Name that wood

Alright anyone have any idea what this wood is? It is a full 2x4 not the fake dimensions sold at box stores. The sawyer gave them to me to prop up the end of the Cherry I bought and was loading in the pickup. No discernible smell but really heavy. I almost want to say oak but it is just so heavy! It has been laying in my basement for four months easy. I just noticed it and think it is good for a project but as you probably figured out O have no idea what it is!Attachment 196255Attachment 196256Attachment 196255Attachment 196256

No expert here, but I'll get the ball rolling. How about white ash?

I can see that the wood is ring porous and light colored. That's certainly consistent with white ash, or other ashes. There are other ring porous woods out there, for example black locust, but I think Bob Clark has put his finger on the most likely candidate.

+1
Looks like ash to me, and that agrees with it being heavy. Furthermore, these days of emerald ash borer infestations have sent many trees to the sawmill (and wood stove).

I didn’t realize ash was that heavy! Very cool itnis a nice looking piece of wood. What do you mean by ring porous? Thanks guys!

tonewood

Maybe some sides but they are just 2”x4”. I might have to see if he has anything bigger.

I used ash on one of my early instruments, about 15 years ago, John. Back and sides with a spruce top. I played it regularly then sold it to someone who heard it being played and liked the sound. As far as I know the instrument is still in use.

+1 for Ash. Looks like European Ash, with it's slightly more 'olive' grain.

Bat wood?

You could join a few sections of that ash. Fire up the bandsaw, and the next thing you know, you've got a Telecaster.

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Originally Posted by John Bertotti

What do you mean by ring porous? Thanks guys!

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Hardwoods can be divided into ring porous and diffuse porous. It is common to use the analogy of drinking straws for the grain of the wood with the open part of the straws being the pores. In ring porous wood the straws, and thus the pores, are lined up with the growth rings. In diffuse porous woods they are not. The pores in ring porous woulds are also frequently larger. Typical ring porous woods would include oak and ash. Woods like cherry, maple, and birch are diffuse porous. When using ring porous woods, it is common to use a grain filler to fill the pores before finishing. Otherwise it can be hard to get an even finish.

Yup, I'm no expert, but from my cabinet shop days I was going to guess Ash. Ash is a very nice hardwood for cabinet faceframes and veneers, and it also makes nice tables and chairs. Generally harder than cherry and of course mahogany, generally its hardness is more close to oak, walnut and maple.

When I picked it up my first guess was ash but it is so heavy I second guessed myself and wondered about white oak. Tele would be cool but an electric mando might be cooler!

Could also be hickory? That tends to be more dense than ash.

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Originally Posted by j. condino

tonewood

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Yes agree, rather nice tonewood. I have a slab swamp ash tele that’s not light but not a beast either. It’s very resonant.

Any chance of picture showing the end grain? I've done some woodworking projects (front porch rockers) and found white oak to be noticeably heavier than ash IMHO.
But the grain looks a little more wavy than white oak. tough to make a call without seeing it in person. I'm sure that clears up nothing at all!

Attachment 196264Attachment 196265Attachment 196266Here you go. Found another piece I think is the same. The discoloration may be from a floor mat they were sitting on.

Seeing the end grain picture I'm inclined to think its not white oak. Just saying.

Yea I have a board or to of 6x6 native oak from an industrial machine pallet. Looks different for sure.

What Nevin said!

Whoops, meant to reply with a quote to Nevin's explanation of ring porous versus diffuse porous woods.

It is not oak if the picture resolution is what it appears to be. Oak displays prominent ray fleck and end grain displays rays. It still looks like white ash to me; the grain, the color, the general appearance. I also don't think it is hickory, it just looks more like ash.
By the way, according to the Wood Database white ash has a specific gravity of .55 to .67, shag bark hickory has a specific gravity of .64 to .80 and white oak has a specific gravity of .60 to .75. In other words, the density of all three can overlap.

It's not Norwegian wood. That bird has flown.

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Originally Posted by Dave Greenspoon

It's not Norwegian wood. That bird has flown.

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Well ... Actually, theoretically, it could be. Inasmuch as white ash (Fraxinus americana) is the likely candidate (if I'm reading correctly the assertions of those far better versed in this area than I), there is the possibility, however small, it could be European ash (Fraxinus excelsior), which, according to the wiki, is "native throughout mainland Europe east to the Caucasus and Alborz mountains, and the British Isles, which determine its western boundary. The northernmost location is in the Trondheimsfjord region of Norway. The species is widely cultivated and reportedly naturalised in New Zealand and in scattered locales in the United States and Canada." (Italicized for emphasis.) Just sayin' ... :whistling: