Identify tree via bark?

[stuckmotor]

<snip
Nice thing with oak is it smells so nice when you cut it!!

Either our oaks smell different or our noses don't work the same.
Sawed green White Oak smells like dog poop to me.

 

[Oaktree]

Either our oaks smell different or our noses don't work the same.
Sawed green White Oak smells like dog poop to me.

I'll go with the former. No white oak here, just red. And for all I know the red oak here is different from red oak in other parts of the country. Ours smells nice.
Someone gave me some willow many years ago and that really stunk.

 

[RalphVa]

Contact your extension office. Ours has one little booklet for IDing trees by bark and another booklet for IDing them by leaves. Free.

 

[stuckmotor]

I'll go with the former. No white oak here, just red. And for all I know the red oak here is different from red oak in other parts of the country. Ours smells nice.
Someone gave me some willow many years ago and that really stunk.

I've tried to identify oaks by their leaves and found some that had characteristics of more than one type of oak. If anyone can tell me whether cross breading among oaks is common, I'd appreciate the information.

 

[thclimer]

I've tried to identify oaks by their leaves and found some that had characteristics of more than one type of oak. If anyone can tell me whether cross breading among oaks is common, I'd appreciate the information.

Oh my yes, they certainly do dross bread (hyberdize).

The following video is about an hour long but it will describe the number of vairiations of oaks just in New England and just how difficult they can be to identify:

 

[stuckmotor]

Oh my yes, they certainly do dross bread (hyberdize).

The following video is about an hour long but it will describe the number of vairiations of oaks just in New England and just how difficult they can be to identify:

Thank you. The video appears to be exactly what I need to see.

 

[stuckmotor]

thclimer,
Along with hybridization, the presentation explained many things I've observed about oaks over the years.
Thanks again,
Stuck

 

[Richard]

Not had time to deal with these fallen trees but have a question....

if they are cut to logs and taken out to be sawn.... would there be any merit in cutting them in 8' lenghts.... 12' lengths... 15' lenghs?

I know a board foot is a board foot.....BUT, these are long and clean so getting a 12' clean board is more difficult perhaps than an 8' clean board. We'll have means of transporting them to someone (handful at a time type thing) so my question is, would there be higher value cutting them longer or not?

I'd hate to cut things to say, 10' lenghts only to find out I could have gotten 20% more (made up the number) had I made them 15' lengths.

 

[JJT]

If they were my trees, I'd cut them all to 9' and have them milled to random/max width with a thickness of 5/4" . 9' logs yield 8' boards and are way easier to handle than longer logs. 5/4 boards make nice furniture and shelves.

 

[2manyrocks]

Call the sawmill and ask them about what lengths to cut. My local mill told me if I was hauling a log to them on my 16' utility trailer that has sides to put a chain under the log before loading it so they can get it off my trailer without tearing it up. Apparently, my local mill only has forks to unload--no grapple.

 

[ponytug]

Not had time to deal with these fallen trees but have a question....

if they are cut to logs and taken out to be sawn.... would there be any merit in cutting them in 8' lenghts.... 12' lengths... 15' lenghs?

I know a board foot is a board foot.....BUT, these are long and clean so getting a 12' clean board is more difficult perhaps than an 8' clean board. We'll have means of transporting them to someone (handful at a time type thing) so my question is, would there be higher value cutting them longer or not?

I'd hate to cut things to say, 10' lenghts only to find out I could have gotten 20% more (made up the number) had I made them 15' lengths.

Assuming that these are mostly oaks, I would second @JJT's suggestion of going for 5/4 planks rather than 2bys. If you are planning on furniture making, I would do some 21st, but only some. Make sure you paint the ends to reduce splitting and checking! Whether a 15' board is more valuable to you would seem to hinge on whether you can use a 15' board. In general, I would go for longer is better if the wood looks to be clear, but if you are cutting a 14' down to an 8' board to use it and trashing 6', it is hardly a "win" in my book.

I dealt with oak joists and wall supports, and I would not wish that on anyone. Every single nail needed to be pre-drilled. Ditto screws. That gets old, and slows everything way down.

If you are hauling the trees to sell them to the mill, as long as the mill will take and as long you can make them and get them there would be my answer. On the farm, they used to skid 22' out of the woods on to the farm saw mill. It made for better siding boards (long), and long 2bys for rafters.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Egon]

Let the sawyer decide on how to cut the logs to get most quality lumber out of a log.

length, width, thickness, flat sawn, rift sawn or edge grain.

 

[Richard]

Another 'please educate me' question....

Tools at hand:

Chainsaw
100+ hp tractor (has drawbar but no crossbar for 3-point arms)
90 hp backhoe/loader

I'd like to take tractor or backhoe as shallow into the woods as necessary. Use a chain or cable to extract logs out. Pulling them out with either machine.

I currently have 25' section of grade 100 square link chain which gives an excellent bite to a log. One end has a choker, other a fixed hook. Chain is 3/8th's inch.

Been wondering....would it be better to buy say, 100' length of chain so I can drag it into woods and use it to extract a log or, get 100' of cable to do same?

Given I've already got 3/8 inch chain... I like the idea of using it to bite on the tree then connect something to pull it.

I see cables fraying and frankly, limited future use. I can always use a chain....can cut down to more friendly lengths but, it's likely going to be a pain to manipulate.

So....

cable or chain?

what size?

 

[Egon]

You may end up breaking a 3/8 chain.

Cable and blocks should work well.

 

[ponytug]

If you do use chain, have a look at how to use chain safely. Catastrophic chain failures tend to be associated lots of injuries.

Personally, I would look at some of the newer plastic (HDPE) cables that are very tough and strong; I just would not use them as the choker.

All the best,

Peter