Mystery log

[Ron Wenrich]

Every once in a while, the loggers will bring in a log that they don't know the species.  It took me about 5 minutes, and I had to talk my way through it.  

The forester who marked the sale got it wrong, and he had the branches and leaves.



It was about an 18" tree, and it's the only one I've ever sawn in 20 years.

For an end view

[Tom]

Looks kind of like Redbud :-/

[Jeff]

The Bark looks kinda like hard maple, but the end of the log looks a lot like a  big hearted American Elm

[swampwhiteoak]

Heck if I know, I ain't no sawyer

I guessing it's something rare, or you'd have sawn it before.  I'll guess sassafras.  Naw, heartwood's probably too dark.  I give. :-/

[Ron Wenrich]

Most guys are pretty good when they have a leaf or something like that.  

When I took dendrology, we were shown the leaves as we went through the course.  We all felt a little cocky.  Then the fall came, and the leaves weren't around.  So, I learned to ID trees by tree form and bark.

My first mill job was to scale logs.  Then all I had was the bark.  Now, I don't even have that.

At first, I thought this tree might have been an exotic cherry.  The wood coloration was about right, but not in the end section.  The bark also looks a lot like cherry, but it isn't fissured right.  It does have lentils like birch and cherry.

The forester ID was for Kentucky coffee tree.  That's wrong.  I know coffee tree, and this isn't it.

Last hint.  Think thornless variety.

[Don P]

 
No really is it Jeff's complex leaf?

[swampwhiteoak]

I can see it now!  Never knew the wood was that dark.  How did the lumber turn out?  

[Texas Ranger]

Locust, but the color is different than I remember.

[Ron Wenrich]

Actually, its honey locust.  Looked up the specs on it, and it gets lumped in with Kentucky coffee tree.  But, coffee tree seems more brown in the heart.

I've only sawn a couple of logs.  The lumber is really nice.  Kind of like open-grained cherry.

We've been throwing it into pallet stock, but, I believe I'm going bring it home and see how it dries.  

Next time I saw some, I'll put up pictures of the sawn lumber.

[Jeff]

Do we have to wait another 20 years?

[Ron Wenrich]

Since my pictures were apparently lost, I'll post them again.

Here is what the honey locust lumber looks like.




And here is what it looks like close up.



I have about 150 bf of clear lumber.  All the hearts went into railroad ties.  Still have a few more to cut.

[Jeff]

Thanks Ron! I was hoping you would restore this!