Black gum

[D8Chumley]

i was just offered some black gum, a whole tree. Haven't seen it, and never worked with black gum. I have to let my buddy know soon. I don't see it listed on Sweeps, I am 3-4 years ahead and have several ash that will need to come down this fall/winter. Thanks in advance

 

[D8Chumley]

He is dropping it off tonight. Free wood is me wood

 

[CincyBurner]

Tough splittin' wood. (broken link removed to http://extension.psu.edu/natural-resources/forests/news/2014/why-do-they-call-it-a-gum-tree)
Hope you have good hydro.
Let us know how it splits for you.

 

[D8Chumley]

Thanks for that CincyBurner. I have a 27 ton Troy Bilt, hope it has enough arse. I'm wondering if it splits better green or seasoned some? And any idea what it is comparable with as far as burning? As I said I don't see it on Sweeps

 

[D8Chumley]

I see red gum, that's equal to American Elm

 

[D8Chumley]

(broken link removed)
18.7, right there with black cherry for BTU

 

[D8Chumley]

(broken link removed)
18.7, right there with black cherry for BTU

 

[red oak]

Really tough splitting wood - with a maul it was really difficult. Got the bigger pieces split but I just let 8" and below go in the stove whole. Good heat as I recall. With hydraulics and the wood being free I would not hesitate to take more.

 

[Fred Wright]

Yep, it can be a bear to split. When we were cutting black gum for shoulder season wood we'd leave the rounds to set a month or so. Seems to split cleaner that way. The wood turns a light suntan color over time and in some cases would split so smooth it appeared to be planed.

Ain't bad for burning, needs a year on the stacks.

 

[D8Chumley]

Thanks for the info, Fred. I'll go with that

 

[7acres]

I split a lot of sweet gum last season. Gave the 22 ton splitter a run for its money. The 35 ton split it with ease. Nasty looking splits when splitting down through center tree. Taking splits from the sides worked much better.

 

[heavy hammer]

If free it's hard to say no. I've only split a little of it ever can be a pain, but never had a lot to make a good assumption. I would take it and split it, what doesn't need split just give plenty of time to season. It all burns when dry!

 

[Fred Wright]

Sweet gum is even worse than black gum for splitting. We cut sweet gum every year for a long time, it's plentiful here. Not no more. Just too much work for the medium heat it produces. Leaves a lot of ash, too.

If you got it, mize well burn it. But I sure as heck wouldn't pay for it.

About all sweet gum is good for is growing mushrooms.

 

[BenTN]

Mushrooms? Have you grown mushrooms on sweet gum? I grow shiitake on maple,oak and hickory but have never tried sweet gum. Would sure beat using prime fire wood for mushroom logs if sweet gum produces well.

 

[7acres]

Mushrooms? Have you grown mushrooms on sweet gum? I grow shiitake on maple,oak and hickory but have never tried sweet gum. Would sure beat using prime fire wood for mushroom logs if sweet gum produces well.

Yeah, tell me more about growing mushrooms on sweet gum!