Wood identification

[Rorschach]

I was given a log a few years ago, I had no idea what it was and neither did the person who gave it to me. I left it in the corner of the shop for probably 3 or 4 years during which time it seems to have spalted slightly. No knowing what to use it for and it was very short anyway I decided to re-saw it into boards possible to make a small box. Before I do actually make anything though can anyone tell me what the wood is, quite light for it's size but not too soft, should be easy to work and it re-sawed easily on the bandsaw.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

It could be lime (Tilia) maybe. Can you show us/describe the bark better (is it quite fibrous?) - and does it have a distinctive smell when you cut into it? Cheers, W2S

 

[Rorschach]

The bark is fairly smooth and grey, a bit on the spongy fibrous side. Can't say it has a particular smell other than just woody.

 

[chipmunk]

The grain is completely masked by the spalting and so IMHO it could be just about anything with bland grain - beech, sycamore, lime, birch etc.

As woody says the only real way for us to tell would be to show us a picture of the bark IMHO.

Jon

 

[Woody2Shoes]

The bark is fairly smooth and grey, a bit on the spongy fibrous side. Can't say it has a particular smell other than just woody.

Glad to see a lower case 'w' on your last word! :lol: :wink:

 

[Rorschach]

The bark is fairly smooth and grey, a bit on the spongy fibrous side. Can't say it has a particular smell other than just woody.

Glad to see a lower case 'w' on your last word! :lol: :wink:

LOL!

Thanks for the help guys, I'll get a pic of the bark tomorrow. From looking at a few pics online I think the first suggestion of lime could be right but some pics also show similar bark on beech, hopefully the pics tomorrow will confirm it. Not sure what to do to make the best of the grain/spalting, I think it looks very interesting but being very small I am not sure of what would be best to use it for.

 

[CHJ]

...... Not sure what to do to make the best of the grain/spalting, I think it looks very interesting but being very small I am not sure of what would be best to use it for.

Re-saw into thinner veneers and laminate with sounder wood, that way you maintain the external character of the figuring but have a sound carcase.

Or just use the laminated pieces as feature lids on boxes.

 

[ED65]

Wouldn't the end grain be more of a sure identifier than the bark? I have a hell of a time identifying some native species from the bark on individual specimens, it can be very unlike the textbook examples.

 

[blackrodd]

Looks like sycamore or birch I'd say.
You're bandsaw cuts well!
Rodders

 

[Jelly]

Wouldn't the end grain be more of a sure identifier than the bark? I have a hell of a time identifying some native species from the bark on individual specimens, it can be very unlike the textbook examples.

I'd say so, the way my dad taught me was to make an educated guess based on appearance then compare it with photographic (micrographic?) references using a 10× lens to view a smoothly cut piece of end grain... I'm still a bit pants at it, but he can tell you what individual species a piece of timber is inside a "commercial name" group like Meranti/Lauan if given time.

That's probably unnecessary though, in the circumstances.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I think woods difficult enough to id with pieces like that and one should take any and all clues to reduce the risk of an errant diagnosis. I would plane a surface to see the long grain, fresh cut end grain and hopefully examine the bark. Smell it, wet it to see the grain stand out...do everything you can to garner clues. Some are obvious, many less so and this does look a tricky one to me. The spalting is clearly not helping as its masking the origin but lets say you never id it....so what, its blonde and the spalting gives it figure and interest. Use on something small and non structural and mind your lungs when you sand it would be my advice

 

[ED65]

but lets say you never id it....so what, its blonde and the spalting gives it figure and interest.

Absolutely agree on this point, it usually gets overlooked in threads seeking an ID that it often doesn't really matter what the wood is. I have many pieces of mystery wood garnered from the wild, having not been able to identify them from any references I know of, but not knowing what it is doesn't stop the wood from being useful.

 

[Woody2Shoes]

Beech, birch and sycamore have almost no bark to speak of. Whatever it actually is, a carver might be interested - given its seemingly minimal grain. My money's still on lime FWIW! Cheers, W2S

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Could well be lime, got some just before Xmas and when spalted it does look very like that. But it will polish up well I'm sure so get planning on what it will turn into and don't forget to post the WIP right here

 

[davin]

I found a log of Curly/Maisur Birch (visa koivu in Finnish)whilst walking in the forest in Eastern Finland about ten years ago. Dragged it home but didn't have a way of converting it where I was. When I eventually got it planked about 10 years later the guy who planked it for me said that it had ben "left in the round" too long and had gone soft.But if I had taken it to him when I found it he would have bought it for veneer for €1000. Oh well