The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: xlogger on April 21, 2018, 06:29:23 AM

Title: Red Oak
Post by: xlogger on April 21, 2018, 06:29:23 AM
Question for Danny or anyone. How is the best way to tell if you are looking at a red oak log away from the woods to see if its a pin oak?
Title: Re: Red Oak
Post by: WDH on April 21, 2018, 07:31:42 AM
If by pin oak you mean either water oak, willow oak, or laurel oak, you have to go by the bark.  The bark is usually smoother than say northern red oak or southern red oak.  Also, more light gray and usually not black.  Can also have some light silver streaking.

Look at the pictures on this site for reference.  This link is for water oak.  The "Looks like" link has a link to willow oak and laurel oak. 

Quercus nigra Fact Sheet (http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=73)
Title: Re: Red Oak
Post by: caveman on April 21, 2018, 08:24:29 AM

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22883/104.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1333334839) The trees in the foreground are water oaks.  Those in the background, with the darker, rougher bark are live oaks.  Laurel oak bark looks just like water oak bark to me but the leaves are shaped different. (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22883/image~467.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1516062798)
The laurel oaks and water oaks around here are shorter lived than the other oaks we have. 

The northern red oak bark looks like "ski trails" going down the trunk.  
Title: Re: Red Oak
Post by: xlogger on April 21, 2018, 08:33:46 AM
maybe I should of said willow oak, which one is the worst for wood working?
Title: Re: Red Oak
Post by: WDH on April 21, 2018, 07:54:11 PM
All three, water oak, willow oak, and laurel oak are very similar.  Among the more low grade for oaks.