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Indentifying Hardwoods, uses and properties

Started by SwampDonkey, October 16, 2004, 06:37:54 PM

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SwampDonkey

Here is a link to yet another tree ID site. The descriptions and silvics are general, as there may be several species in each genus. It includes info on end uses , grading by species, staining and physical properties of the wood with sample pictures.

Give it a go Here

cheers

[edit] Just thought I'de make this a sticky post because there is lots of interest in knowing how wood looks stained, what different grades look like and end uses of wood. :)
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Furby


Fred

Ok I have a question.  Silly as it may sound I never had the chance to saw soft or hard maple. I know what a maple tree is when I see one but not sure if it is a soft or hard..Does one have slick bark and the other have the curly bark?
                Thanks Fred
Baker 18M
Woodmaster 718 Planer/ molder

SwampDonkey

Fred:

We had a discussion on here last winter about tree id by bark. Its hard for me to explain the bark characteristics in your area because of different climate and growing conditions. Many sawyers and log buyers have a trained eye for the different species they saw/purchase in their area of the country. If they go to another region they may get stumped. I once heard of a buyer confusing balsam poplar for red oak. The smell alone would convince me it wasn't oak, but the bark stumped him. He hadn't considered other physical characteristics I guess.

Bark Samples-Click

In my area I find mature red maple (white/soft maple) has flaky bark. Red maple suckers very badly from injuries are harvesting, even on very large trees. Sugar maple (rock/hard maple) has white blotches in the bark. Mature sugar maple don't sucker much, young trees do better at suckering.

If you can see the bud of red maple they are blunt and red, sugar maple are brown and sharp pointed.

cheers
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Fred

Thanks SwampDonkey  I think I got it figgered out now.
               Fred
Baker 18M
Woodmaster 718 Planer/ molder

SwampDonkey

"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

eldorado


SPIKER

swampdonkey:

great post so far!

the link for the maple id by bark was broken for me though?

anyhow I may be able to send photos if I could get this computer prob fixed...   using OLD one and new one died which has camera on ...  I got  some good hardwood ohio trees with very varried species as the property was onece a tree farm some 30+ yrs ago.

mark m
I'm looking for help all the shrinks have given up on me :o

SwampDonkey

Quote from: SPIKER on January 21, 2006, 05:16:11 PM
swampdonkey:

great post so far!

the link for the maple id by bark was broken for me though?

anyhow I may be able to send photos if I could get this computer prob fixed...   using OLD one and new one died which has camera on ...  I got  some good hardwood ohio trees with very varried species as the property was onece a tree farm some 30+ yrs ago.

mark m

You can see the bark in the 'Overwintering Trees' thread near to top of this board. Take a read through that thread and IM me if you want to contribute some photos. Credit will be acknowledged.  :)

Thanks
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SPIKER

hey swampdonky:

I  posted pic in my gallery (finally got some set to size.) and on there some maple oak & hickory stuff

mark M
I'm looking for help all the shrinks have given up on me :o

SwampDonkey

Thanks mark, I'll link them up on the Tree ID thread over the weekend.  :)
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Samuel

Forestry is so much easier with respect to tree identification in the northern Alberta boreal forest.  For example:

Black Poplar & Black Spruce:


Trembling Aspen:






Lodgepole Pine & White Spruce:


Birch:



However I do miss the hardwood in New Brunswick in the Fall...
____________________________________
Samuel B. ELKINS, RPFT (AB)
Senior Consultant (Owner)
Strategic HSE Systems Inc.
Web: HugeDomains.com - StrategicHseSystems.com is for sale (Strategic Hse Systems)
LinkedIn http://ca.linkedin.com/in/samuelelkins
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DATS | Digital Action Tracking System by ASM

SwampDonkey

Sam, I'm trying to think what black poplar is. Is it black cottonwood, or balsam poplar (balm-of-gilead)? Got a latin name? I'm not trying to quiz ya, just don't know what it is.


cheers
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Samuel

Quote from: SwampDonkey on January 20, 2007, 07:15:58 PM
Sam, I'm trying to think what black poplar is. Is it black cottonwood, or balsam poplar (balm-of-gilead)? Got a latin name? I'm not trying to quiz ya, just don't know what it is.


