Wood ID please... Is this Black Gum?

[Sushiyummy]

If Black Gum, is it will be a problem to split by hand?

 

[gzecc]

Split one open. I don't know Gum. Almost looks like walnut.

 

[Sushiyummy]

I do not have it in hand yet, in wait to pick up by me. But I'm afraid it is Gum family which is very hard to split

 

[nrford]

Big rounds look like WALNUT.

 

[Sushiyummy]

Thanks, are they good BTU?

 

[Wood Duck]

I think it looks like Walnut too. Walnut is a mid-range hardwood in terms of BTUs. I have burned a lot of it and like it.

 

[Sushiyummy]

That is good enough for me, will arrange to pick them up.

 

[Applesister]

Walnut as in Butternut?
I dont know Black gum and I dont see walnut.
Maybe Butternut.

 

[terry205]

Black gum looks like alagater skin. This looks more like wallnut

 

[Fred Wright]

We have a lot of black gum here, used to cut a couple every year for those above freezing days. It has a smooth, tan-colored surface when split.

Indeed, the bark resembles alligator hide. The bark on those rounds is similar to that of black gum but I've never seen it turn really dark on the ends like that.

 

[Sushiyummy]

May be they are expose to weather, if Black Gum is it hard to split?

 

[terry205]

it looks like is has been there for some time

 

[Plow Boy]

It's gum. Stay away!

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Split it and post pics..............

 

[cptoneleg]

This is Black Gum, I don't waste it cut in little 6" rounds and season and burn . That one I hit with splitter till it was nothing but strings.

 

[Sushiyummy]

Wow, I'll stay away then.

 

[Paulywalnut]

It's called Gum for a reason.

 

[Fred Wright]

Just a FYI... gum, sweet and black will split a lot cleaner if the rounds are allowed to set a few months before splitting. This is from green off the stump, I can't speak for old rounds. You'll still get the familiar jack-o-lantern grin at the ends of your splits but it's not stringy and clingy like when green.

You'll need a hydro splitter to bust the stuff. Slab off the outsides of the rounds first then split the center. Black gum actually splits smoothly in this manner, it looks like it's been finished.

 

[mellow]

Just a FYI... gum, sweet and black will split a lot cleaner if the rounds are allowed to set a few months before splitting.

I tried doing this and found it was worse to split after I let it sit for a few months, this was with sweet gum. I found it was easier to split when green. I burn quite a bit of sweet gum and as long as it is green I don't have an issue splitting it, seems like once it dries up the fibers start coming apart easier.