Look for the "pinhole" if Ash

[PA. Woodsman]

I have said this many times in various posts trying to ID Ash, and as Bucks County just found out it seems to hold true, so I wanted to make a post about it so all could see. If you notice on Ash look at the cutside of a round, the flat side, and if the wood is Ash you will see a small "pinhole" in the center, at least all the Ash I've ever seen has had it. This is an easy way to ID Ash and just wanted to share it with you guys. I have not come across any other species that has this pinhole, but if you know of one please let me know.

I hope this helps someone....

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Picture, picture, who's got the picture. All mine is split.

 

[HardWoodW]

In my area you can identify ash by the D shaped hole in the bark . I can never let ash sit for any time at all without splitting it because it's too fun to split

 

[Beer Belly]

This is the typical growth pattern of an Ash ???....excuse the writing, was trying to make points with the Wife....the yard was a disaster after this (still is)

 

[BobUrban]

I cut and burn tons of ash and have no clue what pin hole you are talking about but here in Michigan you can identify ash rather easily by the DEAD barklessness or all the suckers that have sprouted from the base and trunk as it did all it could to cling to life with the devil beatle munching away on it!! Pics of the pin hole would be worth 1000 words

 

[Shane N]

This is the typical growth pattern of an Ash ???....excuse the writing, was trying to make points with the Wife....the yard was a disaster after this (still is)

How did that work out for you? I might need to walk around the yard for similar growth patterns if it worked...

 

[blujacket]

 

[Wood Duck]

Beer Belly - the bark looks like Ash, the white wood looks like Ash. The dark center of the close trunk could be disease or some other problem with the tree. The heart shape is not characteristic of Ash, but not really characteristic of any tree. That is, any tree could have a heart shaped cross section but none does regularly, so the heart shape doesn't tell you anything. The multiple trunks is common for Ash that grow in the open.

 

[TradEddie]

I think the OP is trying to suggest that Ash can be identified by a pinhole in the center, not saying that Emerald Ash Borer causes the pinhole.

TE

 

[Applesister]

I think the OP is trying to suggest that Ash can be identified by a pinhole in the center, not saying that Emerald Ash Borer causes the pinhole.

TE

I think PA Woodsman is trying to say that you can identify Ash by it having Pith. All I remember of this growth characteristic is that its not exclusive of Ash. If Ash even has pith. I have green and white Ash here and I identify the trees by their seeds.
I think Walnut has characteristic pith but never really paid attention to it.
The heart shaped trunk was due to injury to the tree. In my case its usually a lawnmower deck.

 

[oldspark]

Beer Belly - the bark looks like Ash, the white wood looks like Ash. The dark center of the close trunk could be disease or some other problem with the tree. The heart shape is not characteristic of Ash, but not really characteristic of any tree. That is, any tree could have a heart shaped cross section but none does regularly, so the heart shape doesn't tell you anything. The multiple trunks is common for Ash that grow in the open.

For the hundreth time that is Green Ash that has the dark center, I cut it here all the time.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

THANK YOU BLUJACKET Now listen up class....look at this picture, go down to the bottom right of your screen and you see where it says 100%, click on that until it says 150%, click on the picture then look at this picture again and you will see what looks like a small "pinhole" on the flat cut-side of this round of Ash inside the rings-THAT'S what I'm talking about!! I don't see this on any other wood than Ash but if I'm wrong and you know of any I'd like to know! All the Ash that I've ever had has this pinhole on it.

Do we all understand now?

 

[Woody Stover]

Yeah, I see that pinhole in White Ash quite often...

 

[Beer Belly]

How did that work out for you? I might need to walk around the yard for similar growth patterns if it worked...

Didn't last long....I even added our dog's name for a little bit more "cuteness"

 

[nrford]

Sorry to say but even White Ash will have brown heartwood at times, although it is usually not nearly as much as Green Ash has. Additionally all trees will have pith center!

 

[Thistle]

And Walnuts & Butternut has chambered pith,not solid like other trees.

 

[Paulywalnut]

wow! zoom it up to 400 and you can really see the pin hole.

 

[firefighterjake]

I think I see Waldo if I zoom out . . .

 

[Paulywalnut]

I think I see Waldo if I zoom out . . .

Good one!