Help w/ Tree Identification

[bostonwhaler1969]

hello guys and gals and happy black friday, neighbor and i dropped this tree yesterday for his sister and i cant figure out what kind of tree it is...

my first guess is catalpa, long bean pod all over the ground ...

its pretty heavy and looks like it will be fun to chainsaw carve if i can figure out away to load it.. diameter is 24" plus

[telecarver]

A simple loading device is to attach a hook at the front of your pickup bed. Use large fender washers so the bed won't bend. If you have a rack to attach it to that's better. Make a ramp from a piece of plywood and remove the tailgate. Prop the ramp on up on the rear bumper with a 2x4 so that it's flush with the bed. Use a short log round on it's end under the plywood to support it unless you are using 3/4" or thicker plywood. Use a tow chain around the log and a come-along to pull it into the bed. Some short sections on 2" - 3" diameter limbs or 2" diameter pipe perpendicular under the log, will help it roll along the ground and up the ramp.

[bostonwhaler1969]

thanks ron good idea, dont have a truck with a bed but the concept should work fine with the trailer i tow ... i do have 2 2 by 12's i use for loading a lawn tractor on the trailer... i guess would work and use a come along or manual winch ( i have one rated for 2000lbs)...

still wondering what kind of tree this is

[Dicky]

I was thinking one of the locust trees but the long pods they have are flat and look more like pea pods than beans.

[bostonwhaler1969]

yeah im stumped on it... i bel. its somekind of softwood..... right down from this tree they do have those locust with the long spines on them... one scary tree if dont watch what you are doing

[telecarver]

Originally Posted by Dicky

I was thinking one of the locust trees but the long pods they have are flat and look more like pea pods than beans.

The bark looks too smooth for locust. By the time it gets that large, locust bark has deeper scales. With the pods, I think catalpa is a good guess. See if you can find any remnants of leaves stuck in a gutter or some other spot. BTW catalpa is a good carving wood for edge tools. I haven't tried it with a chainsaw.

[bostonwhaler1969]

hit a log with the maul and splits easy the scent of the wood is not very pleasant...

[sashadoc]

Originally Posted by Dicky

I was thinking one of the locust trees but the long pods they have are flat and look more like pea pods than beans.

I agree, I Googled Black Locust and If you click on the Wikpedia description it says it's indigenous to PA. If you scroll down to the bottom it shows a picture of the wood split. It looks a lot like yours. The University of Pennsylvania has a PDF on wood identification and shows a pod 3-6" long. Without the leaves,in your picture, it's hard to be certain. My guess is Black Locust.
Hope this helps?

Tim
It looks like it may have some great looking grain.

[golfballcarver]

the Pods are they Flat or are the round like a cigar

[bostonwhaler1969]

dont think its locust, for one my neighbors sister burns wood we cut a load for her and one for ourselves.. we only cut for her locust, walnut and ash... i burn the softwoods and hardwoods mixed in the outdoor boiler, only hardwoods below 20 degrees...

the lady wanted the tree down because the lawn mower thing thats towed behind the tractor would not mulch the bean pods up... i will take alook at the bean pods again i am not sure if they are flat or cigar like..

funny they give me the tree but i dont want to cut it up for firewood i would like to carve it up large sections 6ft.... maybe with 2 guys i can load the sections on the trailer. real dicey though