First time scrounge, not the first time I’ve been stumped.

Eric's description of elms smell. I gave him a couple loads last year. I sniffed and it smelled like that.

 

Not pleasant. My 96yo mother has been in one for over six years now. New type of pizz elm maybe?

 

Don’t judge me because I get my jollies running through the infirmary sniffing up on all the sleepers

 

Lol

 

Here’s another mystery wood that I unwittingly “scored” from the same roadside cutting. I’m 99% sure I know what it is but figured I’d let you guys have a go at it (I’m tired from splitting this with the monster maul)
A couple hints: wetland habitat. Difficult to split. Smells to me like the slime that ends up on your hands after pulling the hook out of a bluegill’s mouth

 

I’ve never tried to split Sweetgum, but I know it’s got an unusual smell from cutting some down. I don’t recall Blackgum having a foul smell.

 

My guess was that this is black gum, being that I’m slightly outside the sweet gum range. I’m sure there’s isolated populations of it around though, since it looks like the range goes as far north as northern New Jersey. Either way, I’m going to be extra careful NOT to take this stuff again

 

The black gum I’ve been into had a dark heartwood. I know better than to try and split it.

 

The one I grabbed also had a dark center like that, albeit smaller. My log was a bit smaller by the looks of it too. If what I found wasn’t gum, I’m really at a loss for what it could be.

 

I think that’s what it is. I really don’t see walnut. I’ve been through quite a bit of walnut. You cannot mistake the aroma. Definitely not pizz IMO. And this pattern:

that not straight, circular like wave.. common to gum/elm IME.

 

Sorry for the confusion. This picture was a different species from what I brought home today. Larger dark core relative to the outer diameter, split a lot easier and smelled different too. I think that first log is red elm.

 

Eric, you ever look into getting therapy Joking of course my friend

 

Maybe shellback hickory

 

Black gum aka tupelo. I grabbed one mystery log at a score back in 2019 not knowing what it was. FHC IDed it. Bucked and split it. Learned my lesson.

 

After almost 3 years drying I’m just now trying black gum in the stove for the very first time. I threw a few pieces onto a hot coal bed and it violently exploded into flames like a greasy pizza box. Verdict: I’d take black gum again in small amounts, if convenient. I took this picture right before choking the air down.

 

How was the weight of the splits vs when it was fresh cut? IIRC they do like wet environments to grow in.

 

I was expecting them to dry feather-light, but they’re still somewhat heavy for the size. Not like boxelder or tulip poplar. Honestly besides the splitting (and this wasn’t as bad as elm) the stuff isn’t so terrible.

 

I

I have a tall straight standing dead one in my yard that I’ll eventually have to turn into firewood. I’m hoping the seasoning on the stump will relax the fiber a bit like elm. I have burned some previously and liked the speedy light up for an oak booster.