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General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: cliffreaves on July 21, 2016, 12:08:50 AM

Title: I thought this was a dead walnut tree?
Post by: cliffreaves on July 21, 2016, 12:08:50 AM
I cut down a fairly large tree that i thought was walnut, but now I'm not certain.   The wood was very light colored for walnut.  Here are a few pics of a chunk of it.  I sanded it down and rubbed some mineral oil on it.  Is it walnut or some thing else?
Title: Re: I thought this was a dead walnut tree?
Post by: WDH on July 21, 2016, 07:38:51 AM
Cliff,

It is an elm.  The latewood pores are arranged in wavy bands. 

You can only post pics from your gallery.  I see that you have the photos in your gallery, so you are most of the way there.
Title: Re: I thought this was a dead walnut tree?
Post by: WDH on July 21, 2016, 07:49:17 AM
Here are your pics:



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33382/20160720_224949.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1469073498)



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33382/20160719_193234.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1469073441)



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33382/20160720_224744.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1469073389)



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/33382/20160720_224648.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1469073373)
Title: Re: I thought this was a dead walnut tree?
Post by: cliffreaves on July 21, 2016, 09:04:00 AM
Thank you WDH!  I couldn't get the pictures figured out last night.  I never would have guessed elm, but that's exactly what I have at the back of my property, elm and walnut.
Title: Re: I thought this was a dead walnut tree?
Post by: cliffreaves on July 21, 2016, 01:32:08 PM
Any idea if elm with worm holes is valuable?  It'll also likely be slightly spalted by the time my mill gets here.
Title: Re: I thought this was a dead walnut tree?
Post by: Magicman on July 21, 2016, 01:59:45 PM
As far as I am concerned black Ambrosia Beetle holes enhance the character of lumber.  I built well over 100 clocks from Pecan lumber that had beetle holes.  My sales dropped when I ran out of that lumber supply.

Spalt value is in the eyes of the beholder.

It's all in the marketing.
Title: Re: I thought this was a dead walnut tree?
Post by: WDH on July 21, 2016, 08:08:52 PM
Elm, of itself, is not particularly valuable.  Having spiral grain, it can be hard to dry and keep straight.  Pretty, though.
Title: Re: I thought this was a dead walnut tree?
Post by: cliffreaves on July 21, 2016, 08:58:41 PM
I love the look of pecan, I bet those clocks look great!  I build tables and such and I love working with wood that has character.  I'll have about 800 bd ft of elm from this one tree, I plan on using some and selling some.  I'm sure that by the time it all dries, I won't have 800 bd ft that's usable. I'm a little worried about drying lumber in general.   I'm thinking about building a kiln of sorts in my garage or just air drying it outside with a roof over it.  I was planning on milling some 8/4 slabs for table tops with some of it, and 4x4's for legs, any suggestions for the rest?
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