Smells like rootbear!

[PAmizerman]

I got a load of low grade in to fill a pallet order. There were a couple logs that were just too crooked to get anything out of. 
Firewood? Nope... I've figured out that the more crooked and "ugly" it is the faster they sell :D.

I sawed a couple poplar and then this?
Not sure what it is but it sure smelled good. Smells like rootbear! 
I'm thinking birch just based on the smell but really have no idea. 
Anyone know?



 

[bandmiller2]

Probably Sassafras that's where they got the original root beer flavor. I used to dig the roots and chew on them. Frank C. 

[Hewer of Wood]

I'd say a birch, maybe black. To me sassafras smells more like root beer and birches have a minty smell. But that's definitely not sassafras.

[PAmizerman]

It's definitely not sassafras. 

[Resonator]

What did the bark look like?


This is what Yellow Birch looks like, other birches have similar "paper" bark texture.

[PAmizerman]

I'll have to grab a pic tomorrow.
It wasn't shaggy

[PAmizerman]

This log was also in the pile.
Thinking it's Aspen?
Can you guys tell I don't saw much hardwood? :D

 

 

[Ron Wenrich]

It was probably black birch.  That's a pretty common tree in PA.  Smooth bark.  I've sawn trailerloads of it.  Things smell pretty good for a couple of days afterwards.  

[kelLOGg]

I used to dig the roots and chew on them. Frank C.

Me too!   Haven't thought of that in a long time.

[bandmiller2]

The guys are probably right, black river birch "Betula nigari" its similar to sas but a little different smell and taste. I used to graze on the black birch twigs. College professor modified his outline to mention if woodland plant material was edible because of me. A local bottler sells "birch beer" but its hard to find, young folks have no idea what it is. Frank C. 

[Don P]

Yup, that top pic is sweet birch, black birch. Nice wood, hard heavy strong but the ppb's also love it. I have quite a bit of it in the beech grove.

[moodnacreek]

Sassafras is much softer than birch and not so heavy, looks like r. oak when dry with a chestnut color. B. birch has the wintergreen smell and is paper barked.

[47sawdust]

Yelllow birch is a treat to saw when fresh,and yes the root beer smell has me looking around for the wife and some vanilla ice cream.

[samandothers]

I remember my grandmother and mother would boil the roots of sassafras to make tea.  I sure was good.  Brings back memories.  I find some smaller plants on our land in Va from time to time. 

[Ron Wenrich]

Betula lenta, not betula nigari.   In New England, you might call it cherry birch.  Similar bark to sweet cherry.  My area it goes as black birch or some might say sweet birch.  

[LeeB]

I had a recipe for rootbeer once that called for sassafras and birch both. Had a few other extractives that I can't remember. I never made it because I didn't have the birch. 

[Bruno of NH]

Looks like the yellow birch I have sawn
I have sawn one black birch but log it wasn't as light colored

[Dave Shepard]

I've sawn a little lenta. Smells great. I've made tea from the bark. I've never sawn nigra. Haven't found a log big enough. It's usually a clumped ornamental planting.