Another ID thread - oak or elm?

[julianf]

I have no further photos, this is just what the seller has provided me with.

Thank you,
Julian

 

[Fitzroy]

Could be either in my opinion. However it looks pretty twisted, split and shaky so not sure I’d be buying either way.

 

[julianf]

Its fine for what i want it for, and have arranged to buy regardless, so ill be able to post further photos in time Im just trying to work out in the mean time.

Ive watched various videos on youtube on choosing between them before, but am still none the wiser.

 

[julianf]

I want to make smaller parts, like these out of it (the ones in the photo are cherry).

If i have to do resin work on it, that's fine too. The thickness is deep enough that i can book match the pairs.

 

[Fitzroy]

Its fine for what i want it for, and have arranged to buy regardless, so ill be able to post further photos in time Im just trying to work out in the mean time.

Ive watched various videos on youtube on choosing between them before, but am still none the wiser.

Sorry I was a little opinionated earlier. Oak and elm should be easy to tell apart, once you have the piece. Plane a good section of surface and post some pictures.

Fitz.

 

[johnnyb]

I'm guessing oak because I think i see the medullary rays.

 

[HOJ]

Just out of interest, could you tell me how or where you found it & how you are going to get it delivered, and a rough idea of the price, I have lots of Oak off cuts better than that, I cant use, normally chop them up for the wood burner, but if there is a market for them I could/would sell them.

TIA

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It's a piece of palletwood.

 

[julianf]

Just out of interest, could you tell me how or where you found it & how you are going to get it delivered, and a rough idea of the price, I have lots of Oak off cuts better than that, I cant use, normally chop them up for the wood burner, but if there is a market for them I could/would sell them.

TIA

FB market place. Closest town to where i live.

Cost is £20. Dimensions 1500mm x 150mm x 150mm approx..

It was advertised as elm, which is more interesting to me than oak, simply as its less common, however, as is demonstrated by this thread, I'm certainly not convinced.

 

[HOJ]

Thanks for the info, will have a look at FB as an option.

 

[Yojevol]

I'm guessing elm because I can't see any medullary rays!
From the state of it it looks like a bit of roof timber that's seen better days, Elm was often used for construction being cheap and available.
I've got bits looking like this in my roof.
Brian

 

[Benchwayze]

Could be either in my opinion. However it looks pretty twisted, split and shaky so not sure I’d be buying either way.

I have no further photos, this is just what the seller has provided me with.

Thank you,
Julian


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Julian. It doesn't look like the elm I used to have. More like oak. Oak has a distinct smell when being worked. But of course you'd have to buy it to find out. It looks like oak to me.

H N Y.
John

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Put a little water on it with a bit of steel wool. If oak it'll quite quickly go black.

 

[Owd Jockey]

I agree with John that Oak, at least the stuff that I turn, has a very distinct smell, it also has a purple mineral stain when turned wet. Not so convinced about spotting the Vascular or Medullary Rays though, which tend to show up better when the wood has been worked i.e. sanded and polished

 

[SamTheJarvis]

Definitely oak. Twisted like oak, medullary rays and has the distinctive patina an old piece of oak has.

 

[Mead Camans]

Looking at the side of the piece in the second photo, it has a colour that suggests to me it's elm. An old bit of oak and an old bit of elm would tend to look similar anyway, and it's hard to tell with such a slim bit like that. If the fellow has said it's elm, I'd tend to accept it from those photos, but maybe wouldn't be above asking for a few detail shots of the grain pattern etc.

 

[Benchwayze]

I have found one species that does look like oak; namely chestnut. Once had to use a piece in a keyboard stand when I couldn't afford more oak! The lady never noticed.

John

 

[julianf]

I'll pick it up tomorrow (well, today, as it's post midnight now and I'm still awake) and then run whatever tests I'm asked to on it.

It will be interesting to me if we can get a 100% conclusive answer that evreyone can agree on, as that way I'll learn the determining factors for the future also.

 

[julianf]

Ok, so more photos...

Ive been over it with the hand held belt sander with some 80 grit and got these -

These are medullary rays, right? Or am i totally missing the point?

I took a photo of the end grain also, but it was all out of focus. I can try again if requested.

Thank you.

 

[Mead Camans]

Yep that's oak you've got there fella. I'd be having some words with him!