Last year I went and picked up firewood for free.  It was already cut into thick slices but the tree was 20 plus inches around.  The wood is a mystery to me.  It is very heavy and extremely hard. It will not even burn unless you already have a healthy fire going.  It has heavy bark and the core is a medium brown.  Nearly impossible to split by hand. So I"m now thinking that wood this hard might be valuable and the guy that cut down the tree really messed up. I can get pictures if you need that. I suppose I could become a wood worker if need be to develop the wood as I have a lot of it. 

Neal

5 minutes ago, loco said:

I suppose I could become a wood worker if need be to develop the wood as I have a lot of it. 

Welcome William to TPW. A great place to ask questions such as yours and hopefully to get answers as well; Even a better place to develop the bug & passion for WW'ing. Hope you hang around and join in the fun.

 

To better or accurately answer your questions, pictures are vital. If you would get some pictures posted no doubt someone will be able to help get you an answer. Assuming you acquired the wood near where you live (Florida?) helps somewhat, but validating location is important too.

 

Thanks for stopping by...hope to see pictures soon.

+1 for what @Grandpadave52 said about pictures. I know it is the wrong time of the year to mention this but leaf pictures are one of the most accurate ways to identify trees.

It's dark now so pictures tomorrow. I will not have any leaf pics for sure. The tree was cut down in Brooksville, Florida and it was a big one.  Thanks for the replies. Neal

55 minutes ago, loco said:

It's dark now so pictures tomorrow. I will not have any leaf pics for sure. The tree was cut down in Brooksville, Florida and it was a big one.  Thanks for the replies. Neal

That will work.  Welcome to the forum.

Hello William, do you know what the tree looked like before it was cut down?

Since it is a guessing game at this point, I will go with a live oak.  Guess is subject to change once pics and other info is provided...

@Cal, considering William's location, live oak would be my guess, also. However, his description, including a dark heart wood throws me.

Awaiting pictures.

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

@Cal, considering William's location, live oak would be my guess, also. However, his description, including a dark heart wood throws me.

Awaiting pictures.

Gene, one man's "dark heart wood" may be another man's "medium brown core"...  Since we are thinking a red oak species that was cut down a year or so ago I could see where the heartwood is going to be a bit darker than the outer portion.

This is sort of like playing that monthly guess the tool game without pics

Hey, not sure live oak should be considered for they keep their old leaves on while the new leaves fill out the tree. So  some leaves should have been on the tree.The bark is kinda smooth also. These pictures was taken a few minutes ago. With and without the flash.

 

These leaves are last years. The new ones won't sprout for quite a while but for someone not knowing what is happening , the tree never looses it leaves..

 

The tree was cut down some time last year or more ago and all William has is firewood chunks...

The bark pictures might help.

19 hours ago, loco said:

It's dark now so pictures tomorrow. I will not have any leaf pics for sure. The tree was cut down in Brooksville, Florida and it was a big one.  Thanks for the replies. Neal

 

Just now, loco said:

 

The wood has weathered a lot. I've cut and burned a lot of firewood in my time including plenty of live oak and I've never come across wood so dense and hard. I uncovered a piece to show the color of the wood but it was a little darker than what is shown. 

Some type of pine. No hardwood has bark like that.

That could be Alligator Juniper. It does get very hard. Excellent firewood. In larger pieces, it's nice for table tops. Kinda purdy.

 We have six different pine trees and what you have is not like any of my pine trees. 

Pinion

 

 

Austrian

 

 

Japanese Black Pine

 

 

Mondel Elderica

 

 

Southern yellow pine or slash pine

 

And one I can't think of right now

 

 Not familiar with bark of the fir or spruce trees but it sure looks like a soft wood instead of a hardwood bark....

 

 

 

I wonder if it could be this-

http://www.floridagardener.com/flnatives/FloridaElm.htm

7 minutes ago, lew said:

I wonder if it could be this-

http://www.floridagardener.com/flnatives/FloridaElm.htm

That bark sure looks the same. 

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

The bark pictures might help.

I can tell dogwood easily by its bark.    (that's a joke, son, I say, a joke.)

 

9 minutes ago, kmealy said:

I can tell dogwood easily by its bark.    (that's a joke, son, I say, a joke.)