What Kind of Wood is This?

[jyoutz]

To me, cherry would have a redish color to it. Especially left exposed to day light. I would guess maybe ash. Ash has a straight grain to it. But the comment about pin holes makes me believe it could be maple. Some of my air drying maple has dust piles by these holes. Jon

It’s hard to tell from the photo, but ash has a bit more pronounced grain pattern. I’m going with cherry or maple. Some cherry is pretty light and not necessarily reddish color, but some does have that tone.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

This is cherry,

SR

 

[jyoutz]

This is cherry,

SR

Definitely. If the wood is hard maple could be a possibility. If softer, it could be alder.

 

[4570Man]

Ash has a course grain structure that’s comparable to oak and it’s also heavy which the op said this isn’t. My bet goes on definitely not ash. That wood is too light in color to make cherry a likely candidate. You could leave it in the sun for a day and see if it rapidly turns more red to help confirm it’s not cherry. Cherry also has a tight smooth grain where this appears to be flakey. I’d say it’s not maple or poplar either because those are also tight smooth grain and not flakey. I guess the sample could be partially rotten that would contribute to it being flakey and make that not a good identifier.

 

[CalG]

Ya gotta show the end grain!

Is it ring porous? or isn't it!

Cuts the guessing by half.

IT"S NOT OAK for sure, unless you left all the sanding dust on it.

eta

Worm holes you say?

Spalted or worm wood doubles the value as long as it's sound. Turps will kill any worms...

 

[4570Man]

I came across these pieces a few years ago and never did identify them for certain due to not having anything else that was the same. They look identical to the OPs pieces. These pieces are very light. A fraction of what oak or hard maple weighs. The grain is very soft. Probably softer than pine but at least comparable. The wood cuts very chippy. Bone dry pine is maybe comparable but not at all like maple or poplar cuts. My guess at the time was basswood or alder which I still think is a good possibility.

 

[CalG]

Just to add a distraction

I've got a stack of sawn hardwood in the understory of my shop. about 1K bf, been there for 20 years. I keep thinking I will "get to it"

Maple, ash, a little oak and popple/ all 5 quarter. random width, 12 foot of more.

A burden of riches

 

[Egon]

I’d go for pine.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

To me, cherry would have a redish color to it. Especially left exposed to day light. I would guess maybe ash. Ash has a straight grain to it. But the comment about pin holes makes me believe it could be maple. Some of my air drying maple has dust piles by these holes. Jon

I have made a few cutting boards with Maple, Cherry, White Oak and Pecan, and they are darn hard and fairly heavy. I don't think this is any of the above, although I don't have a guess as to what it might be; not being familiar with your indigenous wood.

 

[Jstpssng]

Based on picturesof the end I would guess some type of pine. Poplar doesn't have dark rings.