Oak or Hickory??

Can anyone ID these spokes? First, here is a new hickory spoked wheel I just got from Stutzman:

Now here is one of my old front wheels. I'm wondering if this wheel has oak spokes:

Looks like Oak but it could easily be Ash...........Bob

To me, the two grains look quite different, the old one having larger pores. I'd replace them if oak, as that wood has a bad reputation for spokes. Hence, my query. All the wheel makers are using hickory these days, I believe, as did Ford originally.

Phil

I can't comment on the suitabilty of either species for spokes but I can tell you that Hickory is one of the springiest, strongest, and toughest species out there............Bob

They both look like Hickory to me--in fact, if my wheels looked like your "old" ones, I'd be a happy camper!

T'ake care,

David D.

Really difficult to tell from pictures. Keep in mind that old growth wood from the 20's is totally different from most wood "produced" today. Just take the wheel to a small local sawmill - they can generally tell at a glance.

I don't think the wood in the old wheel is oak.

The older one looks like white oak or ash. The newer looks like it's made up of different species or types. The top spoke looks like ash, white oak or a hickory.

The new spokes in the first photo are hickory. I told the wheelwright that the wheel would be painted, so he didn't try to match the grain. This costs a bit less, also.

Phil

Many state universities have a forrestry department. You could send a sliver of wood to them, and they can microscopically identify the wood exactly...B

Always understood wood wheels were originally made from second growth hickory. Never heard of any other wood being used.