dammit, just when I thought I was getting good at this. Which one is the pignut? It looked like that whole stack came from the same tree and it smelled just like my hickory chunks I have been buying
I see mondo silver maple too. I wouldn't know pignut hickory if you hit me with it. It doesn't grow around here as far as I know.
Respectfully, look back to your last thread as a reference. The 2 species you’re asking about here were pointed out there previously. https://firewoodhoardersclub.com/forums/threads/big-freebie-stack-help-a-newb-id-and-tell-me-what-to-get.47005/
These were new arrivals today. Looking for (non-shagbark) hickory, still have to find some. Sorry didn’t mean to post a new thread, I can go back to the old one if you want
Tree ID based on logs alone takes time to learn (I’m still learning myself) What I found helpful is to learn to recognize and remember the subtle details. It comes with time and experience and I apologize if I came across as less than helpful. This is ash. I know this from a few signs. I can see where the bark was removed, there are tracks from the emerald ash borer. Another tell tale sign of EAB are small epicormic sprouts (twigs that sprout from the trunk that are the tree’s last ditch effort to survive) I can see one present on this piece pictured, on the right hand side. Also if you look at the end grain, at the center pith (point where all the growth rings radiate outward from) there is a small pin hole. This only occurs on ash as far as I know. Take note of the size of the growth rings, and color of the wood in general. This ash has a darker core, but a lot of times it won’t. Many other woods have a two-toned color scheme (elm, cherry, walnut, hickory, etc) I know this isn’t any of those other species though based on the details I mentioned previously. This is silver maple. Gray bark with a flaky/shaggy appearance and light colored wood. As they get older, the core can become darker, which is the beginning stages of rot. You can see it just starting in these pictures. In person if you look closely I’m sure it has wide growth rings, as they are fast-growing trees. Sometimes old red maple can get shaggy and look similar, but I haven’t seen that often. Many silver maples were planted as yard or street trees all across the country so it makes sense that’s what this is. It probably spent a few decades in an urban or suburban environment, got too big, became a nuisance or a hazard and was removed. I know this isn’t hickory because the bark is more flaky than shaggy, and the dark center of the wood isn’t dark enough. Again, once you see both a couple times you’ll know what to look for. The smell of certain woods is another great hint. Everybody’s nose is different and some think hickory smells like urine, others think it smells kind of sweet. Me, I like the aroma. The weight of green hickory is notoriously heavier compared to silver maple, if you’re ever in doubt too. I hope that was more helpful.
Eric Wanderweg what a great explanation. I am terrible at Tree ID without leaves. Maple forget it as University has been cross breeding them 1800s.
Thanks that was a big help Eric! I have been looking for that center dark patch for hickory but it’s good to know it needs to be very dark. Also I assume hickory growth rings are much closer as well? Yes usually once I handle, split and smell a species I am better at IDing it. The only hickory I have handled was shagbark and not much in the maple department
Correct, hickory is a slow grower so it has tight growth rings. Since there are several types of hickory, it can get confusing in that sense too. The bark varies between types and if that weren’t enough, between ages of the same type. Here are two separate varieties in my own backyard:
