The Forestry Forum

I got a call this AM from an individual who was referred to me by an aquaintance.
He claims he has two 48" diameter 10' long silver maple logs recently taken down.
Question: Does anyone have experience using silver maple for making furniture, that would care to share their experience.  What are good uses for this species of logs other than firewood?
GAB

Big logs. Will your LT40 break them down into lumber/boards for furniture ??

It's gorgeous wood. Often lots of figure. No idea how it behaves, but I've slabbed up a few biguns  ffcool

Quote from: beenthere on July 02, 2025, 12:55:37 PMBig logs. Will your LT40 break them down into lumber/boards for furniture ??

My mill is too small to handle them.  The hydraulics won't lift them and the throat is too narrow.  These toothpicks would need either scsmith42's or customsawyers' slabber in my opinion.  I would have to split the logs into two pieces to handle them.  I do not have a chainsaw bar long enough to do the job properly and I have never sawed a log lengthwise with a chainsaw and at my age I'm in no hurry to practice.
GAB 

Never tried sawing silver maple for lumber. Everything I've heard it's a lower grade of maple, so the boards may only end up as pallet wood. I know I have trouble with red maple staying flat drying, especially in wide slabs.
I did help cut down a big one a few years back. Trunk was well over 3' across, but divided into 5 leaders not far up. All forks, branches, and a big trunk it made a lot of firewood, but it was a chore to do.

well, the branchy stuff can have a lot of character.  I use it for thin sheets for coaster and all.  lots of bright optical interest.  It is thin enough to make it behave.  cannot include the pith.