cheers

Common names are a pain sometimes hey...  Black poplar in the pics are balsam.  Sorry for the confusion.  Thanks for the Tobique pics.  Some of it looked familiar however its going on 11 years since I have been home.
____________________________________
Samuel B. ELKINS, RPFT (AB)
Senior Consultant (Owner)
Strategic HSE Systems Inc.
Web: HugeDomains.com - StrategicHseSystems.com is for sale (Strategic Hse Systems)
LinkedIn http://ca.linkedin.com/in/samuelelkins
Software Solutions-
DATS | Digital Action Tracking System by ASM


andysheffield


Qweaver

This site shows good pictures of a huge number of sawn and planed wood.  once you are at the opening page you can then click on the picture of each type of wood to get more pictures of that wood.  Very well done pictures.

small file size with a limited number of pics
http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/index.htm

Large file size with all of the pics
http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/indextotal.htm
So Many Toys...So Little Time  WM LT28 , 15 trailers, Case 450 Dozer, John Deere 110 TLB, Peterson WPF 10",  AIM Grapple, Kubota 2501 :D

SwampDonkey

Yes, that is a great site. I think someone posted a link to it last year as I remember browsing through it a year ago. Even some end grain of many samples, some a little closer and more focused than others, but still great pictures. I was looking at birch in particular, they had a sample of birch they were calling red birch. That is simply old growth yellow birch, I would assume since no latin name was posted for it and it looks like red or flaming birch we get in those old trees with the bark gone all platey. I was at a small circular mill one time a few years ago and they were sorting it out for figured market, not exactly figured, but it was a cherry look a like. Close encounters would reveal it wasn't cherry, but those logs were real pink on the sawed ends.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

SwampDonkey

I merged Qweaver's thread into this thread.


cheers
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

Texas Ranger

You southren boys should know this one.



 
The Ranger, home of Texas Forestry

doctorb

Southern Red Oak??  Doesn't it come in a five lobed leaf variety as well?
My father once said, "This is my son who wanted to grow up and become a doctor.  So far, he's only become a doctor."

Todd

Making somthing idiot-proof only leads to the creation of bigger idiots!

doctorb

My father once said, "This is my son who wanted to grow up and become a doctor.  So far, he's only become a doctor."

WDH

I will defer to some other southern or even northern boys  ;D.
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

Dodgy Loner

I'll defer to doctorb, since he answered correctly. :)
"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey." -John Ruskin

Any idiot can write a woodworking blog. Here's mine.

Texas Ranger

The good doctor has southern genes in there some where. 8)
The Ranger, home of Texas Forestry

Dodgy Loner

Yep, that leaf looks curiously similar to a turkey oak leaf, but the long petiole gives it away!
"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey." -John Ruskin

Any idiot can write a woodworking blog. Here's mine.

SwampDonkey

"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

doctorb

Quote from: Dodgy Loner on March 04, 2013, 12:23:39 PM
Yep, that leaf looks curiously similar to a turkey oak leaf, but the long petiole gives it away!

1.  That's the first "tree" question I've ever answered correctly here.  Even a blind squirrell finds an acorn...

2.  But now I've got to research both the turkey oak and the petiole, as I haven't a clue about either.

My father once said, "This is my son who wanted to grow up and become a doctor.  So far, he's only become a doctor."

Texas Ranger

Ah, doc, we will have you enrolled in forestry classes before long.  Then it will be corks, tin pants, plaid shirts, and a double  smiley_chop bit ax on your shoulder.
The Ranger, home of Texas Forestry

SwampDonkey

I'm thinking Doc's looking forward to a trip to his camp about now. ;D
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

WDH

I hate to be a dissenter, but I believe that it is what was once thought to be a variety of southern red oak, cherrybark oak.  The base does not have that "bell shaped" roundness that is typical of southern red oak.  The Doc still takes the cake, though  :D.
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

SwampDonkey

"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

WDH

Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

SwampDonkey

A lump er a bump on a log. Maybe even a  knothole. :D
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

doctorb

Quote from: WDH on March 04, 2013, 07:58:17 PM
I hate to be a dissenter, but I believe that it is what was once thought to be a variety of southern red oak, cherrybark oak.  The base does not have that "bell shaped" roundness that is typical of southern red oak.  The Doc still takes the cake, though  :D.

Well, I do not mind being corrected, but, if it was once thought to be cherrybark oak, what's it thought to be now? ;D
My father once said, "This is my son who wanted to grow up and become a doctor.  So far, he's only become a doctor."

