The Craigslist ad said, “16 foot Ironwood tree log. Was dead for a year and we just cut it down. I left it in log form in case anyone wants it for a project. Ironwood is exceptionally hard and rot resistant. First come first serve.” I did a quick BTU check on Ironwood, and it’s pretty dang good. I reached out and claimed it, and told him I could claim it in 48 hours when I flew back in town. No problem, the poster replied. Two days later I arrived in town, dreaming about my score. I travel with my chainsaw, my hookaroon and a set of workin’ clothes in my truck just in case a score pops up while I’m out of town, so I was all set. I got to the place, and thought the bark looked a little too familiar. One easy cut through the log revealed the beautiful yellow wood of.....a poplar. Nuts! Oh well, I figured the wood is right in front of me and free, so I sectioned that baby up in 18” rounds; and the homeowner had a little wheelie cart to load them on and bring them to my truck. He was so enthusiastic and helpful I didn’t have the heart to tell him it was very common poplar wood. I just thanked him and was ready to head out when he pointed out a nice size oak with a dead limb- he’s scared it will hit his house, so he is having the tree taken down and offered it to me when it comes down. Not a bad day after all!
An oak you wouldn't have got if you just walked away after that first cut. Good job! I made sure to point out the oak with a really bad lean behind the house of the last oak I got. That should be wood in the bank for me later lol.
Amazing that anyone would think that is ironwood but good on you for cleaning it up for the guy and now you'll get some oak too.
Hehe, when I got the poplar I have, I was told it was a white oak they took down. I may still suck @ tree ID, but I knew right away it was no oak.
At first, I thought “this guy pulled the ultimate bait-and-switch. He knew darn well he didn’t have ironwood but knew nobody would come pick up the poplar log.” Once I got to cutting, and saw how helpful the guy was with helping load it with me, I truly think he had no idea and called it ironwood because it was heavy when he tried to roll it over! I did take a hard look at his “oak” though to make sure it was an accurate label.
