Where doe the term "Piss Oak" come from?
 

Subject pretty much says it.

I still use this term and it dawned on me that I have no clue what it refers
to. Nor do I know where I picked it up. I must of picked it up in the 60s
or 70s.

I do remember it being used to refer to oak used in pallets, were I still
use the term today.


Thanks in advance,
Chris

"Chris" wrote in message ...
Subject pretty much says it.

I still use this term and it dawned on me that I have no clue what it
refers to. Nor do I know where I picked it up. I must of picked it up in
the 60s or 70s.

I do remember it being used to refer to oak used in pallets, were I still
use the term today.


You wouldn't have to ask if you'd smelled it fresh cut.

Nor elm.

"George" George@least wrote in message
...

"Chris" wrote in message ...
Subject pretty much says it.

I still use this term and it dawned on me that I have no clue what it
refers to. Nor do I know where I picked it up. I must of picked it up
in the 60s or 70s.

I do remember it being used to refer to oak used in pallets, were I still
use the term today.


You wouldn't have to ask if you'd smelled it fresh cut.

Nor elm.
Is it a reference to a species? I have a mill here that I have cut red and
white with, but never made the connection. Ok it really did not smell to
me.

Chris

In article , "Chris" wrote:
"George" George@least wrote in message
...

You wouldn't have to ask if you'd smelled it fresh cut.

Nor elm.
Is it a reference to a species? I have a mill here that I have cut red and
white with, but never made the connection. Ok it really did not smell to
me.

Northern Red. Probably other reds, too.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Chris wrote:

Subject pretty much says it.

I still use this term and it dawned on me that I have no clue what it refers
to. Nor do I know where I picked it up. I must of picked it up in the 60s
or 70s.

I do remember it being used to refer to oak used in pallets, were I still
use the term today.


Thanks in advance,
Chris



I too have heard this term used many times when I lived in New England
and it was as you say, in reference to pallet oak which is basically any
species of low grade oak (any log without two clean faces). We own a
small saw mill and have sawn and dried thousands of feet of oak and
smelled the "****" smell through the drying stage of all oaks, red,
white, chestnut, and so on. I have a feeling there must be a stage in
the drying where the wood produces ammonia or something which smells
like ammonia. I would imagine its more common in air drying perhaps
where the slower drying causes some sort of fermentation within the
wood. Maybe this is why pallet oak (wet/damp alot?) got this reputation.

Interestingly a couple years ago we had sawn a few thousand feet of
white and chestnut oak for a friends case and base in his home. He air
dried it for a couple years (no cats peeing on it) and when I installed
it the rooms smelled of what seemed like dog pee for several days. It
was to the extent that his wife would tell any visitors "thats not pee
really, really, its the wood" (eyes all darting around thinking guest
would think she was dirty or something heheh).

A good place to ask for more info on this would be the sawing and drying
forum at www.woodweb.com . Gene Wengert (sp) is a professor who
moderates the sawing and drying forum and is a wealth of knowledge and
would surely be able to shine a light on it for you.

Good luck,
Mark

When you cut some species when the sap is up - they "****" when you fall
them, (the sap/water flows in streams out the cut) its the same with
"****-fir" in the north west, i.e, noble fir or white fir.

Schroeder
"Chris" wrote in message ...
Subject pretty much says it.

I still use this term and it dawned on me that I have no clue what it
refers
to. Nor do I know where I picked it up. I must of picked it up in the
60s
or 70s.

I do remember it being used to refer to oak used in pallets, were I still
use the term today.


Thanks in advance,
Chris

When green sawing some oaks, they smell like cat urine, hence the name....
Dave

"Schroeder" f@f wrote in message
...
When you cut some species when the sap is up - they "****" when you fall
them, (the sap/water flows in streams out the cut) its the same with
"****-fir" in the north west, i.e, noble fir or white fir.

Schroeder
"Chris" wrote in message ...
Subject pretty much says it.

I still use this term and it dawned on me that I have no clue what it
refers
to. Nor do I know where I picked it up. I must of picked it up in the
60s
or 70s.

I do remember it being used to refer to oak used in pallets, were I still
use the term today.


Thanks in advance,
Chris

Schroeder wrote:
When you cut some species when the sap is up - they "****" when you fall
them, (the sap/water flows in streams out the cut) its the same with
"****-fir" in the north west, i.e, noble fir or white fir.

Missouri **** oak is swamp oak or black oak. Strong enough when you make
the first chainsaw cut to let you know its skunky. interestingly enough
the wood when dried and finished is dark, almost like an amonia fumed
piece. still smells though....