WDH

Back when I was in school, Cherrybark oak was considered a variety of Southern Red oak.  A while back, it was accorded species status.  The distinctions between the two are very very small. 
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

Dodgy Loner

You may be right, Danny, but that shape is not atypical of southern red oak in my experience. A three-lobed leaf is, however, atypical of cherrybark oak, at least from what I have seen. Not unheard of, but not typical. Which is why I think it's southern red.
"There is hardly anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper, and the people who consider price only are this man's lawful prey." -John Ruskin

Any idiot can write a woodworking blog. Here's mine.

WDH

The base is all wrong.  Maybe it is a Texas Mutant Southern Red Cherrybark Oak.  Heck, in some places there in Texas, you can't even get pork BBQ.  Now, what kind of way is that to be  ???.  That just ain't right. 
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

SwampDonkey

They probably don't taste as good over there. Tough old hogs. :D
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

OneWithWood

Southern red sounds like some variant of scotch or cannabis. 
If there is no good BBQ in some parts of Texas, avoid it like the plague!  :o
One With Wood
LT40HDG25, Woodmizer DH4000 Kiln

beemickdee

Hey guys-

I've been burning this recent dead fall (came down last winter) the past few days, and it is GREAT. Burns hot, and for a long time. I don't know if I'm just enamored because I've mostly been burning walnut and it's a warmer day (high 40s), but...it's just great. I think it's red oak, but I need some confirmation.

Echo CS-400
Stihl Wood Boss (currently busted)
92 Chevy 1500
Pioneer OWB

catskillpond

We tore down an old barn today i was told the floor joists were chestnut there was not the bold grain i am used to seeing in older homes the growth rings were very tight but they were sawed to modern day dimensions any help would be appreciated  Thanks Scott
Pond&Lake Specialist Norwood MX34 and a whole bunch of other Iron

beenthere

Post a good pic showing the end grain, and we'll be able to tell much better.
A thin clean-cut slice scanned on a scanner is a good way to get a pic. Most printer/scanners and computers will have that capability.
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

WDH

The rays will not be visible like in oak, and the earlywood pores will have tyloses (crystalline-like deposits).  The latewood pores are arranged in wandering radial lines (toward the pith). 
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

kwendt

I have found the following tool very useful...

Forest Trees of Maine: Centennial Issue 1908 - 2008
It has color pictures of berries/fruits/seeds, bark young and old, buds, leaves, known range and other identifying characteristics. It ALSO has this nifty 'identify your tree' section (one for winter time, another for summer time)... where you answer a bunch of questions, and it narrows down what type/kind/species of tree you're trying to identify. Very very useful...

Granted... likely most useful for Canadian and north eastern US... only.


http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/publications/handbooks_guides/forest_trees/index.html

You can buy it (hand spiral bound, plastic coated pages, for field use) or download the .pdf for free.
87 acres abandoned northern Maine farm and forest to reclaim. 20 acres in fields, 55 acre woodlot: maple, spruce, cedar and mixed. Deer, bear, moose, fox, mink, snowshoe and lynx. So far: a 1950 Fergie TO-20, hand tools, and a forge. (And a husband!)

TimberKid

So I know we got plenty of douglas fir in the willamette valley but anyone else know what hardwood is out here besides just maple and the occasional oak and the even less occasional madrone?
HLite-Super XL AO

albruce


arborboon

Picture:



I appreciate the help. I really want to know if this type of wood would be good for carving knife handles or carving in general. Thanks.

SwampDonkey

Looks like soft maple at first glance. It's harder than basswood or butternut, but maple makes a nice tool handle, so I'm sure it will suffice for a knife.  ;)

Will people buy it for such? Maybe not. Maple is plentiful.
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

WDH

Maybe beech.  I would not argue with soft maple, either.
Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark.  hamsleyhardwood.com

SwampDonkey

Beech came to mind to. If you know someone who weaves I have seen beech used to make weaving shuttles.  I have a couple, but made by Leclerc Looms. And of course maple is used to, I've made 5 from hard maple. ;D
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

jpsheb

I could use a little help identifying a tree that is unlike anything else on our land in the Danville, Virginia area.  It has bark like a young black cherry or some types of birches (but not the river birch we have here).  It fell last winter, but seems to be in decent shape for being down for so long.  Anyone have any idea what type of tree this is?  

https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=25627&pid=314721#top_display_media

https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=25627&pid=314720#top_display_media

https://forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=25627&pid=314722#top_display_media







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