Found a listing for free firewood in my area and I am having a hard time identifying it. I have hopes maybe it is some black walnut and I can use the wood for small projects - but I am really not sure. The owner of the ad does not know what type of wood it is. The bark looks more like black locust to me but the heartwood looks too dark, the locust I have encountered is more of a lighter yellow / brown. Also I am thinking potentially elm? Anyway wondering if anyone can help me ID it
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/55783/wood1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1559145191)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/55783/wood2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1559145191)
Could be elm. If so, the latewood pores will be arranged in wavy bands. My first thought was catalpa.
I love the people who have had a tree in their yard for years and they "think" it is walnut.
Take a razor knife and make a clean slice on the end grain. If elm, you will be able to see the wavy bands of pores very easily. Here are some pics of what it will look like.
American elm (http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/elm,%20american.htm)
I first saw it and wondered if it might be Chinese Chestnut. A neighbor cut a row of them a little while back and they look a lot like that.
@WDH (http://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=4370) I believe I do see the wavy late pores of Elm on the bottom half of the cut out section, included pic. I ended going and getting a load of whatever it is. It is also very wet, when I try to split it (rather unsuccessfully) water will literally splash from the axe indentation. Also smells pretty bad, smells like band-aids, similar to Tulip Poplar imo.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/55783/IMG_5271.jpeg?easyrotate_cache=1559331630)
Yes Sir. Nice clean slice. You have elm.
And Elm is horrible to split!
I did it then wondered, "Why did you do this?". Load of elm logs. Spiral grain city. Now to figure out how to saw them to minimize warp. Two are big enough to quartersaw, but the other 5 are not :).
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14370/IMG_2839.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1559908785)
Cookies, cookies, cookies!!! ;D
Don't have to worry about the cookies cracking on the bottom two logs. They are already cracked :).
Some folks have a sweet tooth and like cookies, other like crackers.