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I need help identifying logs from bark

8 years ago

I'd like to know what these three logs are. Hopefully someone can tell by the bark and butt cut. These came from a property I had cleared and I'm going to have a guy with a mill cut a couple of large mantels and cut some boards. Thanks

Number One

Number 2

Number 3

Number 4

Comments (11)

  • 8 years ago

    1 and 3 look like maples to me (around here most likely red), 2 looks like oak, and 4 looks like black locust. I see a fair number of tree trunks cut for lumber. Where you are would help with ID. The guy with the mill can most likely ID tree trunks, and should be able to for sure once cut. One thing that might help, to my nose oak has a fairly distinct odor, sort of like cat pee, though how strong it is depends on species. I don't know if this is true of all oaks, so ones that I am not familiar with fresh wood of may not have this characteristic. It will continue to crack from the ends (called checking), so if you don't want this, wax the ends, and once cut you will need to have them dried in such a way as to reduce checking if you don't want that look.

    777645 thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
  • 8 years ago

    Thanks for the replies! I'm in East Tennessee. Since they were just cut down last week, no leaves were available. Good suggestion on smelling them to see if it's pine. I hope 1 and 3 are maplem I think that'll make a nice mantel. Oak would work as well, I appreciate the advice about waxing the ends, would that be after staining?

  • 8 years ago

    Wax the ends now. They make logger's wax ($$$), but shellac or oil paint will help. Anything to slow down the drying now to stop the cracks. We don't dry wood as thick slabs so I don't know how to dry slabs other than to reshellac or repaint the ends which dry faster than the side grain. Stresses from uneven drying is what causes the cracks to form.

    777645 thanked NHBabs z4b-5a NH
  • 8 years ago

    The mantels we're making will be large... around 10" x 10" x 6'. We're looking for it to be rough and rustic looking. Perhaps the "checking" will look good?

  • 8 years ago

    #4 is sourwood/ oxydendrum arboretum

    #2 is a species of Red Oak

    777645 thanked conifer50
  • 8 years ago

    Thanks conifer50... any ideas on #1 and #3. I'm really hoping they're maple.

  • 8 years ago

    Even in winter twigs showing buds or dried fallen leaves can help id a tree. Are those logs lying where they were felled? If so what do the majority of dead leaves round about look like? Do any of them match up with the suggested identities?

    777645 thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Agree w/some others -- 1 & 3 look like red maple, 2 like red oak. 4 doesn't look quite right for sourwood or black locust -- black walnut? Black gum? Persimmon?

    777645 thanked bengz6westmd
  • 8 years ago

    Unfortunately the logs were moved from where they were and I have no way to check leaves or limbs etc. I'd be set if in fact they are Maple and Red Oak. I'm thinking #3 may be Beech due to the smooth bark.

  • 8 years ago

    At least some species of oak smell like vinegar or acetic acid but I don't know about the red oaks

    777645 thanked Huggorm
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