The debate over this wood continues...(SETTLED FINALLY)

Rob Keeble

Member
Messages
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Location
GTA Ontario Canada
Ok Frank this is for you so you can help me out. I cut a piece of this wood down the middle (it was cracking to pieces anyhow despite my use of LV special coating for the end of wood.)

So lets see if this helps get it cleared up

OSAGE ORANGE or SUMAC? This is like the tobe or not to be.:)

So whoever wishes to be the shakespear of wood speak up.

inner grain diff view.jpg

Osage Orange or Sumac the inside.jpg

the bark.jpg

the end grain.jpg
 
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I'm pretty lousy ID'ng wood, but definitely doesn't look like any of the Bodark I have. And the bark doesn't look like the wood I had here that I was told was Honey Locust.... also my locust was a lot whiter... could be mulberry... my mulberry tree wasn't big enough to get a slab from, so not sure of the grain... I vote for DUNNO.
 
Locust (the yellow kind) has small thorns scattered about. It too turns brown in the sun. Mulberry sounds good as well, Wrong bark for Summac, How heavy? OO is heavy, Summac is not, Locust bark is dark gray to black, OO is brown to orange, Summac is slick Mulberry is brownish Gray.

Could be Osage Orangeberry Summalocust?
 
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hey john, he lives in a subdivision so perhaps it is a hybred version of locust. but if it is the locust we have is very dense, is the hybred stuff dense as well? i mean after its some what dry you wont nail it.. but green you have a chance:D
 
Well i found this site

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/index.htm#letterR

and i really cannot make up my mind.

The bark looks like the Osage Orange here

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/osage orange.htm

But the inner wood has the Sumach coloring here

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/sumac.htm

Its not my pictures that are green the wood has that iridescent greenish yellow look. Its a really intriguing color.

Oh by the way John B you are close I found the wood at the local garden recylcing depot so it was not thick trunks and more of a large shrub that someone had taken out.

John D You would not be wrong thinking redbud take a look at some of the pics this guy has of it and its close.
http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/redbud.htm


As to the locust i doubt that when i see how nice and clear locust is.
http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/locust, honey.htm


Its a real mystery to me to settle on which of the two main culprits it could be.

When i look at the wood this guy has for Sumac the pieces i have look just like it but the bark dont look like his unfortunately he dont have great pictures of the bark on his Sumac. When you see my bark picture next to his Osage Orange bark and then look at the sap wood ring well it makes me lean to OO.

So who knows. It sure is pretty stuff wish i could my hands on more:)

Thanks for the help guys much appreciated.
 
This poster has the definitive answer, Rob:

Identifying%20Wood.jpg


:rofl:
 
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