Author Topic: What wood Have I been sawing all day? (Read 2616 times)

onionman · « **on:** February 02, 2007, 07:47:55 pm »

Looks like a red oak to me but what Kind?
cut in Atlanta,ga

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2007, 09:32:54 pm »

Got an end grain pic?

Follow the 'ID by End Grain' thread for some tips on scanning a sample. Don't forget the utility nice, watch the thumb.

onionman · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2007, 10:31:48 pm »

sorry I don't have an end grain shot... the plank are only 1/2" thick would this be ok for a end grain shot?

WDH · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2007, 11:15:34 pm »

Definitely looks like red oak. Looks like a rift sawn board. I can see the rays. I surely think that you have a red oak there, partner. Good sawing

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limbrat · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2007, 11:23:52 pm »

Reminds me of water oak. Most of the water oaks around here keep some green leaves all winter. If you find some leaves they are 3 or 2 inches long and sorta tear drop shaped with a point on the end.

WDH · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2007, 11:35:09 pm »

Yep, water oak is "tardily dehiscient" which means thay are hesitant to drop their leaves. Can you post a pic of the leaves? They are described as "spatulate" which means that they tend to be widest at the tip, kinda like a spatula. There are other red oaks that are "tardily dehiscient" as well. Willow oak and laurel oak are two examples. There is no doubt that what you have there is a red oak, just can't be sure of which one without a leaf.

Jeff · « **Reply #6 on:** February 04, 2007, 10:01:36 am »

If you were up here I would say bitternut hickory. Did the bark seem stringy?

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #7 on:** February 04, 2007, 10:25:56 am »

Really all I can see in that picture is some saw marks and the grain of early wood pores. Someone has better eyesight than me if they see rays.

A board in the dimensions you describe would be fine for an end grain shot.

How big is the tree? Northern red oak can be pretty smooth for a few years. The bark could fit the description of a number of trees, but the red-brown heart would discount a lot of them.

WDH · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2007, 11:12:46 pm »

I think that the dark flecks are rays.

SwampDonkey · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2007, 07:56:29 am »

Yes I agree they would be, but I can't tell nothing from the picture. Blame it on bad eyesight.

WDH · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2007, 08:38:39 am »

Maybe the onionman can post some more pics.

onionman · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2007, 11:27:57 pm »

Thanks for the replies. bark was not stringy but was thin for a oak. After the wood sets for a couple of hours it turns very light in color. Tree was around 20"dbh did not get to see any leaves ( dropped off by tree service).Could it be a white Swamp Oak ?Will get some more pics in the next couple of days of the wood...logs are now plank for a fence. Just got back in town from taking a load of 2x12x20 up to the house site.
Onion

WDH · « **Reply #12 on:** February 06, 2007, 10:34:17 am »

The bark is wrong for swamp white oak. For swamp white oak, the bark with be very light in color, almost whitish. Also, the bark will be very scaly. What I saw in the pic is not scaly. The bark in the pic reminds me of hickory, but the board sample lokks like oak. That bark would definitey throw it into the red oak category if the tree is an oak.

onionman · « **Reply #13 on:** February 06, 2007, 07:05:51 pm »

Here are some more pics

Links to larger files (hope this is ok)

Thanks guys
Onion

metalspinner · « **Reply #14 on:** February 06, 2007, 09:09:14 pm »

Looks like red oak to me. But I'm just an out-of-work musician.

Furby · « **Reply #15 on:** February 06, 2007, 09:24:30 pm »

The lumber looks like red, but the tree a bit more like a black.
But I'm not even an out-of-work musician, so I shouldn't say anything.

WDH · « **Reply #16 on:** February 06, 2007, 10:23:52 pm »

What you have been sawing, Mr. onionman, is red oak like you suspected. Looks like scarlet oak because of the vertical silver streaking. Could also be northern red oak; the bark on scarlet oak and northern red oak is very similiar. Could also be a shumard oak (also has sliver streaking), but shumard is not as common as the other two and it is a bottomland species while scarlet oak is an upland species. A leaf or acorn would solve the mystery, but you definitely are sawing a red oak

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Where are you located? That will be a major clue as to the species of red oak. Those are excellent pics!! I wish everyone posting pics of trees that they want to ID would post such clear pics.

Furby, black oak is in the red oak group. However, the silver streaking on the bark eliminates black oak as a potential candidate.

Furby · « **Reply #17 on:** February 06, 2007, 10:37:13 pm »

I knew blacks were in the red group, but I don't recall reading the silver streaks, so thanks.

onionman · « **Reply #18 on:** February 06, 2007, 10:42:45 pm »

Thanks all
MaaayBe one of these days I will be able to tell the difference between the different kinds of oak ( that will be the day).
Wish I could provide a leaf or acorn but none are to be had.
The wood came from a tree in Atlanta, GA
If I only had a digi camera that had a closeup lense I could get some better shots.
it is up to photo shop for now.

Onion

Tom · « **Reply #19 on:** February 06, 2007, 10:58:11 pm »

My guess is that it is water oak. Water oak, willow oak and laurel oak are difficult to tell apart unless you have leaves. These are the most prolific oaks generally found in Southern urban areas. They are quick growing and short lived, with life spans in the 50 to 80 year range. Definitely a one of the red Oaks.

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Author Topic: What wood Have I been sawing all day? (Read 2616 times)