Timber!

[RAY_PA]

This is the biggest tree I have cut down to date. It was on the bank behind our cabin, after the pics that was on here last week, I had nightmares Saturday night, in anticipation of the events of Sunday morning, But all went well and I assume this one tree will fill the remainder of our wood shed.

 

[savageactor7]

Good take Ray, looks to me like 42" at the widest.

I don't really like harvesting those larger trees either...mostly cause you have to process it right there on the site. Bark looks like ash but its not...what kind of tree is it?

 

[RAY_PA]

its white oak, I dont usually hjarvest trees like that either, but this one is only about 50 feet from the wood shed at the cabin, it fell within a few feet from the driveway. We cut it because it was on the bank and if it fell from a storm or what ever, it most likley would have hit the cabin. I never did measure the stump, but I will, as I am curious. We will cut/split it right there and use the trailer to haul it over to the wood shed.

 

[fugazi42]

What kind of tree is that Ray? The bark looks like White Oak to me, but the wood doesn't.

Curious..

Heh- answered 1 minute after I posted my question. Thanks!

 

[Bubbavh]

My judging is:

9.5 Tree
9.5 difficulty
7.5 Felling (stump could have been more flat)
10 Beer finish!!

Was that 2 Oaks that joined? Looks that way from the growth rings.

Nice work!! I'll have a beer for you tonight in honor of your fallen friend the "great white"

 

[RAY_PA]

the 'back cut' could have been more flat? The beer was a celebration drink and it was damn good. I didnt take a 'before picture' (with all the excitement, I forgot) but here is one from the summer, when we started the cabin project. And one from the stump looking at the cabin, you can see the wood shed to the left of the cabin, at the back of the Dakota. So we wont have far to move the wood.
savageactor7....good eye, it measured just under 42 inches.

 

[Hogwildz]

Looks like red oak

 

[RAY_PA]

yikes!...maybe it is??? I am not one afraid to admit when I am wrong. Bark sure looks like white oak to me, but wood is a tad on the 'red' side, color wise...??

 

[karri0n]

Red oak was my first assumption, but I'm by no means any kind of expert. I was just going by the color of the wood. I wouldn't begin to be able to id a tree by its bark(aside from white birch)

 

[billb3]

Looks like red oak to me, too.

I would need leaves to look for the signature non-pointed leaf tips to identify white oak and white oak bark often 'lifts' (looks like a animal pulled it off) in patches [just the outer layer] when a tree gets that size / age.
Also tends to have a rather round canopy, some red oak canopy looks more like elm.

 

[Bubbavh]

Yeah I was just kidding with the back-cut! Unless you had a really big saw and bar their is no way to make a clean stump with that size tree! Did you rope/chain pull it or use wedges? Those gas tanks and your house being so close made things interesting!
Getting them big rounds on the splitter will be the next challenge! Remember lift with your legs!

 

[RAY_PA]

yes, I did have a rope to it to help it go the right way. I had to make 2 cuts with a 20" bar. Yeah, those big rounds will be a challange to get on the splitter I'll take some pics of that, when we get to it.

 

[Constrictor]

looks like red oak. red oak is definatly red as soon as you cut it. White oak has a dark light black center but a couple days after cutting starts to lighten almost the same color as the wood near the outside bark.

 

[savageactor7]

Ray don't kill yourself...noodle cut 'em into quarter rounds.

 

[`RyaN`]

Bark looks like white oak. Remember white oak bark is flaky when you rub your hand over it and is usually white. Red oak bark much tighter to the tree. It also tends to have silver streaks in it when looking up.

Also Ray be careful on your back cuts. You don't want to cut your hinge wood on the outside of the tree all the way through. This can cause the tree to roll and loose control during the felling process.

 

[WOODBUTCHER]

Some nice free btu's.......that's White Oak for sure. Nice score for the stove.

WB

 

[WOODBUTCHER]

May I add........you'll earn your keep on that trunk.....WHOOOAAA!

I've posted some pics on red vs white oak
As the tree matures (esp with red white oak) the bark becomes really defined, my pictures are from younger trees.
Shagbark hickory will fool you by looking (not by handling though) young shagbark hickory looks baby bottom smooth (totally different from mature pieces.)
The stump of Rays tree has the standard "Old" White Oak pattern

WB

 

[Wet1]

Ray don't kill yourself...noodle cut 'em into quarter rounds.

That's exactly how I would do about moving those!

 

[RAY_PA]

Bark looks like white oak. Remember white oak bark is flaky when you rub your hand over it and is usually white. Red oak bark much tighter to the tree. It also tends to have silver streaks in it when looking up.

Also Ray be careful on your back cuts. You don't want to cut your hinge wood on the outside of the tree all the way through. This can cause the tree to roll and loose control during the felling process.

I was thinkin it was white oak.....either way its oak and gonna make a serious pile of fire wood and now wont pose a threat to the cabin, should it have fell in the wrong dirrection.
Great tip on the back cut, I wasnt aware of that and have had a few spin on me in the past...I will try to practice that in the future. THANKS!!

WOODBUTCHER, great pics of red vs white. Thanks.

 

[savageactor7]

^Ray occasionally when you're cutting pull the saw away from the round so the noodle nest will fall and not overheat the saw.

 

[`RyaN`]

Ray np on the info. Here's a little pamphlet that you might want to look at. Gives you some helpful hints on tree felling. http://www.doli.state.mn.us/pdf/hazalert_treefelling.pdf

Good luck cutting & splitting that beast up!

 

[rphurley]

Thanks for all the info guys. I've learned more about oak than I ever thought possible! I now know that oak that I cut in my yard is red oak

 

[`RyaN`]

Thanks for all the info guys. I've learned more about oak than I ever thought possible! I now know that oak that I cut in my yard is red oak

Are you sure about that? There are a bunch of different kinds of oaks out there some have very similar characteristics as others. For example black oak is very similar to red oak except the bark pattern is a little more blocky at the base and the nuts and leaves vary very slightly. Then there is scarlet oak. And pin oak. Don't forget about chestnut oak aka rock oak. Bur oak... post oak..... live oak.... willow oak and the list just keeps going on :D Enjoy

 

[rphurley]

Thanks for all the info guys. I've learned more about oak than I ever thought possible! I now know that oak that I cut in my yard is red oak

Are you sure about that? There are a bunch of different kinds of oaks out there some have very similar characteristics as others. For example black oak is very similar to red oak except the bark pattern is a little more blocky at the base and the nuts and leaves vary very slightly. Then there is scarlet oak. And pin oak. Don't forget about chestnut oak aka rock oak. Bur oak... post oak..... live oak.... willow oak and the list just keeps going on :D Enjoy

I could have all of that, but for my purposes when I cut oak in my woods, I'll just consider it red, unless it is white in the middle! i'm just pretty happy that there is a bunch of oak and hickory back there!