Wood / Tree stump identification

[smithomatic]

Hey guys,

Huge tree chopped down near my house and I have access to the cuttings. There are some really large decent pieces so I am thinking of milling them down to use next year or so.

Can anyone help me with identifying this tree? It has already lost all of its leaves unfortunately, which makes it a bit harder. The tree was pretty massive with about 1.5m diameter at the base (maybe even slightly bigger) and the logs are very heavy for their size (this might be due in part to the fact they have been sitting in the rain).

This is one of the stumps I took back. It is actually one of the branches and not part of the main trunk.

Ignore the little pieces in the background, they are something else.

Cheers!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Beech?

 

[John15]

Beech or Sycamore?

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

Beech, one of the few trees where the bark doesn't break up and become gnarly. Split it soon and paint the endgrainwith some emulsion paint or the like, or else it will check and become useless.

Mike.

 

[smithomatic]

Thanks everyone!

I look forward to using this wood for something next year.

I did not know about painting the end grain - cheers for this tip Mike!


_____
Smith

 

[paulm]

Painting the ends with something will help reduce end splits as it drys out, but better using pva or gloss paint, emulsion won't be as good at blocking/reducing the loss of moisture but is better than nothing if all that's at hand.

Cheers, Paul

 

[Mannyroad]

It could be beech, but it may well be ash. Personally I think the bark markings resemble that of ash. If you can still look at any of the smaller branches/twigs on the felled tree, if it's ash you will see very black velvety buds at the tips of rather thick twigs, and the buds will be paw-like and usually in groups of 3 black buds.

 

[andersonec]

You would be better posting a picture of the lower part of the trunk where the bark is a bit more mature, there are lots of trees with similar bark when it is fairly young and lots of trees with relatively light coloured wood when first cut. The weight is due to the sap, rain would be unable to get in.
Although the tree has lost it's leaves there should still be some laying around on the ground and by the way, if it was Beech there will be brown leaves still on the tree.

Andy

 

[nev]

I'd have said ash too!

 

[Fat ferret]

Nah definately beech.

 

[Mannyroad]

Nah, definitely ash, haha! :lol:

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

Ash has particularly gnarly bark, not smooth like this.

Mike.

 

[Fat ferret]

Ok fair do's IU asked for that .

Grain looks closer and the rings on the bark scream beech to me.

 

[Woodmonkey]

I would've said beech too, but ash bark can be smooth like that if it's from up in the crown, its more the lower part that tends to get gnarly

 

[gregmcateer]

C'mon, Smithomatic - get some split down the middle so we can all see whether it's Beech or Ash!!

(I'm joining the Beechers, FWIW)

 

[matt_southward]

I'd guess at Ash - which is smooth on a young tree and goes knarly like oak when it matures - it also has that greenish tinge to the bark. Always hard to tell though!

 

[Mannyroad]

I would've said beech too, but ash bark can be smooth like that if it's from up in the crown, its more the lower part that tends to get gnarly

I agree, only low down on the main stem does it go gnarly. I have a woodbarn stuffed with about 10tonnes of ash exactly like that in the picture. And yep, settle it by splitting a bit.

 

[Graham Orm]

Beech

 

[Mannyroad]

Nah, African walnut!! :---) :lol: :lol:

 

[Graham Orm]

Lime????????????????????????