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Wood Identification

3/23/15       
David Member

I was needing some help from you guys. I am trying to identify the trim in my house for my curiosity. The wood in question is not really dense, soft enough to take a fingernail indention but still fairly hard, light in color, and fairly termite resistant. I had a corner in my house chewed up by termites but they stopped at the trim eating pine slats and oak framing. I had thought maybe it's chestnut but I have never seen much chestnut lumber that's not wormy. The house is old enough to have chestnut wood in it. Anyways thanks for taking a look.


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3/24/15       #2: Wood Identification ...
Texas Timbers  Member

Website: http://www.woodbarter.com

No one can say with any certainty what it is based on one fuzzy image of stained flat grain. Some species with obvious characteristics can be identified by the face grain only, but for most species even if you have a crispy clear image of the face grain prior to staining you'd still need a detailed end grain shot to nail it with any confidence. Like these pics of Castanea dentata (images posted with permission compliments of http://www.hobbithouseinc.com):


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3/27/15       #3: Wood Identification ...
David Member

Here's a fresh cut from a piece of the trim I had leftover. I hope this helps better. It is really tight grained stuff and I tried to take the best picture I could. Thanks again.


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3/27/15       #4: Wood Identification ...
Texas Timbers  Member

Website: http://www.woodbarter.com

The image itself is large enough but not clear enough, and even if it had been unfortunately whatever blade you used to cut it was too dull to shear the fibers off cleanly. Either that or you cut it way too fast. You can see how the fibers were torn off and are hiding the details of the cellular structure. If you compare the pictures I posted to yours you can see what I mean.

7/1/15       #5: Wood Identification ...
Dave Boyt  Member

Website: http://www.norwoodsawmills.com

Might try comparing the wood to eastern red cedar. The knot & insect resistance point in that direction. Is that the true color or is it stained?

7/1/15       #6: Wood Identification ...
Texas Timbers  Member

Website: http://www.woodbarter.com

It doesn't look like juniperus virginiana to me, but it does appear to be a softwood of some kind. My WAG is a pine or spruce etc.


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