If old and dry it could be elm, not uncommon in coffins. Need a picture. Noel.

Oak has a very specific taste. (Oxalic Acid) If you don’t know what it tastes like calibrate your tongue on a known bit of oak. Medullary rays are a good indication as has been said.

Elm is about 80% the density of oak.

Traditionally used for making village Stocks and narrow boat bottoms. It resists rot in wet conditions.

My first choice would be Elm, given the knot detail in the main board. The second choice would be Chestnut from the straight grain in the smaller sample.

Oak definitely has a distinctive smell as well as taste. Elm on the other hand has a totally different smell.

Regards

Gray,

Apparently there are plenty of Elm trees in Scotland. Dutch Elm Disease didn’t spread that far north. It’s a great shame as they were a lovely tree.

For a convenient visual reference … Elm was widely used for the seats of ‘Windsor’ stick-back chairs.

MichaelG.

Welcome back Sam, it has been a while since we last exchanged emails.

Regards

Gray,

Thanks for your response, Gray.

Yes, quite a while. My recollections go back to about June 2010 when, (having lost the 1972 drawings) I needed and got lots of help in finishing John Stevens’ skeleton clock.

In reaching out, it also opened up a whole new world of friendships, and an opportunity to share ideas and solutions. What a wonderful mix.

When the magazine was given a digital ‘uplift’, I lost patience in coming to terms with the new look. The ‘old coat’ was much easier to wear. There was also a couple of changes in dwellings, which brought with them less freedom to tinker and ‘do stuff’. So my PC is where I spend much of my time.

Sadly, especially in the past five years, several of my ‘pen pals’ have left us. Not that I’ve gone unscathed, but that’s another story. My safety-net appears to have been good old vitamin D. If I can, I’ll include my graphic, in which I felt obliged to conceal my real age, weight, and BMI. Beware, however, what I do may not suit your own situation.

Howard, your knowledge of the intricacies of wood, reminded me of my late school chum who migrated to Canada. Although we lost touch for many years, I feel sure he knew his woods living on 45 acres. Is that a pun?

Keep safe everyone.

Cheers,

Sam (aka Dennis)

Bob (Speedy Builder5),

My apologies for piggybacking your thread.

Best wishes,

Sam