Wood ID PLEASE

[Tim Pettigrew]

These logs were harvested whilst helping to clear the grounds of a country house.  I think they are Robinia (False Acacia, Black Locust) but would be most grateful for confirmation or otherwise.

Update 1st December, better cross-section photograph added


Cheers
Tim

[John D Smith]

 Hi Tim,
            I would also think it is Robinia I have had quite a bit of this off a friend I found it turned very nice and had some very nice grain features and it didn't seem to split while stored.
           
                                                               Regards John

[Tim Pettigrew]

 Hi Tim,
            I would also think it is Robinia I have had quite a bit of this off a friend I found it turned very nice and had some very nice grain features and it didn't seem to split while stored.
           
                                                               Regards John

Many thanks John - sounds promising 

[John D Smith]

 Hi Tim,
           If you have quite a large amount  I would seal the ends. Regards John

[Tim Pettigrew]

Thanks John. Yes I do that routinely using EndSeal which I have found to be a very effective treatment for that

[seventhdevil]

that's not Robinia.

do you have any leaves?

i'm thinking Cotinus spp. smoke tree.

[Tim Pettigrew]

Sadly by the time I got to see the logs any vegetation had been stripped off and mixed with the remains of other trees.

Thanks for the definite ruling out of Robinia which is unexpected and very intriguing.  Will look up Cotinus which is not a genus I have come across before....

[John D Smith]

 Hi Seventhdevil,
                        I would not doubt what you are saying your knowledge about wood and trees is second to none could you  put up a photo of Cotinus because as I said earlier I have used Robininia and what Bill was showing looked exactly like that.

                                             Regards John

[Les Symonds]

 Hi Seventhdevil,
                        I would not doubt what you are saying your knowledge about wood and trees is second to none could you  put up a photo of Cotinus because as I said earlier I have used Robininia and what Bill was showing looked exactly like that.

                                             Regards John

....there's some excellent images here..... http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/smoketree.htm

Les

[seventhdevil]

Sadly by the time I got to see the logs any vegetation had been stripped off and mixed with the remains of other trees.

Thanks for the definite ruling out of Robinia which is unexpected and very intriguing.  Will look up Cotinus which is not a genus I have come across before....

Tim the log you have there has a spongy soft pith which your nail will easily gouge out but robinia is rock hard all the way.

i'm not 100% sure it is cotinus as it's been a long time since i turned it and to be honest the sapwood was much brighter.

[John Plater]

Dare I make another suggestion ? The bark looks very similar to judas tree (cercis silliquastrum) I have turned. The size of the logs would be quite typical too. Also have seen the discolouration which appears to run through the sapwood. There is also a close relative of cercis with a similar bark whose name cannot be brought to mind at the moment, there is one growing near to me.
ATB John

[John Plater]

Stirred the brain cell, Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) is the one I could not remember. Have seen it worked by another but have not worked it myself. Looks similar to the photographs.
ATB John

[Tim Pettigrew]

Tim the log you have there has a spongy soft pith which your nail will easily gouge out but robinia is rock hard all the way.

i'm not 100% sure it is cotinus as it's been a long time since i turned it and to be honest the sapwood was much brighter.

Your'e absolutely right about the pith Steve, it's very soft.  Thanks also to John P, but I'm not convinced it's Katsura or Judas tree.  Will post a photo of a moistened fine sanded end-grain sample later today.

[seventhdevil]

Tim, do you have a black light???

if you can get hold of one see if the wood fluoresces under it.

starting to think it's Pistachia chinensis.

[Tim Pettigrew]

Many thanks for your expertise Steve.  Certainly looks like the most likely option.

Cheers

Tim