The neighbor had me remove this tree. It was about 70 feet tall, and a 24" diameter butt log. I have spent the last 4 days trying to ID it, with no luck. Here are some shots of the leaves, and a few shot's of the bark. I hope this is enought to get a positive ID. The wood is white in color, and very similar to pine as far as the grain went. Any info would be greatly appreciated. These leaves are a bit curled, but there is a clea example on the left side.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30460/ct1.jpg)
Here is a cluster of new growth leaves.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30460/ct2.jpg)
A few shots of the bark. Deeply fissured on one side of the trunk, but only lightly fissured on the other.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30460/ct3.jpg)
And another of the deep fissures.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30460/ct5.jpg)
A cut away of the bark to reveal the underlying color.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30460/ct4.jpg)
Blackgum. Nyssa slyvatica. Fruit will be a drupe, a fruit with a pit like a cherry or an olive.
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=60
Quote from: Slab Slicer on October 02, 2012, 09:07:16 PM
A cut away of the bark to reveal the underlying color.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30460/ct4.jpg)
I thought you were showing a picture of an alien! I mean, take another good look at that picture....hmmm....
I was pretty sure it was Black gum. I like to call them Tupelo. Usually if a tree stumps me for a while, it's either Tupelo or Mulberry. ;D
I milled some of the black gum a while ago, it mills up real nice and easy, cuts like butter with a real smooth surface. Soft, easy to carve, holds together pretty easy. People like to turn dough bowls out of it.
There is a tupelo. Nyssa aquatica.
Quote from: WDH on October 03, 2012, 07:13:21 AM
There is a tupelo. Nyssa aquatica.
My book calls that one Water Tupelo, and
nyssa sylvatica is called Sourgum, Black Gum, or Black Tupelo. Of course there is also Ogeechee Tupelo, which you may have near where you live, but not me.
Sounds like we have a winner with Black Gum :) Thanks for all the help guys. It's amazing when you buy a mill, and you only seem to find the trees you can't ID. :D
At this point, it's milled into 4/4 boards. Not real certain of it'suse just yet, but it was good practice for a new guy like me.
Did I mention that I got a little warning when I found a piece of aluminum wire sticking out of one side? On the other end of the wire was 3 links of 1/4" chain, and two 6" nails holding that to the tree. The heads of the nails were about 2 - 3 inches under the bark. Since I haven't invested in a metal detector just yet, I got lucky, and saved a blade. At least until I turned the log, and found a single nail in the other side. Unfortunately, I found it with the blade of the mill. :o Time to "buck up" for the metal detector.
And another one hits the nail--
And another one hits the nail--
What went wrong? It took so long--
Another one hits the nail.
8)
Quote from: Okrafarmer on October 03, 2012, 10:27:55 PM
And another one hits the nail--
And another one hits the nail--
What went wrong? It took so long--
Another one hits the nail.
8)
So far it's been one nail, and one log stop, and I've only had the mill about a month. :) If there is a quota for finding metal, I hope I've reached it for now. :)
Best metal detector in the world is a new blade, put one on and if there is metal in the log you will hit it in the next cut or two. Even a metal detector will only tell you there is metal in the log and how deep sort of. Better then nothing and worth suing on any log that is suspect.
I'm totally lost on this one! Any ideas?
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30097/2013-01-23_16-13-13_451.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30097/2013-01-23_16-13-30_53.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30097/2013-01-23_16-14-03_489.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30097/2013-01-23_16-14-27_473.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30097/2013-01-23_16-14-38_0%7E0.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30097/2013-01-23_16-14-59_365%7E0.jpg)
That little core has me wondering.
It is a red oak.
Looks pretty oaky to me. The center looks like ring shake. Maybe a high wind when the tree was that big. The crotch ought to be pretty nice if you can mill through it. Expect it to twist every which way, but when it is done, it should be really nice and worth the work..... :snowfight1: dadgum you, Charlie! steve_smiley spam_ say_what smiley_eek_dropjaw smiley_old_guy smiley_biggrin01
QuoteThe center looks like ring shake. Maybe a high wind when the tree was that big
Don't think high winds cause ring shake.
Likely is bacteria infection or some severe climate change like drought or maybe even fire when the tree was small.
I told her that from the size of it and the heart color that it looked like red oak. But that core had me concerned about telling her it was worth anything. I think I'll just go ahead and tell her I'll take it and Hope for the best.
I Love a challenge and this looks like a Good one! ;D
Quote from: beenthere on January 23, 2013, 10:05:40 PM
QuoteThe center looks like ring shake. Maybe a high wind when the tree was that big
Don't think high winds cause ring shake.
Likely is bacteria infection or some severe climate change like drought or maybe even fire when the tree was small.
Was it stinky when you cut it? Usually you can smell bacteria..... :)
Red Oak and it always stinks to me when it's green and wet. Heavy too.
Usually when at tree has bacteria, there is also shake, and those red oaks smell particularly sour. It is different. :)
I've sawed healthy, and "sick" red oak, and I have to admit, the sick oak did have a more pungent odor for sure, although both did have a distinct red oak smell.
I really don't care to smell oak. The ones I like to smell are pine, cedar, tulip, walnut, cherry, maple, locust, sweetgum, pecan, and hickory.
There's plenty of good wood in that log, if sawn correctly. The core is junk, and isn't much of a factor, as far as volume or lumber value goes.
Bacteria infected oak will have a smell and quite often it has black streaks in it which many people call mineral. That type of wood has a tendency to develop shake when it dries. It also matches poorly. I find it more in black oak and pin oak.
That bark looks a little different than our red oak. Is that a southern red oak?
I suspect that it is either water oak, willow oak, laurel oak, or nuttall oak.
I guess I'm odd because I like the smell of Oak...Red Oak, White Oak, doesn't matter. It's a pungent, acrid smell but also pleasant to me.
It is interesting how different the smell of white is from red oak.
Danny
Must be those tyloses bottle up the smell and the red oak just passes that gas. ;)
Sadly, that tree is 30 miles away and the woman wanting to sell it just doesn't understand the time and costs involved moving it to a mill.
Judging by the pics she sent, it would only net around $200 Max(by looking at the pics i guestimate 5 tons max). It could cost her that much just to get it moved. I'd love to see what it gives up but what she would get paid for it's weight would maybe just cover the moving costs.
BT,
:D :D :D
I bet that you are right!
Quote from: learner on January 24, 2013, 09:47:02 PM
Sadly, that tree is 30 miles away and the woman wanting to sell it just doesn't understand the time and costs involved moving it to a mill.
Judging by the pics she sent, it would only net around $200 Max(by looking at the pics i guestimate 5 tons max). It could cost her that much just to get it moved. I'd love to see what it gives up but what she would get paid for it's weight would maybe just cover the moving costs.
This looks like a get rid of it for free tree, not an I want money deal.
If you think you could $200 out of that log, you should go get it. Personally, I wouldn't drive to the end of the road for it unless I was going to cut it for firewood. I also bet it has hardware in it. It has been down too long, prolly sap stained to beat Hell, and shakey. It would make decent firewood though...but not 30 miles away.