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Offline osage outlaw

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Unusual tree ID
« on: January 23, 2012, 08:15:39 pm »
My parents are going to be tearing down this old shed and some of the posts are split trees.  I'm not sure what they are.  I know they aren't osage.  I took a hatchet and chopped into them and they are a light brown color.  I think they might be black locust, but I'm not sure what exactly that looks like.  The shed was built sometime around the late 70's or early 80's.  Does anyone know what they are?  Do you think they will still be OK to make a bow from?  Most of the posts have stayed really dry.  My camera battery died after the first picture so the close up one is from my cell phone so it isn't the best.



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Offline Bevan R.

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #1 on: January 23, 2012, 08:19:22 pm »
The BL staves I have are a light milk chocolate color. Could it be mulberry?
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #2 on: January 23, 2012, 08:21:51 pm »
The bark has a locust look to it.
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Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2012, 08:42:03 pm »
I don't think its Mulberry.  We don't have those on our property that I know of. 
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Offline PEARL DRUMS

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #4 on: January 23, 2012, 09:26:31 pm »
I bet its locust. Split it and see! If the bugs didnt eat it I bet its still just fine bow wood. I dont know if Black locust and honey locust have the same color wood?
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Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.

Offline Hrothgar

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #5 on: January 23, 2012, 09:32:53 pm »
The bark looks Black locust.
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #6 on: January 23, 2012, 09:33:11 pm »
If its not osage I bet it is locust. Lots of folks around here use locust poles for barns and sheds because, like osage, it is very rot resistant...but we don't have osage around here.    Locust has a cat pee smell to it to me.
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Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2012, 09:59:43 pm »
Ok, Locust it is.  As soon as my uncle gets his tractor out of there, we are tearing it down.  There are 5 or 6  posts so hopefully it is still good. 
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Offline Buckeye Guy

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #8 on: January 23, 2012, 10:29:27 pm »
Does have that black locust look
Some of those beams look like bow wood to me also!
Man osage you are gona be bow wood poor soon the way it seems to be finding you !
Guy
I know where we will be stoping at on the way back from the Classic ! >:D
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Offline osage outlaw

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #9 on: January 23, 2012, 10:39:56 pm »
If I had a place to store it, I would do nothing but cut bow wood for the next few years while I am still somewhat young.  Then I could spend the rest of my years trying to use it all up.  I should be wrapping that osage project up in the next couple of weeks.  I will post an update when I'm done.
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Offline Qwill

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2012, 02:28:05 pm »
My vote goes to Black Locust. If it's very splintery, and has a little bit of a "glimmer" when you split, it's locust.
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Offline TRACY

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2012, 09:15:04 pm »
Bark looks like black locust but wouldn't rule out Kentucky coffee tree either.

Tracy
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blackhawk

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Re: Unusual tree ID
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2012, 08:39:18 am »
After ya rip em out slice a sliver off the end to see the end grain and you'll know what ya got.
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