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Wood ID

Post in 'The Wood Shed' started by Cearbhaill, Feb 10, 2013.

  1. Cearbhaill Feeling the Heat

    joined: Nov 15, 2007
    356 posts
    The deep end
    This came down in my woods last summer during that horrible derecho wind.
    Zone 6b, eastern Kentucky.
    It was a large tree so before we spend too much energy working on it I would like to know what kind of wood it is. I feel sure it is naturally occurring as I doubt anyone has ever intentionally planted anything back there, but you never know what with birds and all. Most of what we have are red or white oaks, hickories, and poplar and this looks nothing like any of them.
    Thanks to anyone who might offer an opinion.

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    #1

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  2. gzecc Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 24, 2008
    2,855 posts
    NNJ
    Need to see a pic of it split and the end grain
  3. Cearbhaill Feeling the Heat

    joined: Nov 15, 2007
    356 posts
    The deep end
    Split is up there, here are two ends...

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  4. Woody Stover Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 25, 2010
    3,401 posts
    Southern IN
    Visible 'medullary rays' (radiating out from the center) mean Oak. Grab it, split it, stack it in the wind and wait two or more years. ==c
    Scotty Overkill and LEES WOOD-CO like this.
  5. Ralphie Boy Minister of Fire

    +1 on the oak. The rounds and split in your pictures look like they are from the upper part of an older tree or the whole tree is young. In any case split i,t stack it and let the waiting begin. Remember the best and most accurate way to measure moisture in your firewood is with a multi-year calendar!;)
  6. basod Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 11, 2009
    765 posts
    Mount Cheaha Alabama
    The bark looks alot like willow oak from a limb somewhere up the tree.
    The large rings(atleast they appear that way) coincides with a faster growing oak.
    Was it dead when blown over? - usually a live oak when killed will hold it's leaves
  7. chvymn99 Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 20, 2010
    565 posts
    Kansas
    Id go with Oak too. It looks like that of a Pin oak. What does it smell like after its split?
  8. gzecc Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 24, 2008
    2,855 posts
    NNJ
    Just where is the deep end?
  9. bigbarf48 Member

    joined: Dec 21, 2012
    183 posts
    Stone Mountain GA
    Pin oak id say
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  10. bogydave Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 4, 2009
    7,779 posts
    So Cent ALASKA
    Oak is Good BTU wood.
    How much do you have cut up ?
  11. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,170 posts
    Michigan
    Worry not. You have some great firewood there.
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  12. Cearbhaill Feeling the Heat

    joined: Nov 15, 2007
    356 posts
    The deep end
    Thank you everyone!

    It was living when it went down- I was watching out a window when the derecho went through and I saw several enormous oaks and hickories go down like dominoes. That's why we're so behind cutting this one up- we have so many down.
    Yes, those photos are of the smaller branches that were dealt with last summer so we had room to maneuver out there. The main trunk is all that is still lying there waiting for us and I just wanted to make sure it was work the trek hauling it.

    And don't worry about seasoning time- we work years ahead with our wood.

    Thanks again.
    Shane N and Scotty Overkill like this.
  13. Scotty Overkill firewood hoarder

    joined: Sep 24, 2011
    6,824 posts
    central PA
    Another vote for oak. Get all you can, split it small to medium, stack 'er up and sit back and smile........good as money in the bank.
    3 years down the road you'll be grinning again as it warms your home in the cold winter months!
    Shane N likes this.
  14. Wood Duck Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 26, 2009
    3,764 posts
    Central PA
    Oak for sure. The bright orange inner bark suggests Black Oak, or maybe simething similar. Does Pin Oak have orange inner bark? The smooth bark looks like Pin Oak.
  15. Shane N Feeling the Heat

    joined: Oct 16, 2012
    296 posts
    West Central MN
    I never would have guessed oak, but I'm an ID n00by. All we have around here are red and white oaks, which have a rough bark. I enjoy guessing on ID threads and then scrolling down to see if I was even close. I was WAY off on this one :). I guessed maple or poplar based on the smooth bark. Lots to learn....
  16. bigbarf48 Member

    joined: Dec 21, 2012
    183 posts
    Stone Mountain GA
    All the pin oak I've been splitting does have that orange inner bark
  17. Bret Chase Feeling the Heat

    joined: Jan 15, 2013
    410 posts
    Maine
    That is one thing I don't miss about living down there (I lived for a few years in Knox and Whitley counties)... the orange dirt that won't hold roots in the ground..
  18. Woody Stover Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 25, 2010
    3,401 posts
    Southern IN
    Pins like water. Was the soil pretty moist where the tree was?
  19. Applesister Member

    joined: Dec 5, 2012
    239 posts
    OAK and probably the "red" oak group based on that weird smooth bark. I dont know if willow oak is smooth. Toni do you have any limbs with the leaves still attached? You dont need to make an exact identification but Im curious about the bark issue.
    Dont let the boys scare you into not cutting it up. Oak is gold. Funny thing about hurricanes and tornadoes. They never seem to take down poplar. I found some that still had leaves partial emergence. My brother in law says they have laying longer than this last spring. I said last spring. Dont know how long leaves will stay attached to a dead oak tree before they start to decompose.

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