Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: tgtmatt on February 11, 2013, 01:38:33 pm
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I have a ton of wood like these around my neck of the woods and I'm not sure exactly what types they are. I've looked in books but I just cannot figure this one out. (I'm probably overlooking it a lot)
The first two pictures were a larger tree
Third is a tree that had a limb cut that was growing over a farm.
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First one is ash with a slight bit of twist
Second one might be hard maple?????.. hard to tell from that pic.
Where do u live?
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I live in South carolina. Near the beach.
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Identifying a tree by solely one picture of the outer surface of the bark, without any further information, is extremely difficult and unreliable at best. Try to get pictures of the leaves, fruits, buds, description of habitat, clear pic of the end grain, size reference, smell, associated animals or plants...
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Yep, first one's ash. Second ?
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+1 on what Dark Soul says. First pic is likely to be ash, as Blackhawk stated, but identifying by bark alone is sometimes taking a shot in the dark. Bark on a young tree will often look different from that on an older tree of the same species. Leaves are the real key. Spring is just around the corner tho, so when they put on some leaves get another pic and ask us again. Also when pulling green leaves off crush some in your hands and see if they have a distinct odor and tell us that information too. If the leaves have a different color or texture on their underside that will also help as some species can be very similar on the top but vary by what's underneath.
I know people have made good bows out of ash before. TBB 4 lists Green Ash having a specific gravity of .56; and White Ash at .59 SG. Carolina Ash is not listed in the TBB. Reason for mentioning these three species is because they are the ones found in South Carolina according to the North American Field Guide. Pumpkin Ash is also found there but it is very similar to Green Ash. Hope that helps. Not sure if you was looking for that many details but it's here now if you need it.
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The second one looks like a poplar but I don't know if poplars grow near the SC coast. The third one looks like an oak, maybe water oak.
Where in coastal SC are you? I used to live in Bluffton, near Hilton Head.
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Thanks guys for all the information. I come to this forum for almost every question I can't just figure out.
Pat, I live in myrtle beach.
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I agree looks like ash, poplar, and a red oak species.
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I'm gonna go with poplar, poplar, red oak.
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Identifying trees is very difficult for me. I wish I had a mentor who lived around here. This would be a whole lot easier.
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The second looks like water oak or willow oak.
Grady
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Could the tall one that everyone believes is ash actually be sweetgum? I remember seeing ball like fruit hanging on the limbs that I believe to be sweetgum balls. I could be wrong, but the bark seems to match a little.
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Are there any 5 pointed, palmated leaves around the base of the tree. Thats what sweet gum has.
I cut my tree IDing teeth in and around Bluffton SC on the southern end of the SC coast so the trees should be similar.
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I will have to look next time i'm out there, might be awhile but I'll inform you when I do.
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Impossible to tell from bark pictures. I second the notion that you need leaves or you can cut a small piece and get it to a university where they can examine it under a microscope. They'll do it for free. A few years ago I felled an unknown tree in the winter and the local university figured it out for me.
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Another question guys! What type of wood does this look like, I believe it is some type of oak.
And also, what does checking look like on the back of a stave? I have never seen pictures before and I am curious. Also, how long does it take to begin checking? (average) because I know it will be different for different woods.
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Two more pictures
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Last two look like Sweetgum.
See the gray on the inside on the 1/2 log.... Looks like spalting.
Spalting is the first stages of rot. Sweetgum rots real fast if given the chance.
David
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The first pic. is differntly red oak,next is a suckie pic. but it could be elm or ash. Perrty sure bt the bark the last is hickory. Really hard to tell by just one pic.
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Those pictures are all of the same tree I had cut down.