Replies

1. 
   thebardowl | Mar 26, 2022 04:35pm | #1

   The bark and branch pattern don’t look like the poplar I’m familiar with; looks more like a cedar to my eye. The grain, coloration, etc. seem consistent with cedar too, I think. That said, I’m curious to see what others more knowledgeable on the matter might say.

1. 
   john_c2 | Mar 26, 2022 06:26pm | #3

   I've cut down some cedars that look exactly like that too.

2. 
   gulfstar | Mar 26, 2022 04:46pm | #2

   A quick search from the bark picture and lightly colored wood and coarse grain texture points me to shagbark hickory.

1. 
   thebardowl | Mar 27, 2022 12:05am | #7

   I doubt one would come out of a session resawing big pieces of hickory thinking it might actually be poplar.

1. 
   Deleted | Mar 27, 2022 07:29am | #10

   “[Deleted]”

3. 
   davec_5 | Mar 26, 2022 06:28pm | #4

   I'm also in pac nw. The bark looks like the cedar or cypress trees around here to me. Shagbark hickory would be really uncommon here. Definitely doesn't look like our poplars.

4. 
   user-6480500 | Mar 26, 2022 09:10pm | #5

   May be a coastal oak. Rare much bigger than what you have. They were over harvested for the bark. Used to tan animal hides. This species of oak only grows a short distance from the ocean. What did the leaves look like?

1. 
   alanmcginnis | Mar 26, 2022 11:46pm | #6

   Good question re leaves, see pic below - its the tree with hammock tied to. Cedar?

   
1. 
   thebardowl | Mar 27, 2022 12:05am | #8

   Dunno if others can see the image; I cannot.

5. 
   _mj_ | Mar 27, 2022 07:24am | #9

   Nope, photo will not load.

6. 
   esch5995 | Mar 27, 2022 09:17am | #11

   I'm probably in the cedar camp, although being an east coaster all my life I am not familiar with all the western species. Most cedars, even non aromatic varieties, have a fairly distinctive scent do you notice any? I think we too often forget to use our nose to help identify woods yet most have distinctive aromas.

1. 
   thebardowl | Mar 27, 2022 09:23am | #12

   Had to chuckle at myself with this reminder. It was practically yelling at me from the back of my mind, I think, but I didn’t bring it forward for the obvious purpose. Excellent suggestion.

7. 
   gerrylou | Mar 27, 2022 10:08am | #13

   Yellow Cedar?. It is a common natural and planted species in your area. Actually part of the Cypress Family

   Distinctive smell when milling?, relative ease/difficulty in milling? Pic of branches/leaves and cones would nail it down.

   Used some beautiful QS Yellow Cedar in a small project. Stronger and denser than Red Cedar. Beautiful stuff to work with.

1. 
   alanmcginnis | Mar 27, 2022 10:35am | #14

   thanks much for all the info, reloaded picture below - its the tree with the hammock tied to it.

   re aroma, very slight smell (pleasant) and not one that i recognized - def not aromatic cedar, and def not hickory - so sound like either yellow cedar or cypress - am sure someone will be able to say definitively from tree picture.

   thanks again for the help.

   
1. 
   dminnery | Mar 27, 2022 07:01pm | #15

   My bet would be Port Orford Cedar, of course a look at the needles would help but bark and habit look like a match.

8. 
   revbob | Mar 31, 2022 01:21pm | #16

   Looking at the branches most likely in the cedar / cypress family.

9. 
   thebardowl | Mar 31, 2022 03:03pm | #17

   I’m happy to say I’m sticking with the cedar/cypress/juniper clan. (Distinguishing between these can be challenging, thus many commonly get lumped together, often as cedar or cypress.) Regardless of true specifics, the basic characteristics with regards to lumber are relatively common. Light, aromatic (variably “cedar”-ish), rot-resistant, and (usually) relatively easy to work, etc.

   Doesn’t look to have the habit of typical native “yellow cedar”, but I’m not willing to go much further based on the photo alone. Dry that lumber well, and enjoy!