My brother in Dayton OH called to say his neighbor is going to cut down this tree, and wanted to know if I wanted any of it for bowls?

Anyone able to help me figure out what kind of tree it is.

Thanks guys

American Basswood

Thanks @MrRick , I’m not sure that would be worth dragging up from Dayton to northern Michigan. Since the ice storms we had last night I’m building quite the stock pile anyway.

American Basswood is a pretty soft wood. Janka Hardness is 450 lb. IMO not really good for turning but very good for carving. Personally... it's not worth the trip.

Find a local carvers group. They'd love it.

Basswood does hold it bark well. I used some branches to make some nice looking mushrooms.

Too bad @FrederickH isn't closer! He would jump at the chance!!

And it's excellent for trim work. Like pine but not the pitch issues typical of pine. Takes paint well.

I trimmed out our entire (previous) house with it.

I cannot see the leaves good but I would have to disagree and say it is Bradford Pear. Turns like butter.

Does it really matter? Free wood is good, take some and make something what have you got to loose, it might be beautiful and with all the branches who knows what might show up

I used a tree app to identify the photo that Gordon posted. That's what it said. I entered the photo 3 times and it consistently said American Basswood each time. But I guess it could be in error. After all, it can't "see".

3 hours ago, Rusty S said:

take some and make something

And don't forget to make a gift, from it, for the person who gave you the wood!

24 minutes ago, lew said:

And don't forget to make a gift, from it, for the person who gave you the wood!

Absolutely

Here is an update this AM. The tree guy showed up today to cut it down and confirmed basswood. Since our major Ice storm this year I seem to have a lot of maple to harvest. I did tell him that if the owner wants a bowl then toss a piece in his truck when he comes up this summer. The tree guy said he had some cherry and mulberry he could donate for the same deal. Having never worked with mulberry I’m anxious to see what the it turns out like, and who can turn down cherry. 😀