What is this wood?

It looks like some species of oak to me.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Pallets are generally made from oak, but….

-- National Sarcasm Society; Like we Need your Support

If it was a domestic shipment, it’s most likely white oak. Cheap and plentiful. However, I know that shipments of lumber in particular that originate from Africa tend to have pallets made from the same lumber that the shipment is. Looks like white oak to me, I’ve busted up enough palettes to know they are pretty heavy.

-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken

Thanks Guys,

Strange that white oak would have that many black streaks in it. I will post the finished project if ever it gets finished. Working out of town for the next 2 weeks. I just can’t seem to get my tools in the carry on.

-- ShawnH "A little knowledge is a tool for disaster." Chinese porverb

apple wood is another option. I reclaim some pallets from time to time, and I do get applewood in some of them, 1/2 oak 1/2 applewood.

Applewood has some really nice figure and colors, one of my favs.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

I have to agree with Oak. The color, grain pattern, thickness of pulp wood in first photo look like oak. The rays shooting across the grain in the end grain picture also denote Oak. The color, I can’t explain, unless it was an inclusion of bark or an old wound in the tree. Whatever the species, I’m sure the finished project will look great. Best of luck, BTKS

What does it smell like? Oak smells like..vomit. Also I dont see any rays on the endgrain.

-- Dan, Sterling Alaska, http://sullcon.homestead.com/ Before you criticise some one, walk a mile in their shoes...then you will be a mile away and you have their shoes!

Does is look as though it had steel straps on it anywhere? If so, steel will react with oak and stain it dark (almost black) when it’s wet. Granted not that deep, only at the surface. That’s a way to check if it’s oak also, get a piece wet and put a steel ruler or a piece of iron on it and let it sit for a day two. If you get a black stain then it’s a good bet it’s oak.

-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken

Could be about anything.

FormerFramer, Hate to disagree with you but, I have found pallets made from; White Oak, Red Oak, Hickory, Poplar, Ash, Walnut, Pine, Aldur, and Cherry. Along with a LOT of boards here and there that I could not identify.
And these are all US local pallets. The Mahogany and Brazzillian Chery are the imports I have found.(that I can identify)

There are a LOT of nice woods out there. Keep your eyes peeled for the treasures!

Scrappy

-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!

There is also a species of oak called Black Oak, I don’t know what the wood looks like though.

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

The logs for pallet lumber are sometimes just left to sit for months even years before being sawn up. Then they are made into pallets without being dried. Could be the cause for the streaks, just mold on undried lumber.

-- David South FLorida

The top picture is red oak. The bark gives it away. The second picture appears to have two different types of wood.

Freshly sawn white oak has a vanilla smell which is stronger in drier pieces. Green red oak can have some awful smells if there is a bacterial or fungal infection. The bad smells in red oak caused be these infections will typically go away during air drying.

-- Wonderful new things are coming! - God

Here is the finished sanding block of the mystery wood and maple:

From 8-18-09

From 8-18-09

-- ShawnH "A little knowledge is a tool for disaster." Chinese porverb