(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37117/IMG_2593.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1627524110)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/37117/IMG_2595.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1627524135)
Probably should know what this tree is but I don't!
I am in NW Georgia.
Looks Black Gum'mery from here.
It certainly is blackgum.
Thanks Magicman and Danny. I know what sweet gum is, but not black gum. Is it good for anything?
Its a very reliable, slow, persistent, extremely shade tolerant tree that can take both flood and drought. It will outlive almost anything else and feed scores of wildlife in that time by its drupes.
Its very twisty and horrible to split but burns well. Its the wood that all splitters should have to be rated by. Nothing will break wings off a wedge like that like stuff.
It probably dries like a twizzler in lumber form but im guessing. Never sawed it.
Thats a very straight one and probably 200 yrs old or better. They normally look like antlers!
Gum in general is a NIGHTMARE to split, in general.
Behaves just like sweet gum due to it's spiral grain. Commercially only used for low grade, ties, and palletwood here in the Deep Gritty South.
But dry sweet gum burns hot.
And it has a taproot the same size as the root collar half way to China. You can not grub one up........only shear it off below ground level.
Wud
Quote from: Wudman on July 30, 2021, 10:36:14 AM
And it has a taproot the same size as the root collar half way to China. You can not grub one up........only shear it off below ground level.
Wud
Explosivesss
Quote from: Tacotodd on July 30, 2021, 02:50:25 AM
Gum in general is a NIGHTMARE to split, in general.
Worse than Sycamore? That is by far the worst splitting wood I have found...
Ive never split sycamore. But black gum is the only wood i had to chain up to extract the splitter head from.
Bigger rounds i just cut with the chainsaw if i have to deal with the stuff.
Black Gum and Tupelo Gum are/were the preferred species for making dough bowls.
Quote from: jb616 on July 30, 2021, 11:36:07 AM
Quote from: Tacotodd on July 30, 2021, 02:50:25 AM
Gum in general is a NIGHTMARE to split, in general.
Worse than Sycamore? That is by far the worst splitting wood I have found...
Oh yea....
It's usually not worth the effort, but I know a way to split gum. Drive a wedge on one side, then knock it out, drive a wedge on the other side and knock it out. The wood is actually split, but it won't come apart because of all the hangers-on. Use your ax or hatchet to cut all of these.
I think persimmon splits worse than gum. It's like the stuff has no grain.
Dough bowls in KY were from other woods, not gum, esp. if I was making them :D