What is this tree - Woodworking Talk

bigredc · 03-23-2008, 09:10 PM

This tree is behind my house in pasture. Just for learning sake. What is it, and would it be a good tree for lumber. I guess they are all burls?
Chris

**Daren** · 03-23-2008, 09:25 PM

That there is a catalpa. They get funky like that some times (not really burls, just odd growth). A good straight catalpa makes very nice lumber

. I would let that dude stand. If it did fall over dead, catalpa also makes good turning stock.

bigredc · 03-23-2008, 09:42 PM

I've lived here 15 years and today is the first time I really noticed that tree. I was walking in the pasture. I went up the hill to look at a tree that's been on the ground for probably 8-10 years maybe. Then I saw that tree and got excited. This is what I went to look at. It looks like it's still in good shape. I don't know what it is either?
Chris

**Daren** · 03-24-2008, 09:05 AM

You got me on the big dead one, I can't positively ID it

. I would guess oak or elm...but would expect more checking on the cut ends on the log if it was oak. If the limbs around it are from the same tree, they look like cherry limbs ? Take a hatchet or chainsaw out there and clean up an end for a better grain shot some day. I don't know what it is, but it looks lightning struck to me.

Marko · 03-26-2008, 10:35 AM

Could it really be Prunus serotina?

or "not"

some of those limbs appear to not be "scaley bark" like the dead one.Only tree I know of that sheds its bark is Sycamore and that tree aint no Sycamore...

Now we have a "Mystery"

Mark

bigredc · 03-26-2008, 11:50 AM

I brought a log in the house. I'm letting it dry out a little. I don't know if it's because Daren said it, but it does look a little like cherry inside. If your really interested I'll post more pictures. I'd say it definitely was a lightning strike. Being in the middle of a field would make it a good target. We have had storms big enough to knock it over if it was dead, but not strong enough to snap it like it is, if it was healthy. I guess I need to invest in a chain saw. It bugs me to see good wood rot. It surprises me how good a shape the log was I brought in the house. There in another tree down about 100 yards from that one, with a few logs next to it. I grabbed one of then also. It was rotted clean though. I think the main trunk is still good though. If had a saw and the ability there are 2 good tree's less that 100 yards from my house. I've always relied on my buddies chain saws when I really needed one, but I wouldn't feel right asking for this.
Chris

**Daren** · 03-26-2008, 02:12 PM

I would get a chainsaw. The more I look at it the more it looks like cherry to me even on the outside. I guess if it looks like cherry on the inside...it may be cherry

. Another picture would of course be cool.

**TexasTimbers** · 03-26-2008, 02:24 PM

That little patch of unfungused bark looks like cherry to me also. We don't have cherry here indigenously but I have one out in the yard I got doing what little urban logging I do, and it looks exactly the same.

bigredc · 03-26-2008, 07:13 PM

Here are a few more pictures

I wet this one.

stuart · 03-26-2008, 07:17 PM

nice

**TexasTimbers** · 03-26-2008, 07:20 PM

I'm no expert on Cherry. Not even close to one, but that don't look like the few cherries I have opend. The grain does but not the color. Daren ought to know for sure from that picture though.

**Daren** · 03-26-2008, 08:00 PM

Sure looks like cherry to me. It should have a distinctive sweet smell, unmistakable ? That would be for me the dead give away. I am kinda surprised there is not more ring separation, cherry does not rot easy but it will separate between the growth rings if it lays a real long time (and that one looks like it has). I am still saying black cherry. As tortured as that trunk looks I would not be at all surprised to see some figure in the butt log.
Well while you are looking at chainsaws...might as well look for a chainsaw mill attachment

. A couple hundred extra bucks and you can mill that dude right where is lays and bring the lumber to the wood shop.

