Wood plaques. Red Oak or Pecan?

[RoyalOrchids]

Hello everyone. Just want to solicit a few opinions. Hurricane Ike left me with quite a few large limbs down. I figured I'd try to make the best of it and cut a few nice pieces for mounts. Would Red Oak or Pecan work ok? Which would be better? The Pecan is harder, but the Oak is more attractive (cooler bark). I already have a few ideas, but I'd like to hear what you think. Thanks in advance!

[Ross]

Couple things, before others jump in as well

Be sure to peel off the bark. It will contain by now, insects and bacteria that may cause future problems. Avoid insect holes (borers) or obvious decay.

Both are "fruit woods" and may contain tanins that could be detrimental to root growth. Others with direct experience should be able to confirm if this is true (I've not used either of these woods.) I have used apple (having first pealed the bark) and it works just fine.

[John D.]

Of the two I'd go with the oak also over the pecan. The pecan is closer to walnut which can have detrimental effects on other plants.

[Gin]

I have oak slabs with orchids on been there for a long time , the slabs were peeled and left to dry out before using them .I believe they are red oak.I dug up a picture of one of them on the oak ,, Gin

[RoyalOrchids]

Very nice Gin. Did you cut and peel it yourself?

[Gin]

There was an old saw mill across the highway they piled them up and gave them away or burned them . If you have a bench saw that should work , Be careful .
Once dry the bark will be easy to remove ,,The picture is from a few years ago, the slab is still the same as it was in the pict . Gin

[DebsC]

I wonder how good old barn wood would be? I have a few boards off our barn that are so hard you can't even nail them back up!

The barn was built with oak timber off the place in 1924 so it's had lots of time to cure.

[Gin]

I bet they would work, can't get any more cured then that , know what u mean about trying to nail them back up .
Around here they are worth money, people us them in craft projects . gin

[DebsC]

Gin, we have people passing through that stop and want to take pictures of the old barn. They want just a small piece of it to take with them or crafters are willing to tear it down for the lumber.

Small pieces add up to the whole barn after a few years. And I wouldn't dream of tearing it down!!!

I know people want a 'piece' of history and many are willing to pay for it, but even though we don't use it anymore for cows or hay, I love that old barn!!

It's home to many barn swallows in the summer and in the fall you can hear an Owl hooting in it.

In winter, it gives shelter to stray animals such as cats that have no where else to go.

We also have what I guess was used as a feed house and small tool storage and a smoke house, all built at the same time by my husbands grandpa.

But I do have a board I could use for mounting!!!!

[cirillonb]

I would emphasize Ross' warning about critters. Even living tree bark has several. I am not crazy about bringing untreated (read kiln dried or fumigated) wood products into the home.
My only experience with red oak was in cabinet making. The wood is not nearly as hard or weather proof compared to white oak. When freshly cut it smells terribly. I am not aware of bad things in the bark but that is only a lack of knowledge not a statement of fact.
Nick