Sweet Gum, spiral grain, will the bark indicate this?

[Delawhere Jack]

I was just contacted about a possible SG sawing job. CustomerSawyer mentioned that the grain is often spiral in SG, but that he has cut some that was not spiral. Does the bark give any indication whether or not the grain is spiral? The trees are still standing, and I need to advise the customer if they are worth milling.

Thanks,
Jack.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Jack, what's the customer's plan for the SG?

[hackberry jake]

The sweet gum I mill dries straight every time... Well one out of a dozen or so do.  ;D

[clww]

I've never milled any, however, every piece I've ever split for firewood had the twists.

[Delawhere Jack]

Jack, what's the customer's plan for the SG?

I don't know. Don't think he does either. CL ad inquiry.

[WDH]

The answer to you question is no.  The spiral is caused by the orientation of the water conducting cells called vessel elements.  The angle changes in successive years in each growth ring.  Even if the current growth ring and bark on the outside appear straight (not slanted or spiraling), other growth rings deep in the tree will have the spiral orientation.  This condition is called interlocked grain when the spiral angle reverses in the opposite direction one year after the next.  This reverse interlocking is what makes it so difficult to split, and what makes it so difficult to keep the lumber straight and flat.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

The answer to you question is no.  The spiral is caused by the orientation of the water conducting cells called vessel elements.  The angle changes in successive years in each growth ring.  Even if the current growth ring and bark on the outside appear straight (not slanted or spiraling), other growth rings deep in the tree will have the spiral orientation.  This condition is called interlocked grain when the spiral angle reverses in the opposite direction one year after the next.  This reverse interlocking is what makes it so difficult to split, and what makes it so difficult to keep the lumber straight and flat.

say_what

[clww]

 :D :D :D

[WDH]

I just should have said, "No."  :D.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

The answer to you question is no. 

Edit.

[Delawhere Jack]

The answer to you question is no.  The spiral is caused by the orientation of the water conducting cells called vessel elements.  The angle changes in successive years in each growth ring.  Even if the current growth ring and bark on the outside appear straight (not slanted or spiraling), other growth rings deep in the tree will have the spiral orientation.  This condition is called interlocked grain when the spiral angle reverses in the opposite direction one year after the next.  This reverse interlocking is what makes it so difficult to split, and what makes it so difficult to keep the lumber straight and flat.

say_what

Yeah, there were a lot of nouns, verbs and adjectives in that reply. I had to read it 4 times till it sunk in......... smiley_whacko

Thanks WDH, and Poston...

But seriously, thanks. That was the best explanation I've gotten.

[Cutting Edge]

NO.  The spiral is caused by vessel elements.  The angle changes in each growth ring.  Even if the current growth ring and bark appear straight other growth rings deep inside have spiral orientation.  Interlocked grain is when the spiral reverses direction.  This reverse interlocking is what makes it so difficult to split, and keep the lumber straight and flat.

say_what   

David, I thought that was EXACTLY what you told you're customers when they ask.   :P  WDH, you may have to 'splain it once more, but this time throw in some " mature longitudinal tracheids, hemi-cellulose and bordered pits" then we'd see him go      :D

[WDH]

I am trying to wean him off longitudinal tracheids and move him on to vessel elements  ;D.

[tcsmpsi]

Actually, I believe the answer to the originally asked question might be a resounding, "Maybe/Sometimes".   :D  A sawmill makes a good firewood splitter for sweetgum.   ;D   

[Magicman]

The "Bark" tells you it's Sweetgum.  That is your first indication that your next movement is to spiral away from it, very quickly.

I hates Sweetgum.

[Tree Feller]

The answer to you question is no.  The spiral is caused by the orientation of the water conducting cells called vessel elements.  The angle changes in successive years in each growth ring.  Even if the current growth ring and bark on the outside appear straight (not slanted or spiraling), other growth rings deep in the tree will have the spiral orientation.  This condition is called interlocked grain when the spiral angle reverses in the opposite direction one year after the next.  This reverse interlocking is what makes it so difficult to split, and what makes it so difficult to keep the lumber straight and flat.

DanG, Danny, you beat me to it. That's exactly what I was gonna say.   :D

[Bogue Chitto]

If you do mill it you can go a long way on one blade. Very easy to saw. 

[wscott]

love SG which that  was all i sawed

have a good day to all

[WDH]

Sawing it is not the problem.  The challenge is trying to live with it afterwards  .

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Sawing it is not the problem.  The challenge is trying to live with it afterwards  .

Ain't that the truth!  >:(

[WDH]

I don't just saw em and leave em.  I have to live with em.

[Magicman]

I often joke about Sweetgum, but since I do saw um and leave um, neither the logs nor the lumber is why I hates Sweetgum.

My problem with Sweetgum is the saplings that are constantly sprouting in my open areas on my tree farm.  I have a constant battle spraying and hack-n-squirting to rid myself of this pest.

Pecan saplings are probably worse than Sweetgum, because they are deep rooted and harder to kill.  They are also much stouter and harder to bushhog.

[WDH]

"Pecan is the Devil."

[Magicman]

I agree.  Saplings as well as the lumber.  I have literally thousands of Pecan sprouts, so it is a constant battle.