Second log is a mystery-- ANYONE KNOW WHAT IT IS?

Is it some kind of Cypress? You mentioned finding it in a swampy area – that’s what comes to mind.

May help if you could post pictures of the bark and leaves if possible.

-- Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

It definitely has the taper like a cypress? The bark and or leaves would help as Michaelray says above…how hard is the wood inside, and how heavy is it??

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

I have no clue, but I wish I had a saw mill like yours. -SST (I wonder if I could convert one of my old Shopsmiths into a mill…increase the power some…add a few gizmos…)

-- Accuracy is not in your power tool, it's in you

I believe it’s to hard and to heavy to be cypress. It’s real heavy even though it’s been down a while. Never saw the leaves and the bark reminded me of a white oak.
Shopsmithtom and anyone else interested, I can get you the name and number of the guy I bought my kit from for the mill. It included the engine, wheels, bearings and threaded rod and then you buy you own steel and either fab it yourself or have someone else do it. It is basically the same mill as a Linn 1900 or you can contact linn and buy their kits in various level of completion.

-- BUILT TO LAST WOODWORKS, West Blocton, Alabama

Looks like it could be Black Willow. Here is a picture of it listed on the hobbithouseinc exotic wood picture site

Even though only one of their sample pictures show the dark streaks, I’ve seen it at Paxton Hardwoods w/ the same color and grain as what you cut.

-- Scott, Colorado

That Darkness is (crap whats it called) Splated? ( a microbe that makes way cool figure).
What if anything, does it smell like? Might be a Southern Cedar? I have a dieing one in my back yard
and it slices up a lot like that… I the smell is not so strong until its cut and fades rather fast when you sticker it.

-- Duct Tape is the Force! It has a light side and a dark side and it Binds the Universe together!

It’s southern sweet gum,I have a mess of it.It is very pretty, the trick is to dry out right.I quarter saw a lot of it to avoid waste from warping so bad.Almost postive that is sweet gum, I live tallahassee and cut this on a regular basis.

-- eric post, tallahassee FL

I kinda thought it might be sweet gum but the darkness thru my off. May have been from lying on the wet ground were I found it.

-- BUILT TO LAST WOODWORKS, West Blocton, Alabama

spalted sassafras?

-- /\/\/\ BarryW /\/\/\ Stay so busy you don't have time to die.

I was told that you can send a sample of wood to the US Forestery Service and they will identify it and give origin that the tree had grew. This was to be a free service (part of our tax dollars at work) I guess. I will look into it some more.

when you say it’s been down, has it been laying flat or propped up. if it was on the ground, it probably has a lot of drying to go. you will probably know much better once it is dry.

GSWoodworker – I wouldn’t be surprised if they farm this out to various colleges and universities to be used as part of their educational program. I’d love to hear more about it if you can find more info.

Some interesting wood.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Might as well throw my guess in there. From the second picture and the way you said it had a warm brown color as it dried looks alot like Butternut ( a cousin to walnut, not as dark and not as hard, but has a similar grain and color as your log) Don’t know if there are any Butternut trees in Alabama, but I’ve been told the tree has been dieing out because of some sort of blite. Hope the US Forestery Service can help you out and keep us posted.

-- John @ Myrtle Beach

all the sweet gum I’ve ever cut has had dark streaks and a spalted effect through the grain.But is very nice.Once dry machines well and looks sharp.Have fun with it.Check out this link

http://www.hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/gum.htm

info on the sweetgum

-- eric post, tallahassee FL

I’d say it’s gum too

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

Me too .. sweet gum. very beautiful wood.

In Milwaukee, most of the interiors of the old bungalows were Oak, some were birch, others maple, but the some of the real beauties used sweet gum. almost a zebrawood look with amber shellac as the finish,

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

If you were on the west coast I would guess Yew Wood.

-- Les B, Oregon

an old red maple by chance????

-- Which way did they go? Tell me, tell me I must know I'm there leader!!

Could it be Apple wood? I remeber seeing an old apple tree with that kind of grain a long time ago.

-- All bleeding will eventually stop.

Could it be morning wood?

-- Kevin

I think its brown african barking wood

It looks like it is elm to me. Either american or winged. I just sawed a winged elm log that looked just like that. You said that it was near a swampy area…...then I would say that it is most likely an american elm, especially with the fluted butt. Also, if it is an elm it will have a very strong “stinky” smell to it. Elm is very common in the south. I live in Louisiana and it is very common. Elm is a very hard wood like hickory and ash. Once it is dry it makes some beautiful lumber though.