What's the deal with this stinky wood?

[zknowlto]

So I scored a bunch of this wood from a dude off CL last week. I'm not sure what kind of wood it is, and, like a dummy, forgot to get any of the leaves. I've noticed, however, that it really stinks when you cut into it. Very sulfury with kind of a horse manure twang. Does anyone have an idea what this wood is? Does this happen to all kinds of trees, or is it really possible to identify wood by smell?

 

['bert]

Looks like black poplar to me.

 

[Tony H]

Not sure looks a little like mulberry but the stuff in pic 3 looks like some sort of pine

 

[gzecc]

Get some picks of the splits. Close ups.

 

[WOODBUTCHER]

Yep...... what you need to smell is Sweet birch (Black Birch) It will make you thirsty for Birch Beer.
I have some old Red Oak staked a few weeks ago and it is Stank you can Id it a mile away.

Nothing smells better though, then adding a chunk of Hickory to the fire.


WoodButcher

 

[rdust]

I split a few rounds of cottonwood a while back and it smelled exactly as you describe. Bark was about the same, the heart wood wasn't as dark as yours though.

 

[Linesider]

My guess is white oak, I know it's got a funky smell, the bark and core look the same, unless what I thought was white oak was something else.

 

[JustWood]

Jep, U gotz cottonwood!

 

[AlaskanRedneck]

Looks just like the Cottonwood that grows here in Alaska. I've been told it doesnt burn well.

 

[LLigetfa]

Looks like Balsam Poplar. It's about the worst of the Poplars. The diseased ones can have quite the stink and discolouration in the centre. I've had some stink up my entire house.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

So I scored a bunch of this wood from a dude off CL last week. I'm not sure what kind of wood it is, and, like a dummy, forgot to get any of the leaves. I've noticed, however, that it really stinks when you cut into it. Very sulfury with kind of a horse manure twang. Does anyone have an idea what this wood is? Does this happen to all kinds of trees, or is it really possible to identify wood by smell?

Locust (black and green) smell like hot garbage when it's cut and split.

 

[rdust]

I didn't think the cottonwood I cut had the dark center, I was wrong. I was looking at some pictures, the front part of the trailer is cottonwood, the back part is white oak.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

I'm not sure what the wood is (I guess Cottonwood also), but the piece in the middle on the top is Apple; it is the only piece that is the same color all through the cut side, and the bark is different than the rest.

 

[zknowlto]

I'm not sure what the wood is (I guess Cottonwood also), but the piece in the middle on the top is Apple; it is the only piece that is the same color all through the cut side, and the bark is different than the rest.

Good eye! I was able to get a little bit of apple wood on a previous scrounge and just hadn't gotten around to messing with that piece yet. I looked up some pictures of cottonwood, including the leaves, and believe that's what the rest of this is. I guess free wood is free wood, but I'd really like to start scrounging some better wood. So far, except for the before mentioned apple, I've been dealing with pretty marginal species (fir, pine, willow, and cottonwood).

Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[rdust]

I guess free wood is free wood, but I'd really like to start scrounging some better wood. So far, except for the before mentioned apple, I've been dealing with pretty marginal species (fir, pine, willow, and cottonwood).

Thanks for everyone's help!

If it's free with pretty easy access you can't go wrong. It may not be the best wood for an overnight burn but when you're around to feed the stove you can't go wrong. Just start telling everyone you know what you're doing and you'll be surprised what comes your way. I had almost a cord(for my fire place) of wood starting the year. I told friends and family about my intentions of putting in a wood stove and now have about 12 cords with more lined up. I want to keep about 3 years on hand so I'm waiting to see what I use this year before I really start cutting unless it falls in my lap.

 

[EKLawton]

not seeing the leaves can't be sure, I'd say its cotton wood or boxelder?