What's This?

[Jon1270]

Not always easily visible....

?? Should be pretty obvious on a radial split like the first pic. Are you thinking of splits that cross the rings at other angles?

 

[Woody Stover]

Looked a bit like black cherry to me
That was the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw that curled-up bark (not Black Cherry, but some other type.) On closer examination, I didn't see the horizontal marks that you see on Cherry bark (forgot what they are called.)

Are you thinking of splits that cross the rings at other angles?

No. I've some rounds square on the ends, and had to look really close to see anything that looked like a ray. On other rounds, the rays could be seen from ten feet away.

 

[Jon1270]

No. I've some rounds square on the ends, and had to look really close to see anything that looked like a ray. On other rounds, the rays could be seen from ten feet away.

Ah, I was referring to rays visible on the split surface, not the endgrain.

 

[clemsonfor]

Yes may not be seen from pic but he should be able to see them in person. A split should have many per face.

 

[ScotO]

Well, Jack, may be time to give it the sniff test to put this to rest.......red oak would have an obvious vinegary scent to it, as would cherry. Honey locust will not have such a noticeable aroma.......

But the grain, bark, and heartwood color all have honey locust written in stone.........

 

[Jon1270]

It's honey locust. If you zoom in on the first pic you actually can see the rays, but they're small. Almost every species of wood has medullary rays. They're very difficult to see in pine, a bit easier to find in cherry, walnut and maple, easier still in honeylocust, beech and sycamore, and hit-you-in-the-face obvious in oak. Here's a piece of red oak. In white oak, they're even bigger.

 

[blujacket]

But the grain, bark, and heartwood color all have honey locust written in stone.........

That is NO DOUBT Honey Locust.

 

[Jacktheknife]

Well, Jack, may be time to give it the sniff test to put this to rest.......red oak would have an obvious vinegary scent to it, as would cherry. Honey locust will not have such a noticeable aroma.......

But the grain, bark, and heartwood color all have honey locust written in stone.........

I split cherry yesterday too, the locust had,no such aroma.

 

[ScotO]

I split cherry yesterday too, the locust had,no such aroma.

That should put the doubters at rest, then!

 

[Jags]

So, what ae the traits I can use to identify this in the future

If you see a tree that looks like its ready to bite back - its honey locust.

 

[Jacktheknife]

If you see a tree that looks like its ready to bite back - its honey locust.
View attachment 107998

Yep, I know that, but as others have said there is also the non-thorn type. Thorns are a dead give-away when they are there.

 

[Woody Stover]

and hit-you-in-the-face obvious in oak. Here's a piece of red oak. In white oak, they're even bigger.

Yep, I knew just what you were talking about when I realized the OP's pic was split grain, not end grain. I haven't paid attention but I think the rays will always be visible on the split face, even if they are hard to see on the end grain.

 

[Jon1270]

I think the rays will always be visible on the split face,

So long as the split face is more or less parallel to the rays, yes. At other angles, they look more like lines than wide patches.

 

[Thistle]

Thistle - How long is that blade on the right? It's a monster!

42" .063 gauge bar,full skip chain

 

[blades]

Well now I am confused, what I have has a nice aroma, completely different from the black locust though, looks like op first pic. either way 10+ cords of btus close to the top of the charts.

 

[Shane N]

Glad everyone else responded before I had a chance. Looked like pine to me =P (locusts aren't up in MN that I know of)

 

[chvymn99]

Well now I am confused, what I have has a nice aroma, completely different from the black locust though, looks like op first pic. either way 10+ cords of btus close to the top of the charts.

My Honey locust, IMHO, has a wonderful sweetish smell to it. Its one of the woods that I enjoy sawing and splitting.

 

[blades]

Well went a lookin at various sticks in the hood, Dang gum what I got is Honey Locust. so whats the dry time on locust vs/3yr oak? Gots lots of honey only a cord or so of Black,css. Way ahead so time ain't a problem

 

[Jacktheknife]

Well went a lookin at various sticks in the hood, Dang gum what I got is Honey Locust. so whats the dry time on locust vs/3yr oak? Gots lots of honey only a cord or so of Black,css. Way ahead so time ain't a problem

Seems like two years from what I could find.

 

[chvymn99]

Seems like two years from what I could find.

Yea, two is good... 3 is better...

I started in a stash that had some two year old Honey Locust in it. It was good and dry, had no problem with burning it. But I started getting in it at the very end of the season (like March/April like).

 

[clemsonfor]

I had some I cut standing dead. It was ready when I split it. Dead maybe 1-2 years.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Well went a lookin at various sticks in the hood, Dang gum what I got is Honey Locust. so whats the dry time on locust vs/3yr oak? Gots lots of honey only a cord or so of Black,css. Way ahead so time ain't a problem

I got honey locust on Mothersday, I got black locust the day after... I tested them both 2 weeks ago, the black was at 19, the skinniest stick that I could find of the honey locust was 28%, so I say at least 2 years maybe 3...

 

[HDRock]

I got honey locust on Mothersday, I got black locust the day after... I tested them both 2 weeks ago, the black was at 19, the skinniest stick that I could find of the honey locust was 28%, so I say at least 2 years maybe 3...

What kinda Honey did U get on, say, fathers day, birthday ?

 

[HDRock]