Hi, first post here, been reading for a while. I caught the wood bug! My friend just bought a new house and had a massive oak taken down. Mostly dead and very near the house. I have been all over but cant narrow down what it is. Has very thick bark. I'm guessing red. Sorry this is the only pic he sent. In Northern IL.
Thanks. The sad part is he knew I wanted wood and gave away the whole trunk of that nice straight one in the background. The guys made it seem like a favor to take it away. Already in the truck when I got off work. I put a stop to that right quick. Splitting party soon.
I haven’t seen red oak with furrows that deep on the bark nor with that bright yellowish ring around the dark heartwood. All red oak I’ve dealt with have a lighter yellow sap wood and a dull red heart wood. Not sure what it is though.
Hello and welcome to the forum lumpy Glad to have you! Careful of the wood bug, it is highly contagious, worse than covid19! Hard to tell what youve got there. Darker heartwood, maybe walnut?
After a little googling Fanatical1 may be correct. I've never seen a Bur oak myself. Also looking back I was wrong about chestnut oak being red oak but it was darker when split then most of the white oak I've come across.
Welcome to the forum friend! From what I remember about burr oak (haven't seen one for probably 30 years) that very well could be burr oak. But, most any oak is great wood to have. Just remember that oak gives up its moisture very reluctantly so give it a few years to dry nicely. You might find this interesting reading: Primer on Woodburning by Backwoods Savage
Burr Oak was the first thing that came to my mind... big acorns with a hard hat on top? welcome to FHC lumpy
Thanks for the replies. Don't know about the acorns because he just bought the house. I'll get better pictures for those of you still curious. Split also.
Hello there lumpy - glad you cropped up like free wood! Would like to see a pic of the leaves, too.... and an end grain pic- a split is fine. We’ll be looking for the “rays” that oaks show in a pronounced way.
