Strange "core" in pin oak

[cptreeclimber86]

Yesterday I cut down a large pin oak and as I was cutting it I noticed a center "core" to the wood that was separated from the rest of the wood. Can anyone explain what happened?

 

[oldoakman]

It's called a ring shake. Usually caused by a severe wind event. Looks like there might have been some longitudinal cracking as well.

 

[macswan]

Yep

 

[JeffGu]

What you have there is a donut tree... mmm... donuts. Krispy Kreme. Later.

 

[John_KAYS]

That is also the same phenomenon that leads to bagels and donuts....

Man JeffGu, I was just righting this when I saw your post pop up.

 

[oldoakman]

Original wheel.

 

[JeffGu]

I like fast motorcycles, but not a damn one of them I've owned could pass a donut shop.

There's a guy around here who makes a lot of stuff out of the trees he cuts down, and sells it at area farmer's markets. He made a table out of one of those ring shake donuts, with a flower pot recessed in the middle. I thought it was clever.