Firewood/lumber question

it could be spalting, or just natural coloring to whatever wood that is. (I’m reminded of the spalted boxelder photos from a magazine some years back) Some of the lilac I’ve used from my property has distinct spots of purple here and there.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

I am with Scott at this point. Lilac or boxelder immediately comes to mind. I have seen both first hand but am by no means an expert.

I get to see the lilac on a regular occasion since we have 2 of three ancient bushes left on our property. In both cases, the color is beautiful but will fade with time and exposure to light.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

No matter what type of tree it is, I sure hope you aren’t going to throw it on the fire. I’d set it aside and build something from it.

-- James

Looks like the same picture to me

All I can tell you is that the Navajo stay away from lightning struck trees like you’d stay away from…well make up your own metaphor

Thanks for the replies guys.

And Arnold is right… somehow I screwed up last night and posted the same link.

My concern was even if we were to use it for firewood, and it WAS spalting…wouldn’t that be dangerous?

And the more I thought about KCrandy’s comment, the more I remember walking up and down the one half of the cottonwood that fell (I was probably a good 15’ in the air) and looking back at the main truck that was left standing (probably 35’ up is where it split off) and noticing all the twisting of the wood and yet no scorch marks. So I’m thinking my dad was mistaken when he first called it a lightning struck tree.

Oh yea, and I’m Cro/Cherokee so not sure what they say about lightning struck trees :)

Thanks again guys. I may definitely have to pull it from the firewood pile, both for safety precautions and in hopes that one day I can mill it into something useful.

Here was the 2nd photo meant to be posted earlier:

-- -- Jim - Kokomo, Indiana

Thats 1 fine piece of wood no matter what it is.

-- Can't never could do anything, to try is to advance.

I bet it will be some pretty wood whem milled

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

my guess is flaming box elder…...but what ever it turns out to be…..it will be just beautiful…....

-- The Grizzone

It would be ok to burn it if it is spalted the fire will kill anything that might hurt you. I have cut down some popular that has had red in them and cottonwood is in the same family. It might be a mineral stain and it will make nice looking lumber when milled. If you had a picture of the bark it would help on doing a id of it.

Henry

-- alaskan79, Michigan

I think I’m just going to keep it and let it slow dry until I have a bandsaw (hopefully Xmas?) and try to resaw it into something usable. The bark was grey and had a very tight texture for lack of a better term. From what I’ve read up on, it sounds a lot like Box Elder, but by all means I could be wrong too. Either way, it will hopefully get resawn eventually, even if I have to do it by chainsaw lol. Lets hope I get a bandsaw first though lol.

-- -- Jim - Kokomo, Indiana