In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Storm brings a new haul - is it poplar?

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Woodchuck Chuck, Jan 23, 2017.

  1. Woodchuck Chuck

    Woodchuck Chuck

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    Weird mid Summer storm the other night. I love going for a drive after a storm. You never know what's come down.
    Sure enough:
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Just down the road!

    The local council usually come cut the small stuff and then leave rounds for anyone to pick up. Sure enough a drive by today and I hauled this:
    [​IMG]
    But left some nice large rounds for the next hoarder.
    [​IMG]

    Does anyone recognize the species? I'm thinking it's Poplar. Which means I now have a cube of kindling!
    I don't usually stop to worry about that when there's a good haul though.


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  2. MikeInMa

    MikeInMa

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    Nice of them to cut to manageable sizes! Good find.

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  3. 94BULLITT

    94BULLITT

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    I don't think it is poplar. The bark does not look right.

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  4. mike bayerl

    mike bayerl

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    No fair. I have no idea what kind of trees you have in NZ.
     
  5. Spencer

    Spencer

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    I dunno, kinda looks like cottonwood?? Im not good at tree ID.
     
  6. mike bayerl

    mike bayerl

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    Agreed, if it were in the US. Maybe it's transplanted.(?)
     
  7. BigPapi

    BigPapi

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    Looks like silver maple to me.
     
  8. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    Doesn't look like the poplar I have
     
  9. Woodchuck Chuck

    Woodchuck Chuck

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    Thanks to all of you for NOT saying 'where's the photo of the leaves?' The fallen tree pics were from Facebook, and by the time I took a pic it had been processed.
    I thought it was a hardwood at the time. I'm thinking poplar now. Will go see if there's a leaf left over and do a bit of googling too.

    Cheers!


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  10. Horkn

    Horkn

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    Gum trees. You know the kind that kuckaburra birds sit it. Lol
    That and eucalyptus, and Australian Pine, outside of palm trees.

    I know, it's NZ and not Australia. I won't make any sheep jokes.
     
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  11. Mag Craft

    Mag Craft

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    Does not look like any poplar that I have seen. The bark is thick and coarse like cotton wood.
     
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  12. Woodchuck Chuck

    Woodchuck Chuck

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    The whole tree was swiped up in a few hours, so even if it's not Poplar, it was VERY popular.


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  13. Woodchuck Chuck

    Woodchuck Chuck

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    Mag Craft, is cottonwood pretty light when it dries out ? I think most of this weight is water, and it looks like it will dry like balsa wood. I'm splitting it into kindling at the moment.


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  14. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Cottonwood is extremely lightweight when dried out and yes, it can make excellent kindling. It can make some fairly decent lumber too; the hardest part it keeping it from warping.
     
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  15. Mag Craft

    Mag Craft

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    Yep like Savage has said it does dry out light. I burn a lot of cottonwood and it does leave a lot of ash but we do not have a lot of hard woods here so I have become used to it. It will also leave more coals then the pine I burn, so it does provide a combination of qualities that I may not get other wise. The main thing is that it does heat my home and I get it free. I will not get long burn times but I am retired and on a cold winter day I am not going anywhere so tending the fire is no big deal.
     
  16. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    I'm betting you do have lots of cottonwood in your area which is quite common for that region. Many get by with it just fine.
     
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  17. Mag Craft

    Mag Craft

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    I have one stack here that is about 50 feet long of nothing but cotton wood. It has been sitting now for about 2 years. Will probably not use for another 2 years.
     
  18. Woodchuck Chuck

    Woodchuck Chuck

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    Mag Craft, is that because it takes that long to dry? Good to know if so. I'll stack it somewhere more permanent if it needs a few years.


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  19. Mag Craft

    Mag Craft

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    Actually in my part of the country cottonwood will dry out pretty good in about 2 years. I am far enough ahead in firewood now that anything that I cut now and stack I will not use for 4 years.