Wood ID

[Dalboy]

You would think by now that I would know my woods. Can anyone identify this wood.

 

[marcros]

Looks a bit like beech to me.

 

[CHJ]

Looks like Sycamore to me Derek, judging by the bark and the figuring evident in image 3.

Or one of the various 'Plane' hybrids.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The medullary flecking on the left of the third picture leads me towards a plane of some sort, as well.

 

[gregmcateer]

Looks like Sycamore to me Derek, judging by the bark and the figuring evident in image 3.

Or one of the various 'Plane' hybrids.

I agree. Just today had a little play at hollowing a small piece of sycamore and it looked just like that

 

[RobinBHM]

Im confused:

European Sycamore Acer Pseudoplatanus

American Sycamore is also know as American Plane Platanus occidentalis

My experience of English Sycamore is that it has very similar gran to maple without any flecks

your pics have definite flecks that look more like a plane tree, but the bark doesnt look like plane.

flecks in beech are mostly thin -not like in the pics, so I think beech is unlikely

 

[Dalboy]

Thank you guys I had ruled out beech even though it had the flecks in it also London plain as I have got some and originally it had the bark on it.

It was given to me as holly but as soon as I saw the grain I knew that was also wrong.

I did wonder if it was sycamore but not having had any to turn before could not say

 

[mikeduvar]

It looks very similar to 'platane' the trees that line many of the roads here in France - the figure on the left of picture 1 is very similar to the figuring I find in locally harvested wood. I'd always assumed the trees in question were London plane (Platanus acerifolia). If it is such you'll find it a good wood to turn and finish.
Amitiés,

Mike

 

[CHJ]

It looks very similar to 'platane' the trees that line many of the roads here in France -.

The London Plane (hybrid of American sycamore and Oriental plane?) is usually distinctive by its smooth but Peeling Bark on older specimens, the reason why some folk suggest it thrives well in polluted atmospheres. is this what you see on your 'platane' Mike?

The Sycamore around here are very prone to small side shoot 'sprouts' in a none peeling bark which Derek's sample appears to have, I have noticed that the sycamores in the 'wild' around here have a small variation in leaf form so may be themselves sports or have cross pollinated.

 

[mikeduvar]

The London Plane (hybrid of American sycamore and Oriental plane?) is usually distinctive by its smooth but Peeling Bark on older specimens, the reason why some folk suggest it thrives well in polluted atmospheres. is this what you see on your 'platane' Mike?
Yes Chas, peeling bark is a feature of our local platanes - I find that the sycamore I turn is very pale almost white in colour whereas platane has a reddish/brown hue, the colour of the wood in picture 1 and the 'figure' in picture 3 led me to think Platane - I did try to upload a photo of samples of the two varieties - so far unsuccessful - but will persevere.
Amitiés,
mike

 

[Dokkodo]

Ive had what im pretty sure was elm that looked very much like picture no. 3, but also have a huge slab of london plane that looks quite similar too...