oak / beech problem

[sue denim]

Hello

I have been asked to manufacture a staircase for a client in oak.
The problem is this.....I usually supply the timber for these jobs but in this case he had 8m² of wood seasoned for 15 yrs and asked me to use that. I collected said wood and set about machining.

The first piece I machined I was convinced was beech. The next was definitely oak. Then I had a piece that looked like oak at one end but beech at the other.

Is there a way of defining? Usually it is easy but I think the oak I have is 'maple leaf' oak. It is quite red.

I will try to get a photo or two later

Regards Sue

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Is the bark still attached? - they are significantly different.

Regards Mick

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Try quarter sawing small pieces - beech has no visible medullary rays AFAIK, and all the oaks I've ever seen have them. Is there any rot around the ends/sides of the boards? Beech rots more quickly than oak. +1 for Micks suggestion.

 

[AndyT]

Is it ring porous? Oak is, beech isn't. Roy Underhill demonstrated the difference in one of his videos - with the oak he could put one end in a bucket, the other in his mouth, and blow bubbles!

 

[LBCarpentry]

The smell! Put a chopsaw (blunter the better) through the end and have a good old sniff. Then you'll know

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Not if you've never smelt them burning, you won't.

 

[LBCarpentry]

ok maybe not that blunt!

 

[Bluekingfisher]

For your own personal interest you may want to know what species the wood is but as the client has provided you with the timber, crack on!

 

[jackal]

I am here in the Limousin and had similar identification problems but it turned out to be Oak. Are the boards slab saw or quarter sawn?

 

[sue denim]

I have had a good look through the stack and believe that it is all oak. Very different to the oak I usually use.
I did try the blowing bubbles thing but it was difficult with a 4m board half a metre wide and 40mm thick !!.

I did think that if I couldn't tell the difference for certain the client wouldn't...but I didn't fancy going back to change treads when it was all finished.

Thanks for all the above help.....I will post a piccy when they are done.

Regards

'Sue'