Wood ID

[FaithfulWoodsman]

OK. Usually don't have a prob Id'ing a tree, but this one is a riddle so far. It was on the ground where I was getting some big red oak. Dead, straight, no bark, dense/heavy but pretty dry (<20%) already and looked like it had been dead standing for a while before aep cut it down. Pics dont show how redish it really is. Thought red oak, but grains not right, no rays and the smell is off. It has a sour tangy odor, not super strong but there. I know red oak has an odor some don't like, but this is diff, no oakyness at all. My best guess is red elm, but not sure. What say ye?

 

[CincyBurner]

How about honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) ?

 

[TedyOH]

I've had barkless standing dead maple turn really red.....burn a sliver see if it smells like sugar

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[Firefighter938]

I think you are right. Red elm. Very good stuff when you find it like that.

 

[FaithfulWoodsman]

burn a sliver see if it smells like sugar

I'll try that.

How about honeylocust

What does honey smell like burning. Have some drying that smells like bananna sweet.
Firefighter, any of yours have a smell? Don't remember it before.

 

[FaithfulWoodsman]

Burned a sliver and it did have a very faint smell. Maybe a little sweet, but almost smelled like one of those wood incense burners. It does have ray flecks visible in the split side (not the end) like maple does. Does hard maple completely shed it's bark while standing like elm?

 

[Firefighter938]

I don't remember any of mine smelling, but don't get much smell with the stove. I have also seen cherry stand dead long enough that all of its sap wood rots off leaving a solid heartwood tree standing. You would know the smell of it was cherry though.

That is about right for the size elm gets before it dies around here.

 

[FaithfulWoodsman]

I don't remember any of mine smelling, but don't get much smell with the stove. I have also seen cherry stand dead long enough that all of its sap wood rots off leaving a solid heartwood tree standing. You would know the smell of it was cherry though.

That is about right for the size elm gets before it dies around here.

Yeah, the smell isn't strong and any tree can develop an odor based on soil or decay/bacteria. It's either red elm or hard maple. I don't have much of either. I only got a few of the cut pieces, think I'm going to go back for the rest of it. I love both of them.

 

[Jags]

Over the years I have cut several barkless elms that look just like your pic. I vote red elm.

 

[TedyOH]

Does hard maple completely shed it's bark while standing like elm?

Yes it does, especially the small ones. Either way you win.

 

[FaithfulWoodsman]

Yes it does, especially the small ones

Ok. Didn't know that. I have a bunch of them this size I am managing for down the road.....obviously a while down. What causes that or anyway to prevent it. Im hoping to keep them healthy as all the elms I have will start to die soon from Dutch Elm Dis caused by a bacteria entering via a borer.

 

[TedyOH]

What causes that or anyway to prevent it.

I really do not know, I'm going to guess it has something to do with excess moisture, these damp areas are where I find about all of my small standing dead elm and maple.

 

[ValleyCottageSplitter]

Maybe red maple? How heavy are we talking? Red maple and elm should be about the same weight. All the red maple for me has been very straight. With no knots I can split something about 1/2"x16" all the way through.

Those older logs can be really tricky.