Let's play, Is It Oak or Ash?

[ADK_XJ]

Cleared several bunches of 10-15" DBH trees this fall on the south facing side of my younger sugar maples in our small (sugar) bush. Of course I forgot exactly which tree was which after dropping and now they have no leaves but they were mostly oak and ash that were blocking my maples' canopy/crowns.

Started hauling them in, who wants to play is it oak or ash? I am just about 99.9% on what's in the ATV trailer but also enjoy the chiming in from y'all:

Tree A:


Tree B:

 

[TedyOH]

Red oak x2 is my guess.

 

[Wood Duck]

A) Ash
B) Oak

If you'd give us good shots of the end grain it would be a cinch.

 

[ADK_XJ]

A) Ash
B) Oak

If you'd give us good shots of the end grain it would be a cinch.

I can do that...

A


B

 

[claydogg84]

I don't believe there is any Oak there.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Ash. Little pinhole on the ends. Right in the center, Dead giveaway!

 

[ADK_XJ]

It's entirely possible they're both ash. I'm pretty confident A is ash.

That second load (B) was heavier that I had in the stack but that may be due to the fact it was cut last week and the stuff in the wagon (A) was cut in early November.

Now that I think of it, load B was heavy but not that gold brick oak heavy.

 

[claydogg84]

It's entirely possible they're both ash. I'm pretty confident A is ash.

That second load (B) was heavier that I had in the stack but that may be due to the fact it was cut last week and the stuff in the wagon (A) was cut in early November.

Now that I think of it, load B was heavy but not that gold brick oak heavy.

I agree with you on group A - It's likely Ash. For the second group, I'm not sure. There are no visible rays, and the bark isn't convincing enough to say its Red Oak.

 

[Edav]

Ash. Little pinhole on the ends. Right in the center, Dead giveaway!

The pinhole is a full proof way? Never heard of that.

 

[TedyOH]

Im still looking for the pinholes on the end in the center??

 

[FaithfulWoodsman]

The pinhole is a full proof way? Never heard of that.

It's not foolproof. Other trees can have them, but if the bark lines up and it has a very consistent and pronounced white BB hole in every log end its 9.7/10 an ash.

 

[barmstrong2]

I'm going...
A. Ash
B. Oak

 

[cptoneleg]

Maple

 

[Firefighter938]

A) is ash.
I'm not sure what B) is.

 

[Firefighter938]

B reminds me of butternut.

 

[weatherguy]

Is the pin hole in the end or the middle, or the middle of the end? I just go by bark.

 

[ADK_XJ]

OK, last piece of evidence - fresh split from group B. Split really easy with the old 6lb maul:

 

[NewHarmanOwner]

They are FIREWOOD And they will provide heat in a few years from now.

 

[ADK_XJ]

So, to tip my hand I was pretty sure these were A:Ash and B:Oak but, as I look closely at my own pictures, i'm now thinking B is actually Bitternut Hickory because of that straight grain with the reddish heartwood and the heft to it over the ash. Def think A is Ash but I never saw a distinct pinhole...

 

[Wood Duck]

Post a close-up photo of the end of the rounds and we can tell for sure if it is oak.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Im still looking for the pinholes on the end in the center??

There are other spieces that probably have a pinhole, but ash is dead center and BB size.

 

[ADK_XJ]

Post a close-up photo of the end of the rounds and we can tell for sure if it is oak.

Are the photos I posted in #4 in response to you not close enough? Should be able to get the full view clicking on the thumbnails. Need closer?

 

[Applesister]

Im still looking for the pinholes on the end in the center??

Its a pith chamber

 

[Applesister]

The pinhole is a full proof way? Never heard of that.

No

 

[Applesister]

Im kinda going with the hickory theory.