The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Tree, Plant and Wood I.D. => Topic started by: CHJunjou on November 23, 2016, 09:15:29 PM

Title: Wood ID please!
Post by: CHJunjou on November 23, 2016, 09:15:29 PM
I need help IDing these blocks of wood. The first two pictures are when it's dry, the second two pics are of it slightly wet surfaces. This kind of wood smells really great. When I sanded it, it gave off a rather sweet smell. When water was dabbed on it's surface, it also gave off a nice, strong fragrance.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/44342/IMG_2265.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1479953397) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/44342/IMG_2267.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1479953399) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/44342/IMG_2268.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1479953412) 

 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/44342/IMG_2269.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1479953418)
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: Ljohnsaw on November 23, 2016, 09:21:32 PM
Sweet, like pineapple?  If so, that would be Ponderosa Pine.  The fairly large rings makes me think it is in the pine family.  But that is just a guess as I'm no expert ::)
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: Ianab on November 23, 2016, 10:35:18 PM
Some sort of white "cedar"? Colour and growth rings look right, and they all have distinctive smells.

It looks a lot like the Port Orford cedar I play about with, but that has a definite "Ginger" smell.
Alaskan Yellow Cedar apparently smells like "raw potatoes", but I've not sawn any of that, so no personal experience with the smell. 

Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: newoodguy78 on November 26, 2016, 07:17:27 AM
Would it be Douglas fir by chance? The top piece in the second picture looks a lot like it to me. I've never really noticed a sweet smell to it though.
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: Jeff on November 26, 2016, 09:16:58 AM
It would help to know where you are and where the wood came from. If you were in the great Lakes area, I would say Northern White cedar.
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: GAB on November 26, 2016, 09:58:42 AM
CHJunjou:
Welcome to the FF.
I wonder if it could be balsam.
It might require a microscopic analysis to properly assess it.
Gerald
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: WDH on November 26, 2016, 10:10:19 AM
It does look like a white cedar to me too.  There are a number of species of them worldwide, but they are not very common anywhere. 
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: Jeff on November 26, 2016, 10:16:32 AM
Quote from: WDH on November 26, 2016, 10:10:19 AM
It does look like a white cedar to me too.  There are a number of species of them worldwide, but they are not very common anywhere.

Danny, you need to plan 2 or 3 extra days this year and go to the cabin with me. I'll show you a place where it is common. ;) You would love it.
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: WDH on November 26, 2016, 10:40:35 AM
Its a deal. 
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: CHJunjou on November 26, 2016, 12:47:12 PM
Quote from: Jeff on November 26, 2016, 09:16:58 AM
It would help to know where you are and where the wood came from. If you were in the great Lakes area, I would say Northern White cedar.

Well, I actually found these pieces in the scraps pile at a woodshop in my school, and decided to take them with me since they smelled so great; I figured I could make something with them. And I'm in New York.
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: DelawhereJoe on November 26, 2016, 09:10:40 PM
Looks like s-p-f lumber to me, is the wood just around 1.5" from flat side to flat side ?
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: CHJunjou on November 26, 2016, 09:30:23 PM
The pieces seem to be from one bigger piece, because some of the rings line up. When put together, the diameter is just over 3.25 inches.
Title: Re: Wood ID please!
Post by: Glenn Ohman on November 27, 2016, 09:08:18 AM
Yup, it indeed appears to be arborvitae. Technically it is a false cedar.

Glenn