Can anyone identify this tree?

[dkadair17]

Hurricane Helene left me with widow makers to clean out on my property. I would like to know what type of hardwood this is only because I intend to make food safe products out of the broken hardwoods if possible. I did the best I could with taking pictures of the leaves as it is late November. Apologies in advance if this is the wrong forum to post this thread.

 

[carpenter32]

Looks like Beech.

 

[Oletrapper]

American Beech me thinks.

 

[diver64]

Beech. Not only good for furniture or wooden spoons but great firewood.

 

[Marley5]

Beech is my guess as well and a top tier wood for the stove.

 

[Woodtroll]

Absolutely beech. The paper-thin light brown leaves still hanging on the tree this time of year is a dead give-away, even if you couldn't see the smooth bark. Perfectly safe for food utensils. Good luck with your crafting!

 

[Del_]

Something I've noticed about beech over the years is that a small beech retains it leaves well into winter while large beeches loose their leaves way earlier. Traveling at highway speeds the small ones are easily I.D.'d in the woods at a great distance because of this. I love to see them.

Here's a beech I transplanted to our yard about 20 years ago. The photos don't do it's fall color justice.

Taken minutes ago:

 

[dboyd351]

they get big too
that's one in my avatar

 

[diver64]

they get big too
that's one in my avatar

If you want to see a real nice Beech watch The Patriot with Mel Gibson. The part where he ambushes the English with his 2 young sons to save his oldest has him hiding behind some very nice Beech.

 

[dkadair17]

Thanks for the replies. Perhaps I should have mentioned the size of the tree. My guesstimate is 70 feet tall. The trunk is about 2, maybe 2 1/2 feet in diameter, the branches that broke off during the wind storm are 10-18 inches. It is not the fastest work for my cs 590 but at least it isn't that ash tree I had to deal with by the creek.

Because of you guys I can advertise the wood type if needed. Much appreciated!

 

[dboyd351]

American beech can live up to 400 years old.
Would likely live witbout some 10-18" branches.
Might want to consider that before cutting it down, if you have not already done so.

 

[Mike Van]

Back in the day, Beech was used for mallet heads & sled runners.