Hi all,

I have attached 2 photos.
Can any of you please give you comments on what type of wood this is.
I know it it either oak (white) or maple. Since this is all the type i have on my property other than birch. I am located in michigan.

I cut a few trees down last summer and did not document them. Now i am attempting to make some items with the wood and would like to know what im working with.

Thank you,

Attached Thumbnails

 

 

I might be able to tell you if I were looking at a board, but not from end cuts like that. Show a slide of the board and you will probably get a slew of answers.

I guess the leaves of the trees are long gone. ???

Smell it. Oak has a very distinct odor of tannic acid. Maple has a much milder aroma.

It is only a guess but I would suspect it is oak just going from the photos, but I am on the West Coast so what do I know about hardwoods, every oak tree I have planted has met with an early demise.

Looks Oak to me. Maple will have a tighter grain.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't see the medullary rays that are characteristic of white oak, so if is truly a maple-or-oak question, I would bet on maple. A closer photo would help confirm.

Packard,
I don't have any lengths cut. I can saw a small section across the top when i get more to the end of the log, but dont want to yet since i'd like to get a few more coins out of it first. This is an end grain project i want to do.

George c,
Yes they are. Unfortunatly, thats why im kicking myself for not doing this beforehand.

Frankc/ewarner64,
I was thinking oak too, by the bark.
I thought the bark would help you guys. I thought maple was more flakey, and oak was larger ridges, with deeper cuts??

Nvwoodworker,
I have never heard of that, but i can most definitly take a closer photo

I smelled it and i dont know, it smells strong but i just cut it so.

Here is a closer look.

Attached Thumbnails

 

 

The medullary rays are clearly visible. Its one of the many species in the white oak family.

I belong to a wood stove/ firewood forum and we play this game all the time. Definitely looks like oak to me. Here the answer affects the beauty and appearance of your project. On the other forum it boils down to one main fact. It all burns and creates heat.

In my second visit to this thread I looked more at the bark and agree. That is the tell.


George

It is oak, seeing from the bark, definitely not maple.

Great.
Thank you all for bringing the thread back to life, and making me feel more confident in the type.

I am going to look up the medullary rays, since this was mentioned twice.
Thanks again.

Agree. The closer pic clearly shows the rays. White oak

One can decided wither it is maple or oak depending on following differences;
• Oak belongs to the genus Quercus and Maple belongs to the genus Acer.
• Maple wood is white and Oakwood is reddish brown.
• The oak tree flowers in spring seasons, while the maple flowers in late winters or early summers.
• Oak fruit is the acorns and maple fruit is the samara.