Sweetgum...I Think

[chickenchaser]

I've been sawing logs that have been on the ground for two years. I'd say I'm getting close to 3000BF and everything has been red oak - until today. When the customer dragged it up to the mill, I noticed it was a nice looking log compared to the ones I'd been sawing. When it went on the mill, I told him "Hey! This is the best one of the whole bunch!"  Straight as an arrow and not much waste slabbing in spite of the ground contact. Enough bark remained that I called it a sweetgum...or possibly a white oak.

Question #1 - doesn't white oak have the very distinctive "cat mess" smell? This one had a pleasant odor - not sour.

Question#2 - if it is a sweetgum, how well should it behave in drying? Customer wants 2x6x16s for rafters on a shed.

Thanks!

CC

[customsawyer]

If it has been on the ground for two years I have doubts of it being sweetgum. Post some pics.

[ellmoe]

If it has been on the ground for two years I have doubts of it being sweetgum. Post some pics.

  Agree with CustomSawyer. Sweetgum rots quickly in log form.

[chickenchaser]

Yeah, THAT was was the fly in the ointment. I couldn't imagine a sweetgum being that sound. Almost dark when I slabbed it off. I'll get pics.

CC

[chickenchaser]

I took pics...of what bark remained on the slabs, as well as the cant. In the good light of a sunny day ( almost dusk when I started slabbing ) I swept off the sawdust and it was apparent this was an oak. The top log showed up a short time later and had a little more bark on it. White oak - final answer.  ;)

Thanks!

CC