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  1. Cal-MI New Member

    joined: Sep 4, 2009
    51 posts
    West Michigan
    OK, the wood actually, when split, is red and green. I suspect the green is spalting or something and the red is natural. What kind of wood is it? I have my suspicion, but the log was bark free, dry, and lying just off the ground. It is tough to split but burns readily in the airtight stove, so is apparently 12% moisture or thereabouts. Notice the chatoyancy of some spit sections. The background logs with bark on from a different tree, so do not judge the split sample by them.

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  2. Todd Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 19, 2005
    8,785 posts
    Lake Wissota
    Boxelder has red streaks and I'm thinking the green is some kind of fungus.
  3. derecskey New Member

    joined: Jun 25, 2008
    168 posts
    Geauga, OH
    I would guess some kind of Italian Plum tree.
  4. quads Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 19, 2005
    2,747 posts
    Central Sands, Wisconsin
    I agree with Todd; boxelder. Had a nail in it? = green/blue.
  5. Cluttermagnet Minister of Fire

    joined: Jun 23, 2008
    829 posts
    Mid Atlantic
    Chatoyancy? Interesting word. I actually found one hit on Merriam-Webster's.

    French origins... (figures)

    Chatoyant: (shuh-toy-unt, emphasis on middle syllable)

    "...to shine like a cat's eyes..."
    "having a changeable luster or color with an undulating narrow band of white light"

    From Websters-online:
    "Varying in color when seen in different lights or from different angles"
    Websters-online


    Not a word you run into often.
    Reminds me of a semi-precious stone,
    or a weird piece of wood. ;-)
  6. lexybird Feeling the Heat

    joined: Nov 9, 2008
    493 posts
    northwestern PA.
    old fence wire will make the blue color streaks like that ,if a mill sees that ,they immediately shut it off and toss the entire log out for fear of ruining their 3500$ blades
  7. gregp553 New Member

    joined: Nov 15, 2009
    105 posts
    SE Michigan
    Boxelder I think. Chatoyancy - huh?
  8. Tony H New Member

    joined: Oct 24, 2007
    1,156 posts
    N Illinois
    Are all the splits green and red ? The red could be box elder and BE does tend to shed the bark when sitting it also is a little hard to split and when wet a bit stringy somewhat like elm
  9. Bubbavh Feeling the Heat

    joined: Oct 22, 2008
    475 posts
    NJ Piney
    Definitely Maple... Maybe... I think... yes Maple... probably!
    I hope this helps.
    Firewood? oh yea!
  10. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,255 posts
    Northern Illinois
    Mmmm,mmmmm - maple.
  11. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,111 posts
    Michigan
    And, of course, box elder is a type of maple.
  12. savageactor7 Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 25, 2008
    3,698 posts
    CNY
    Often times the soaking wet laying down dead wood I pull from the swamp will split out colorful like that. I use it for campfire wood and noticed it burns more colorful too.
  13. Wood Duck Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 26, 2009
    3,759 posts
    Central PA
    ...written like someone who has spent time gazing lovingly at his firewood. Do you find yourself telling your wife 'your eyes have the chatoyancy of fresh-split box elder?' that's a good line, I may have to try it.
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