Rather than hijack a current thread on the subject....

I get lots, and lots of free logs that just get dumped from urban tree services. I used to use them for firewood and really didn't have the need to identify the logs. Now, I have so much that I am selling cut and split firewood, and a bit of milled lumber.

Is there a decent illustrated book available to identify a species from only the bark and wood grain color/patterns? Actually, there are a few other obvious clues that can be a bit difficult to describe, such as distinct odor for some such as pine, cottonwood, oak, etc.

I use:

"WOOD!"

"Identifying and Using Hundreds of Woods Worldwide" by Eric Meier

Here is a description:

Understanding Earth's most fascinating natural resource: books about wood usually come from one of two very opposite poles: there are either craft-oriented books filled mainly with pretty pictures, but with very weak or vague data, or there are thinly veiled scientific books, filled with an over-abundance of data: burying the uninitiated in microscope images and confusing terminology. This book hopes to selectively bring together the best of both worlds: written from a craftsperson's perspective, it also seeks to glean the wealth of scientific knowledge and bring it into practical reach for woodworkers everywhere. Over 350 woods covered. 100 plus full-page profiles. 100 plus half-page profiles for less-common woods. Guides for distinguishing lookalike woods. Detailed identification data and strength properties.

It's been very useful in helping me ID different sawn hardwoods picked up at sales and auctions for use in the shop.

It doesn't show or describe barks much. It deals more with color, grain patterns, end grain descriptions...

I might be more than you're looking for.

Look at The woodweb site. sawing and drying forum.old243

More than what I'm looking for? Not unless it dwells on exotics that rarely pop up in my world of Midwestern US.

Thanks, I'll check it out. I'd sure hate to sell a guy a beautiful slab of walnut that turned out to be ash.

Maybe you were right. It could be a bit more than the simple basics I'm looking for. I still haven't given up on it, though. I just need to take a peak at the actual product.

Thanks, there is some pretty good info on the forums. I'm also on the Forestry Forum, and they have some good info, too. What I would really like to find, though is something like a field guide that I can have on hand for direct comparison.

Here is a page from the US Forest Service showing many books and field guides their employees use in the Midwest for tree and plant ID. I saw at least two that are purely about Michigan trees.

Good luck.

Pete

I have that book and it might help-especially if you know the species that are common in the area the logs came from. But the easiest thing to do would be to have somebody who cuts trees around your place have a look at them.

Former mrs. Bobbit has a book out on wood; its hard to find though!

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mo DNR has several pamphlets with good pic's and ID, maybe your states DNR does as well.