Wood ID help - a strange one

[profsaffel]

Hey, crooketarrow, hillbilly61. Nope, the one tree I'm sure it's not is sweetgum. I know sweetgum (and those darned annoying balls that come with it). I actually questioned several times if this could be sweetgum, but I would have noticed a sweetgum in the front yard long ago I'd imagine. Good suggestion though.

Unless... the saplings don't produce the balls? That would make a difference. Ugh, now I'm questioning it again.

Thanks for all the responses.

[Pappy]

Shoemake or maybe red bud, is it pretty hard wood or kind of soft. Looks like from the rings it a fast grower.
   Pappy

[M-P]

The leaves and bark of ailanthus have a nasty musty smell, and I've never noted a milky sap.     Ron

[profsaffel]

I took a closer look at the tips and they have alternating buds very consistent with mulberry. I also did some more reading on the red mulberry and it sure sounds like the same tree. I'm going to move on it like it's mulberry, see if I can follow one growth ring for the back, and get that wood bending (after a few months of drying, of course).

Thanks!