Solid oak!

[Woodchips2]

A few months ago on my country ramble, after a fairly breezy night, I came across a fallen branch of an oak tree. It was a substantial limb that had broken off and I wondered if the very dry summer had caused it because the wind hadn't been that strong. Then today I came across the same tree which had been cut down and the pictures show the reason why the branch probably fell off! From looking at the tree you would never have guessed that so much of the heart had gone.

 

[Custardcream]

You're not going to be able to get a 6 inch board out of that are you?

 

[yetloh]

Oddly,I have heard that hollow trees are actually less likely to be blown down, alhtough they may perhaps be more likely to shed limbs. Really old oaks are usually hollow.

Jim

 

[Richard T]

Hats off to the guy who had to fell that. As the first picture shows, you can't get the straight - across hinge of the face cut with a hollow trunk and have to be very careful to leave it equal on each side. Plenty hairy.

 

[jimi43]

Is it just me or is anyone else thinking "gorgeous glass coffee table"......?? 8)

Jim

 

[Andy RV]

What causes that? Old age? Disease?

 

[Richard T]

Too much water Andy - either from below or (more likely) from a wound above. The sap wood is unscathed as still living and growing but the heart wood is completely gone.
Fortunately most fungi that live on wood decompose dead wood and leave the living intact.