Oak Id

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Nosetotail

New Member
Mar 3, 2016
67
Jacksonville, FL
Scrounged this up yesterday. It was stacked next to a large pile of green brush. Leaves were narrow 3 or 4 inches with no lobes. Some were concave. Wood was uniformly wet like it had just been cut.

I thought Live Oak, but I was able to slab and then split with a maul. About half if the pieces I cut were multiple bounce off hits. One center piece required a couple of wedges and I almost didn't get them started.

I only had what seemed to be perfectly straight pieces but you can see the waivy grain structure.
 

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Ok. The wood was almost white. It was uniformly clean through and through. The third and fifth image shows the true color of the wood. I guess Red Oak gets its name from the red layer of bark?
Not sure what type of oak, yours is probably willow. The only narrow leaf oak where I live is the shingle oak, but it is not really found in the far south. Red oaks are named for their red to reddish-orange colored wood. That being said I have felled whites with redder wood than a red oak right beside it. Had to check leaves left just to make sure I wasn't crazy. Once dried I typically find that white oak is very white and red oak is still a bit pinkish.
 
Boy, that tree has seen a rough life to be so twisted. Yep, willow oak leaves are smooth and elongated. They look nothing like conventional oak leaves. I've cut several here over the years but have yet to see one all twisty like that.
 
Here in North Florida, there are several varieties of narrow leaf oaks including the Live Oak. I just can't seem to find a good description distinguishing all the differences. One thing that stood out to me with this wood is the thickness of the bark and how deep the furrows are. As to the red tint, I think that was more due to the sun playing tricks on the camera. The close up pick is what all the pieces I chopped were colored. I wish I had taken a picture of the endgrain before I got it all dirty. I was surprised by how white and clean the wood was throughout. I think it may darken up once it starts to dry, but right now, it is as green as wood gets and it is very light colored.

Anyhow, when I pass by the pile this afternoon, I will get a sampling of the leaves and take a pick.
 
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