I have been given some (green) red elm and almost all of the logs (14" W x 16+" L) developed cracks between the annual rings. Specie issue?
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Read Elm and Ring Shank Cracks
- Thread starter Tom Knight
- Start date
I don't think ring shank is specific to a species., rather is a result of environmental conditions. Red elm makes good fire wood, much better than white elm. Ring shake is very unstable.
Thanks! TEK
It seems to me that some varieties of wood are more prone to it than others. Walnut comes to mind. Since it's an infection, there may be variations in host defense ability, as well as the difference in sites where different tree species tend to grow.
I got some apple this winter and almost all of it had ring shank. Some of it was fixable with glue if the wood was still green, but if it dried enough pieces would literally fall off by themselves, very frustrating
It is easy to look up Ring Shake and you will see that it is not infection.
From Woodweb--Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor:
Cracks that follow the rings are called shake. Some folks might call it ring shake and others, wind shake. In any case, the failure is caused because the wood has been weakened in the tree by bacteria. The bacteria also create a foul odor, and increase the wood's green MC. In some species, the MC is so high that the logs do not float (called sinkers). In drying, because of the weakening, the wood is likely to check and honeycomb even under normal drying conditions. Also, in drying, because of the high MC and reduced flow of water, the wood tends to develop wet pockets (water pockets) or wetwood.
The bacteria enter the tree through the roots (they are "no air" bacteria, so they like wet soil) and move up the tree about 1" per year. That is why you only find them in the butt end of the bottom log. They exist in pockets within the log, so not all the lumber in a log is infected; oftentimes, it is just the bottom two feet of a few pieces from the butt log.
(Gene Wengert is President of The Wood Doctor's Rx LLC, Bishop, GA, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
As a former professor and extension specialist at Virginia Tech and researcher at the US Forest Products Lab, Gene teaches over 30 practical wood processing classes and seminars a year for the wood products industry, including sawing, edging, grading, drying, machining and gluing.
Gene is the author of eight practical books and has published over 400 articles relating to the wood products industry. )
Cracks that follow the rings are called shake. Some folks might call it ring shake and others, wind shake. In any case, the failure is caused because the wood has been weakened in the tree by bacteria. The bacteria also create a foul odor, and increase the wood's green MC. In some species, the MC is so high that the logs do not float (called sinkers). In drying, because of the weakening, the wood is likely to check and honeycomb even under normal drying conditions. Also, in drying, because of the high MC and reduced flow of water, the wood tends to develop wet pockets (water pockets) or wetwood.
The bacteria enter the tree through the roots (they are "no air" bacteria, so they like wet soil) and move up the tree about 1" per year. That is why you only find them in the butt end of the bottom log. They exist in pockets within the log, so not all the lumber in a log is infected; oftentimes, it is just the bottom two feet of a few pieces from the butt log.
(Gene Wengert is President of The Wood Doctor's Rx LLC, Bishop, GA, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
As a former professor and extension specialist at Virginia Tech and researcher at the US Forest Products Lab, Gene teaches over 30 practical wood processing classes and seminars a year for the wood products industry, including sawing, edging, grading, drying, machining and gluing.
Gene is the author of eight practical books and has published over 400 articles relating to the wood products industry. )
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I'm sort of in between - There are several theories as to what causes ring shake, but no proven scientific evidence - Fungal or bacterial Infection and wind or felling damage are among the main ones, and I have read pretty convincing articles for both theories, but in the end, all that they are is just that - a theory.
Until they come up with scientific proof and case studies on what causes it, identify the bacteria (AND Prove that the Bacteria CAUSES the ring shake, and is not just a symptom - as in bacteria getting in where the tree's rings have that weakness already) I will simply hold with the thought that all we, as wood workers and turners, really need to know is HOW TO IDENTIFY IT Before the wood becomes dangerous to us.
BTW: Editing to add an argument against what Dean posted - The author of that work claims ring shake is only found in butt end of the log. BUT I have found ring shake much higher in the tree (including large heavy branches way above the butt end of a log) , so I would take even that "expert conclusion" with a grain of salt, myself.. until he or someone can convince me otherwise.
I have the same opinion as not believing that ring shake is caused by bacteria, and yes having the bacteria in there after the ring shake was developed I can believe that of course.
There are all kinds of Nasty storms in both the winter and summer, bending and twisting the trees enough to separate the fibers from one another, but whatever, it is the presence that can affect us when working with that wood, so really check that wood over carefully and keep checking as you turn, eyes and ears open.
Oh, and ring shank is something different all together, look it up
There are all kinds of Nasty storms in both the winter and summer, bending and twisting the trees enough to separate the fibers from one another, but whatever, it is the presence that can affect us when working with that wood, so really check that wood over carefully and keep checking as you turn, eyes and ears open.
Oh, and ring shank is something different all together, look it up
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Ok yeah I meant ring shake not shank