Is there any point in milling silver maple?

[wendell]

Don't know anything about milling but my neighbor had a big silver maple come down in the wind here today. Before cutting it up for firewood, he said he was going to check into having the trunk milled.

I have never heard of anyone bothering to mill silver maple but thought I would check on here to tell him if it is worth pursuing.

Thanks, guys!

 

[mtngun]

No experience with it myself, but a little googling suggests that "Silver Maple wood is soft and neither strong nor durable. Its uses generally are limited to cheap furniture, pulpwood, containers, and as a fuel."

 

[mikeb1079]

i've milled some silver maple. most of it was fairly plain but some pieces had some nice streaks of light red and some funky speckling. i believe that despite its name, soft maple (silver, norway, etc) is still as hard as cherry. check out the link: http://tinytimbers.com/specie_smaple.htm it's also possible for it to have some figure as well as spalting. i say give it a go and if it's not very interesting then help him turn it into firewood.


ps to wendell: aren't you about sick of this wind already? today was ridiculous.

 

[ShoerFast]

It is not high on my list.

You could think that it's a fair builder wood, but it does not even hold a nail well, as it's prone to splitting easily.

Get it damp and it will rot while watching it.

Firewood really.

 

[wendell]

Thanks! About what I thought.

 

[billstuewe]

I milled what appeared to be a very sorry tree--limbs everywhere--nothing straight, and was I ever stunned with the result. Won't make anything big but great for small boxes etc. Here is a bookmatch of an end of a board and this log has a good bit of this in it as well as nice quilting. It is not that soft either. I am very impresed with what I have.

 

[timberwolf]

SOft maple can have some nice grain, but any tree that comes down in the wind can be full of splits and cracks or it may be well on its way to rot.

If you don't like the looks of the first couple boards then might not be worth it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

If it was mine, i'd already be showing you pictures of the "milled lumber" in this post!

Rob

 

[huskyhank]

I'd cut it.

 

[wendell]

If it was mine, i'd already be showing you pictures of the "milled lumber" in this post!

Rob

Although I may someday actually do some milling, I want the firewood. If it is actually worth him pursuing I wanted to be fair with him but if not, I can start cutting it up.

 

[mikeb1079]

hey wendell, we can mill some up this weekend (or whenever) if you'd like to see my milling rig. for that matter, you can borrow my home built alaskan and guide rail if you want. your dolkita 7900 will do fine milling silver maple. pm me if you want.
:rockn:

 

[NeoTree]

I've never milled silver maple, but every one I cut i wish that I did. some have nice curl to them.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Although I may someday actually do some milling, I want the firewood. If it is actually worth him pursuing I wanted to be fair with him but if not, I can start cutting it up.

I'm glad you are one of the "responsible" firewood cutters, as i see WAAAAAY too many cutting really nice logs into firewood, just because they don't give a rip!

Good for you! That got you some rep.

Rob

 

[wendell]

Thanks, Rob. I think I need to start spending more time in here. I think I've got a little bit of the bug. Hopefully going to be able to hook up with Mike B and give this a try.

Gawd, I hope it isn't like CAD!

 

[huskyhank]

snipped......

Gawd, I hope it isn't like CAD!

Don't worry.
Its not like CAD.

 

[buzz sawyer]

I made this silver maple bench for my wife about 25 years ago. Much easier to work with than rock maple. The legs turned well and it carved ok too. The armrest trim is walnut.