did I get a bunch of pine?

[mattjm1017]

I bought a cord of wood from a guy he told me it was all maple hickory some gum and a little oak, but as I was sorting through it and stacking I came upon a lot of splits that are really light and a lot that the bark looks like pine.most of it has a reddish heart though and I don't think pine has a red center does it? Heres some pictures of it.

 

[mattjm1017]

Oops sorry here they are.

 

[ScotO]

the bark kinda looks like it in the pics......make a fresh split and give it a sniff.
Pine has a distinct smell to it. Some pine has a reddish heartwood to it.

 

[jatoxico]

Could it be cherry?

 

[nrford]

No pine there, Looks like you got what he told you you where getting.

 

[BIGDADDY]

Could it be cherry?

I agree with cherry it can be light when it's well seasoned.

 

[bogydave]

By the pictures, could be cottonwood or some type of poplar.

 

[weatherguy]

Looks like a maple, not sure what species.

 

[missedbass]

cedar maybe?

 

[nrford]

The photos are GUM

 

[Woody Stover]

The photos are GUM

Save it and hand it out to the kids next Halloween.

 

[mattjm1017]

I'm pretty sure its not ceded it doesn't sell like that at all. I was thinking pine just because of the bark it looks like pine but it doesn't peel off in chunks like the pine does. I'm thinking some of it is willow or cotton wood cause its really light and some is stringy. If it is pine is it ok to burn and if its not could that explain why it burns up so fast? Some of this stuff will burn down to nothing in a couple hours. Thanks for all the help.

 

[mattjm1017]

Heres another one Im not sure about. I split it and it smells almost sweet I think what should pine smell like?

 

[Cross Cut Saw]

I grew up in Colorado and we have LOTS of cottonwood there, I agree with Bogydave that bark and last split looks like cottonwood to me.

That being said, I know absolutely nothing about ID'ing a tree!

 

[ScotO]

I've never cut nor burned gum before......one of the few species in the northeast that I can say that about. These guys seem to think it's gum, and I'd take their word any day. Not like any poplar or cottonwood I've ever seen. As for the smell, pine would smell, well, piney! Sweet smelling? Not pine, thats for sure.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I'll almost always go with nrford's answer. He has lots and lots of experience with this.

 

[nrford]

I'll almost always go with nrford's answer. He has lots and lots of experience with this.

Thank you for your support. It's a Christmas and Birthday present from Savage!

 

[cptoneleg]

The photos are GUM

No way no how you gonna split Virgina Gum that slick

 

[cptoneleg]

We have done this many times here on hearth.com this is gum when split, not split its still in one piece, Black Gum, so I have to disagree on any of those splits being gum unless they were sawed insted of split.

 

[mattjm1017]

Thats whats bugging me its not saw cut its split and ive never seen gum split clean. Im not saying anyone is wrong im the last person to make a call on that I have minimal knowledge of what tree is what but im trying to learn. I really appreciate everyone's input here hopefully ill figure things out one of these days. Im not to worried about burning pine but I would hate to have bought one thing and got another.

 

[mattjm1017]

Upon further investigation im leaning towards it being sweet gum or popler based on that it doesn't smell piney and the bark isn't in chips like pine but more so one piece with furrows in it. Im thinking poplar mostly cause its split so nicely, but who knows ill try and split one of the bigger pieces this weekend and see how it does with an ax.

 

[ChrisNJ]

In some instances pine would be better than some of the "hard woods" as you describe.

 

[blades]

Just to toss another type in the mix Box Elder ( also known as Ash Maple) generally has redish or streaks of red in heart area which fade with exposure to the elements, Sections can split very clean or very stringy depending on how it grew. Heavy when green, very light when dry, lot of moisture in it. Technically a hardwood, very low btu rating.

 

[patdale]

That is sweet gum. I have some that looks just like it.

 

[mattjm1017]

ChrisNj why do you say that? Just curious, I'll take all the advice I can get.