These logs came in on a tree service load with no bark on them.
I thought it was Basswood but sawed hard unlike any Basswood I have sawn before and don't look like it
Any thoughts?
Definitely not basswood. Elm maybe.
Yeah, not basswood, its distinctive even without bark. The outside of the log is fluted. Possibly a poplar or elm. The large amount of knots should be a clue, but not for me.
I thought maybe elm
Somebody looking over all of us has spit out the answer using big flowery words, many of which were past my grasp of the English language. Just ran through my head. ffsmiley
My guess was Elm. It sheds its bark after it dies fairly fast.
This page shows some distinguishing differences in grain between the elms,
and good end grain pics of the distinctive ulmiform grain ffsmiley.
Elm Wood: Hard and Soft | The Wood Database (wood-database.com) (https://www.wood-database.com/elm-wood-hard-and-soft/)
-
There are too many determinations yet to be answered. Is is ring porous, diffuse porous, or semi? If ring, is it wavy? Did the outer edge have flutes or was it smooth?
Can't see the grain, just the ring outlines, but not enough to see pores individually. Lighting may be off to. If I could see those clearly I could tell if it was elm immediately. At this point for me, it could be elm or cherry.
Since it came off of a tree service truck, I would think it is a tree that grew near a house. Softwoods, elm, maples and oaks are the main ones that people plant for landscaping purposes. I'm thinking its some sort of elm, like a Siberian or Chinese elm.
A lot of times you can tell just by what it smells like when you cut it. Elm has a distinct smell. I have some Siberian elm in my yard, and have cut a bunch for firewood.
Catalpa ? They are in bloom now. I am surprised how many are scattered around here.
It was smooth not fluted like poplar
The end grain isn't like the red elm logs that I have
No bark on the wood. Elm does shed its bark quickly when dead.