Ash or Norway Maple? Wood ID

[Razo]

I was offered this tree that came down on a friends property. I'm taking it no matter what and think it is ash. Then I just saw another thread where someone has Norway maple and it looks very similar.

I can KICK myself for not paying better attention to whether or not it has opposing branches. I didn't pay close attention to dead leaves on the ground either. This tree knocked down a small black birch on its way down and I'm taking that too. A lot of the smaller branches you see in the pic are the birch branches so they are of no help.

It splits fairly easy and it was bright white...it is a slightly different color in the pictures because it rained last night. I snapped these pics over my lunch break. I have a pic of the other side of those two splits but it was completely washed out/over exposed when I checked the pic back at work. I can take better ones tonight if need be. I included a pic to try and show the grain best as possible. I'm starting to think more and more that this might be maple.

 

[gzecc]

Looks like norway to me.

 

[bigbarf48]

Maple. Brown splotch gives it away

 

[Razo]

I can live with that, from what I'm reading it sounds like it has similar BTU's to Ash, slightly lower than sugar maple. safe to assume what I cut now will be ready for use 2 seasons from now?

 

[bigbarf48]

Yep 2 years will be fine

 

[Woody Stover]

safe to assume what I cut now will be ready for use 2 seasons from now?

Yes, but you will have to split and stack it as well....

 

[Razo]

yes of course, split and stacked

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Norway maple can be ready for next year if you do it soon and do it right....

 

[weatherguy]

Get is split and stacked in a good spot should be ready next year, I have some I burned this year, very similar to ash as far as burning goes.

 

[Razo]

Sweet I have a very windy spot that gets sun, I'm going to get it CSS asap.

 

[BillLion]

Norway maple can be ready for next year if you do it soon and do it right....

I second this. LOVE Norway Maple!

 

[Razo]

Thanks for the input guys! This makes me feel better about it not being ash.

 

[Hickorynut]

I say ash.......

 

[Pellet_Pete]

I'd have to agree with Hickorynut - it's a white ash. Th brown butt staining (yes you read that right) is by no means unique to maple. If you look at pic #3, you can see in the lower left of the stain by the growth rings that the tree suffered some injury when it was a 2-3" diameter sapling, which resulted in a lifelong infection and ultimately led to the staining we see throughout. May have even contributed to its ultimate demise(?) Brown heart aside, the bark screams white ash to me.

 

[Wood Duck]

I think it is Ash based on the bark of the smaller rounds in the second picture. It doesn't matter much because as firewood Ash and Norway Maple are similar.

 

[DougA]

It doesn't matter much because as firewood Ash and Norway Maple are similar.

Exactly!

 

[Paulywalnut]

It is ash maybe green ash but ash.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Ash vote from me....

 

[nrford]

Norway Maple for sure.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Where is BWS? He Is an ash connoisseur.......

 

[Razo]

The mystery thickens! Maybe its a Norway Ash? Haha, I want to take a better pic of the grain side of a split and post it over my lunch break just for fun. I'm happy with it being either but I really like wood ID and hearing everyone opinions.

 

[Applesister]

Shes a hot piece of Norway Ash. lol.
okay I just did a study. I have splits of white ash in the log hoop.
I have a Norway maple next to my driveway that someone backed into(bark has peeled).
And a Green Ash in the hedgerow between house and horsebarn.
My vote goes to green ash.
Too bad Maples and Ash both have opposite branching.
But...Norway maple leaves last forever...Im raking mine right now. Go see if you can find some.

 

[Applesister]

Its kinda true that the Ash and Norway maple are really close heat wise.
It looks like some great firewood. By the growth rings it looks like over 100 yrs old.

 

[Razo]

Good idea about the leaves, the ground was loaded with birch leaves while I was up there and I didn't take notice to any other type. I'll have to look when I go back up next Tuesday to start bucking the rest of it.

So here is a fresh round of pics for fun. Tried to get some close up of the grain. Doesn't help much I guess because Norway and Ash are so similar but maybe something in one of the pics will strike someone.

 

[Razo]

And you mentioned Norway and Ash both have opposing branches? I didn't know that. I was going to look at the smaller limbs next week too to see if that would be definitive but now it sounds like even that won't help. Can't wait to look for leaves.