

 

[smokinj]

Heres one I had this sumer. Thats a 460 28inch bar 361 with a 20in and a 192t 14inch.

5 trunks lol Think it was 58 inchs across the 5 trunks

 

[PapaDave]

Forgot to add, the rough bark is also pretty stringy and tougher to split. The smooth splits almost too easy, like if I look at it with a stern face.

 

[PapaDave]

Ok, here's a pic of a double trunk.

 

[smokinj]

Ok, here's a pic of a double trunk.

silver

 

[PapaDave]

So not considered a "soft maple"? Hmmmm

 

[smokinj]

So not considered a "soft maple"? Hmmmm

most would say its a softwood. The trunks are good burning and if its curly even better. Med. wood on the btu scale

 

[PapaDave]

Thanks Jay. Just did the Google thing on it.

 

[Thistle]

Definitely Silver.And you're right about the grain,I've seen & milled some that had good curl/rope figure that rivaled Sugar Maple.Makes wonderful large salad,fruit & popcorn bowls when turned on the lathe.Takes high polish also.Rough it out green,not in mid summer if you want to keep sapwood that nice bright white color.It will mould & develop blue sap stain quite rapidly.

 

[CTYank]

So not considered a "soft maple"? Hmmmm

most would say its a softwood. The trunks are good burning and if its curly even better. Med. wood on the btu scale

Silver maple (the "smooth" one) is definitely a "soft" maple. Good for kindling or a quick fire.

The other one looks like Sugar Maple, aka Rock Maple. Great stuff, the sort you have ready for those sub-zero nights.

Silver maple sprouts readily with lots of stems from the stump when cut, thus all those thickets in cut-over areas. You might thin out most of them per stump, and get a few decent stems.