Marko · 03-26-2008, 10:44 PM

looks like a cherry to me too(with what looks like alittle curly figure to boot in the 2nd pic,hardest figure to see is curly cherry),now if BigRed cut that chunk off the part of the log thats up in the air it might have somtin to do with the lack of separation.....eh?

**TexasTimbers** · 03-26-2008, 11:12 PM

Looks exactly like the thousands of board feet of cherry I have milled too.

(did I just jump on board?)

bigredc · 03-27-2008, 04:52 PM

Well I split the log to look inside, and also so it would fit my found wood jig. I made the thing a while back and never had to use it. It's definitely Cherry. It smells sooo good when I was cutting it. I checked the moister. It's at 20-22 %. Will it dry out fast since it's been cut for so many years. Just guessing I would think it's only wet from the weather so it should dry faster. Or is it all the same as drying out a fresh cut tree? That one little log made a lot of wood. I'll talk to the guy that boards his horses in that field, so I can drive my truck up there and get the rest of the cut stuff. Then I guess the best thing for now would be to get it off the ground. That will be a project in itself.
Chris

**Daren** · 03-27-2008, 05:21 PM

COOL. I think I see curl there too like Mark said. A log will stay wet for years so it will still take the wood awhile to dry, but small pieces like that should dry faster.
I would try to snag the whole shooting match, winch that big log up onto a trailer and make it "disappear"

, it's just going to rot away.

Marko · 03-27-2008, 09:51 PM

yeah....like Daren said!!

if your at 20%-22% now, your closer to EMC than you might know. 12-14% this time of year is considered stable in my area...You should be able to dry that quickly in those little pieces.I was whacken up some Cherry myself today(didn't see anything close to "curly" though)It's one of,if not the hardest domestic wood to see the curls in as it comes of the deck in it's rough sawn form...I literally have to go through the stack with the sun over my shoulder and tilt the board and look for the shadow of the uplifted grain.
So,seeing "curls" in your chunks coincide with it's dryness.Nice find BigRed

. Mark

bigredc · 03-27-2008, 10:07 PM

I can definitely have it. I don't want to just drive into the pasture without telling Pete the guy that owns the horses. We know each other. He's a little funny about his horses. I'll have all the small stuff by the end of weekend. Back to the wet thing. When you cut a tree down, and it needs to dry out. Aren't you also drying out the sap? Is that all gone by now. I guess the tree is like a sponge. It does have millions of pours. Daren do have a web page up your sleeve about how a tree dries out. Like the science of it. If not I'll look for something. I just know your way into tree's. thanks
Chris

Marko · 03-27-2008, 10:45 PM

Big Red,check out this link http://owic.oregonstate.edu/pubs/for55.pdf
I know your not drying a pile of boards but it's all related whether your drying shorts or piles.I've posted this in other threads and a few have commented on it's content.It's well written and explains the hows and why's pretty well(there are other writings/publications,this one is shorter and easier reading).There is a chart in this publication that shows EMC's at different Relative Humidity.This will let you know at which point Hardwood in your area where you live will stabilize.Now that you've got that chunk cut up it'll start drying even faster.

Mark

**Daren** · 03-27-2008, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigredc

Aren't you also drying out the sap? Is that all gone by now. I guess the tree is like a sponge. It does have millions of pours.

Yep, the sap looks long gone. The sapwood is the living part of a deciduous tree (evergreens are a little different). Think about it when a tree gets bigger around, it is up and out. Most of the osmosis from the roots to the leaves,water/nutrients up, solar energy down is how they live happens in the sap. So it is porous. The heartwood (I am no biologist, so take this as you will) is just fibrous support for the living part of the tree, roots/sap/leaves. Some trees have more rot resistant heartwood, less porous/offensive to insects...cherry being one of them.

I got off on a tangent...a heartwood log can lay for several years without drying. So no that one is not likely "dry". But no biggy, drying wood is easy. Drying a free possibly curly cherry log is a no brainer, take a shot

Or leave it lay and give Pete's horses something to poo on