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Author Topic: Wood Identification  (Read 3003 times)

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Offline IrishJay

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Wood Identification
« on: January 05, 2019, 03:40:01 pm »
I cut this tree about a month ago, from the bark I thought it was ash, but once I felled it I saw a slight purple tint to the heartwood and thought it was possibly boxelder. I finally split it today and after sitting the purple tint is gone and the heartwood is a very distinct dark brown. At this point I have no idea what I have. It did split nicely. 






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"The best camouflage pattern is called, 'Sit down and be quiet!' Your grandpa hunted deer in a red plaid coat, think about that for a second." - Fred Bear

Offline Badger

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #1 on: January 05, 2019, 04:29:22 pm »
  Looks like ash to me, but it could be any number of woods I am not familiar with.
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Offline IrishJay

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #2 on: January 05, 2019, 06:10:05 pm »
Couple close ups of the pith. It's chambered, making me think it might be black walnut. Still not sure.



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"The best camouflage pattern is called, 'Sit down and be quiet!' Your grandpa hunted deer in a red plaid coat, think about that for a second." - Fred Bear

Offline IrishJay

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2019, 06:26:59 pm »
Upon further research, green ash has a chambered pith to, so I guess that doesn't help narrow it down any.
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"The best camouflage pattern is called, 'Sit down and be quiet!' Your grandpa hunted deer in a red plaid coat, think about that for a second." - Fred Bear

Offline M2A

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #4 on: January 05, 2019, 06:32:22 pm »
I’m thinking black walnut by how it looks. Maybe take a few scrapes with a rasp or card scraper. Walnut has a distinct smell.
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Offline IrishJay

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #5 on: January 05, 2019, 06:42:29 pm »
I'll check the smell here shortly. Question, if it is black walnut do I work with the sap wood or do I chase a ring down to heartwood?
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"The best camouflage pattern is called, 'Sit down and be quiet!' Your grandpa hunted deer in a red plaid coat, think about that for a second." - Fred Bear

Offline Swampman

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2019, 06:48:06 pm »
The sapwood works well for black walnut.  I made a few with sapwood right under the bark and had good luck. 
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Offline IrishJay

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #7 on: January 05, 2019, 07:16:01 pm »
Best close up of end grain pores I could get with my phone, definitely doesn't have the distinctive ring-porous pattern of ash.
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"The best camouflage pattern is called, 'Sit down and be quiet!' Your grandpa hunted deer in a red plaid coat, think about that for a second." - Fred Bear

Offline Pat B

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #8 on: January 05, 2019, 07:52:26 pm »
It is black walnut.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline IrishJay

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #9 on: January 05, 2019, 07:54:21 pm »
Next question, should I split the halves into quarters and try to get 4 staves or saw cut a slice out of each half just a little wider than the heartwood?
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"The best camouflage pattern is called, 'Sit down and be quiet!' Your grandpa hunted deer in a red plaid coat, think about that for a second." - Fred Bear

Offline Pat B

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2019, 09:30:31 pm »
You will need 1 3/4" to 2" wide limbs. I don't know how wide the halves are. You won't get much heartwood in the bow, maybe a little in the handle. You want to use the wood right under the bark.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC

Offline IrishJay

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2019, 09:39:25 pm »
I tried to split on of the halves into quarters and the split did not run as straight as the initial one did. I ended up with a skinny piece of scrap and a stave that can be cleaned up with saw. I'm going to try to split the other half tomorrow, hopefully it goes better. But at least I have one good one so far.
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"The best camouflage pattern is called, 'Sit down and be quiet!' Your grandpa hunted deer in a red plaid coat, think about that for a second." - Fred Bear

Offline stuckinthemud

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #12 on: January 06, 2019, 10:16:20 am »
How skinny? Ive made a couple of really nice bows from run away splits, a good bow only needs very little timber and a split can just save you a lot of roughing out 😁
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Offline DC

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2019, 10:20:52 am »
Or if 40" of it is good it will make a billet :)
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Offline Pat B

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Re: Wood Identification
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2019, 10:25:04 am »
If the first one didn't split as you wanted it to then saw the other one instead of splitting.
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Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!    Pat Brennan  Brevard, NC
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