Can you name this wood please?

[SOAR]

Not too sure on this one Spam, dont think it Sweet Chestnut though it would have really distinctive growth rings, looking at the growth rings in your pics it appears to be a fast growing tree because of the spacing between the rings, dont think its Pine, not too sure about it being Lime, although the bark is similar, if its a hard wood to carve it rules out quite a few woods, even when seasoned some woods will be really hard to carve, I.E Oak, Ash, Cherry. Its a tricky one fella but I'm going to say Ash?.

Simon.

 

[robin wood]

Sorry Spamel but I can't help. No medulery rays at all showing in the pictures which would rule out alder and lime (though lime is always soft and easy to carve however dry) possibly a prunus but they should all show meduleries so not one of those unless we don't have a true radial surface showing. I think not chestnut, that has a coarser texture and more clearly defined anual growth rings this is very fine textured. Wood IDs are always difficult from small bits. I know a guy who would ID it under the microscope if you really wanted to know, but its a bit of a hassle.

 

[spamel]

Well, if anybody has any ideas, post them up. I'll then find out, hopefully, by a process of elimination. I'll try and track down some alder, I think I know where there is some growing, up by where Ratbag and myself got our sloes. So, I'll get some and dry it out to see if it looks similar. It's really bugging me now!

 

[SOAR]

Its not Holly is it from the working weekend at Delamere?

 

[spamel]

No, I don't think so. I'll bring it to Middlewood and everyone can have a gander. It's a brilliant hearth board though! The drill consumes it quite quickly though, you get maybe two or three embers from each hole, but an ember can be made in about 30 seconds from the start. I've found a bag of limpet shells too that'll be used in bearing blocks. I was using a small childs pocelain cup the other day, and it wa a great bearing block!

 

[Bernie Garland]

still say its lime here's a link see what you think look at the bark.

http://www.woodlands.co.uk/owning-a-wood/tree-identification/lime.php

bernie

 

[Mirius]

How about hornbeam? Bark is a bit rough for it, but it is a pale wood with a reddish layer under the surface grey bark.

 

[falcon]

Interesting that Robin's ruled out Alder as, like SteveA earlier, I thought the bark has that reddish tinge which Alder often shows.....

 

[Toddy]

I too think Alder, (Alnus) moreso having seen the photos of the timber. It was so commonly used up here for furniture that it gets called Scottish mahogany. Also, I have a beautiful spoon that Fenlander carved from Alder and it looks so like that timber.

The characteristics that Spam found, the charcoal, the way it burrs away quickly, that's all alder.

I may be wrong
but alder and hazel do make a very good combination for firebow or drill.


cheers,
Toddy

 

[mr dazzler]

Interesting that Robin's ruled out Alder as, like SteveA earlier, I thought the bark has that reddish tinge which Alder often shows.....

But the alder wood goes a deep pinkish bronze red when its dry and it definatelty wouldnt blunt a carving tool, its not that much tougher than balsa (wet or dry), likewise lime wood is soft and wouldnt blunt a tool, but this mystery wood is like as hard as iron as spam said. Its not ash (wheres the distinctive growth rings-not just the ones as seen from the end?) Could it be maple? Or holly?

 

[Toddy]

Alder is hard, especially when wet but when dry it is light and friable fibred.The fine grain is quite lovely and the colour can be from flesh toned to quite orangey red.
http://homepage.eircom.net/~archaeology/trees.htm

I like the Alders

cheers,
Toddy

 

[fishy1]

I was wondering if it was some kind of maple as well, I have a few bits of sycamore that look pretty similar. Bark is identical.

 

[spamel]

Still no idea what the wood is. Got a call earlier on saying I've got the job though!

 

[Toddy]

Oh congratulations, and very well done

atb,
Toddy

 

[falcon]

Alder is hard, especially when wet but when dry it is light and friable fibred.The fine grain is quite lovely and the colour can be from flesh toned to quite orangey red.
http://homepage.eircom.net/~archaeology/trees.htm

I like the Alders

cheers,
Toddy

Yep....the Alder I've harvested previously (I'm comletely confident about the I/D) was certainly more flesh toned.. I like them too...

 

[andy_e]

Still no idea what the wood is. Got a call earlier on saying I've got the job though!

Woohoo! Well done!

 

[spamel]

The blokes turning up for interview in hoodies made it easier, I'm sure!

 

[andy_e]

Even so, am sure you gave a good account of yourself.

 

[spamel]

Wife has just found a tree book she got me a while back. She thinks it may be Rowan. I'm inclined to agree!

 

[SOAR]

Nice one on getting the job Spam.

Simon.