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  1. rdust Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 9, 2009
    3,345 posts
    Michigan
    I have no idea what this is, no leaves or twigs to help with the ID. I picked it up from the tree service I deal with a while back. I know it's not a "good" hardwood since it's not real dense. It also splits real easy. It was a yard tree that was pretty large(18-20 inch diameter). My first thought is basswood but who knows!

    Any ideas?

    Attached Files:

    #1

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  2. jeff_t Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 14, 2008
    2,695 posts
    SE MI
    Red elm?
  3. TreePointer Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 22, 2010
    1,311 posts
    Western PA
    Maybe catalpa?
    Thistle likes this.
  4. raybonz Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 5, 2008
    5,982 posts
    Carver, MA.
    Poplar?
  5. Thistle Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    3,909 posts
    Central IA
    My guess Catalpa.Its pretty soft & light weight (about the same as Butternut,Basswood or White Pine). Grain & color of Siberian Elm looks similar but its heavier & more stringy when splitting.Color of Butternut is similar also.

    Catalpa is a good carving wood I've been told,quite decay resistant when used outdoors too.Massive one across the street from me,it was State record sometime in the '70's or before.Smells nice with those huge white flowers in June.
  6. north ga ron New Member

    joined: Nov 28, 2012
    2 posts
  7. jeff_t Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 14, 2008
    2,695 posts
    SE MI
    Whatever it is, it's purty.

    I have a bunch of Siberian elm to split. Heavy and wet as heck. It splits decent, but not that nice. Have some red elm, too. Similar color and bark, but a bit stringy.
  8. Thistle Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 16, 2010
    3,909 posts
    Central IA

    It dries fast too I think you'll find.Almost as quick as Silver Maple.Grabbed a p/u load of half dead off CL in June 2010,by mid November it was down to 16%.Bit more ashes than I'm used to,but its decent for Spring/Fall burning & milder mid winter days.
  9. jeff_t Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 14, 2008
    2,695 posts
    SE MI
    Hope so. I have most of three cords. It was a big tree. Not huge at the base, but split off into two 30" trunks.
  10. ansehnlich1 Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 5, 2006
    1,506 posts
    Adams County, PA
    That right there is Catalpa. It's got a kinda sweet smell to it. She's lightweight when dry. They grow to be big trees, with big, BIG leaves.

    If that ain't Catalpa I'll eat my fiskars :)
  11. amateur cutter Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 20, 2010
    1,118 posts
    West Michigan
    I'm saying catalpa as well. If however you do eat your Fiskars, try chasing it with some smaller rounds & see if you can make toothpicks at the other end. Might get on TV that way. A C
    Backwoods Savage and Senatormofo like this.
  12. rdust Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 9, 2009
    3,345 posts
    Michigan
    Hmmm you would think Catalpa would've come into my thought process since I have one in the back yard about 30' off my deck! ;lol I looked on the ground around it and seen nothing but oak and maple leaves which I know it's not. I wouldn't have missed big ole Catalpa leaves! Maybe the home owners already had them cleaned up.

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