how to identify between soft maple and hard maple logs?

[CDN Farm Boy]

On hard maple the center will have a redish-brown center and on soft maple the center will be more of a gray-silver color. At least that's what the grader at the log yard pointed out to me when I sell a few logs along.

Thanks. If that's accurate, that will be a big help.

Found this book in my wife's collection:




Lists 10 different types of maple around here with Sugar (hard) Maple and Silver & Red Maple (soft) being the most common.

Sugar maple: mature bark grey, irregularly ridged, sometimes scaly; wood light yellowish-brown

Silver maple: young bark grey, smooth; mature bark grey, often shaggy with thin strips that peel from both ends; wood pale

Red maple: young bark light grey, smooth; mature bark dark greyish-brown, scaly, with thin plates that peel from both ends; wood pale brown


Soooo, at what point in a maple tree's life is it considered mature?

 

[jk96]

Since this thread is about identifying logs can someone help me identify this tree? Our timber has a large amount of hedge, honey locust, oak, and this tree that I'm not sure of. Very tall straight trunks without many branches. It's also a very heavy and dense wood. Leaves are all off so I can't tell but don't want to cut something that's not good for firewood. Based on the bark and seed pod I found on one of the branches I'm guessing black locust?

 

[dave1949]

Black locust sounds reasonable from the bark and seed pod. My black locust has a distinct sourish smell to it and the wood is more yellow than your cut shows, or maybe it's just the light.

 

[jk96]

It is the light and/or cell phone camera. The wood has a slight yellowish/green tint to it.

 

[tcreeley]

Those look like locust seed pods. Barks is the same. We have a honey locust- but similar yo the black locust.

-Some sugar maples are well over a 100 years old. The maple trees we tapped as kids were a 100 + years old. They are still standing - puts them over 150 years old and they look healthy.
Mature- depends on your plans for the tree.

I burn a lot of curly red maple every year. A friend of mine uses it for his wood projects. Burns well and heavy! Amazing what disease does to wood!

 

[jix]

Curly red maple is very valuable for cabinet making...about 40 dollars a board foot, milled...and you BURN IT?

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Since this thread is about identifying logs can someone help me identify this tree? Our timber has a large amount of hedge, honey locust, oak, and this tree that I'm not sure of. Very tall straight trunks without many branches. It's also a very heavy and dense wood. Leaves are all off so I can't tell but don't want to cut something that's not good for firewood. Based on the bark and seed pod I found on one of the branches I'm guessing black locust?

https://flic.kr/p/qVrMXr

https://flic.kr/p/qVwkpX

I'd say locust as well. Got 2 in my yard, the flower every other year and smell absolutely amazing

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Mature- depends on your plans for the tree.

Firewood.

For ID purposes, how old would a maple tree be to no longer have 'young bark' and have 'mature bark'

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Curly red maple is very valuable for cabinet making...about 40 dollars a board foot, milled...and you BURN IT?

The irregularities within maple grain isn't usually visible until it's sawn or split. By the time its split, its worthless for woodworking.

 

[PILOON]

"The biggest thing I have learned so far is that 5 out of 5 suppliers of split wood I've delt with are crooks in one way or another."

I hear you there!!! I just starting burning 3 years ago and i'm 6 out of 7 were crooks. Taking advantage of this city slicker.

Don't feel alone, same here.
Face cord? should be 4' X 8' X16" but many will be 14" and some shorter. That can represent 10-20% less fuel that you paid for.

Ever hear of a metric cord? another scam.
Then there is semi seasoned, like cut last week and still dripping wet.
Mixed hardwood: = mostly spruce, balsum and a bit of maple and birch.
Ambiance= all soft woods and sold cheap