Wood Id. Oak or Maple?

[oldspark]

Sugar maple is the species known as 'hard maple,' while Red and Silver Maples are called 'soft maple.' I don't know what the wood of Black Maple is like. There are a few around here, but I haven't cut one. There is also the small Striped Maple or Moosewood that is native, but never large. Norway Maple seems like Red Maple to me, based on cutting more than on burning (I haven't burned a lot of it). Box Elder, also called Ashleaf Maple, is also a maple and soft wood.

With that information, the next question is how do I identify sugar maple from other soft maple? Or, is sugar very difficult to distinguish from soft maple?

Not sure if this is any help but worth a shot. http://www.ehow.com/how_5954923_tell-maple-soft-maple-trees.html

 

[WOODBUTCHER]

Red Maple seasons fast like cherry, it also burns fast.....when it's fully seasoned my 5 year old son can toss splits into the back of the truck.
What you have there is Red Maple, just by looking at that stained heartwood....a tell-tale sign of that species.
RedMaple has several different bark patterns and can fool ya.
I can tell you that it's not Sugar Maple, Sugar Maple has a distinctive bark pattern compared to Silver/Red Maple.
I'm not knocking Red Maple (I have a ton of it for next year)
Compare some samples with my pictures.

WoodButcher

 

[bsa0021]

Red Maple seasons fast like cherry, it also burns fast.....when it's fully seasoned my 5 year old son can toss splits into the back of the truck.
What you have there is Red Maple, just by looking at that stained heartwood....a tell-tale sign of that species.
RedMaple has several different bark patterns and can fool ya.
I can tell you that it's not Sugar Maple, Sugar Maple has a distinctive bark pattern compared to Silver/Red Maple.
I'm not knocking Red Maple (I have a ton of it for next year)
Compare some samples with my pictures.

WoodButcher

Pics are excellent! Thanks!