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We had a large, old tree blow down the other night that had been standing dead as long as I’ve lived here (in a fairly thick woods) I inspected it figguring it would be hollow and rotton but the heartwood seems to have aged a lovely dark brown. Loaded with tight growth rings (100 or so) The neighbor said it was Sassafras, but I’ve never used it. Anybody familiar with the pros and cons? Would it be worth the expense of having it milled?
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I would mill it!!!! Sassafras is a nice wood to work with and it smells great when you plane it. The wood is not dense, fairly light. Resembles Chestnut in appearance. My experience has been that it has a slight tendency to check so select you boards carefully.
Enjoy the wood. You don't come across large quantities very often.
*Thanks Thom,I love chestnut, so I'll give it a try. JW
*Sassafras has almost the same qualities as hickory. In fact, some lumber yards interchange the two. I think they are cousins. I've worked with it before and it's a dream. You're whole shop will smell like rootbeer. Don't let your wife come out and catch you sniffing your lumber - she'll think you're crazy, mine did.
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