Inside the Red Maple Tree

[GunnyGene]

Trees are like a box of chocolates. :mrgreen: Never know what's inside till you cut it open. I cut down a red maple last week that was threatening to land on my shop one windy day. The stump in the first pic is about 20" dia, and tapered up to a crotch that's about 16" dia which will likely have some really nice figure.

Finally got around to cutting some of it up yesterday into manageable chunks about 2' long (about 100lbs each). Was surprised to find some really dark heartwood about 6 ft up the trunk that extended another 12 ft or so to the crotch. Should make some pretty turnings and other stuff. Still got a lot to do to square them up and rough cut them to various sizes.

Many folks would just make firewood out of it, but to me that's a huge waste of valuable and beautiful timber.

 

[JohnBoy]

Great find! I'm a turner - and love maple. I wish I lived closer to you - I'd offer barter in trade for some of that!! Jon

 

[GunnyGene]

Great find! I'm a turner - and love maple. I wish I lived closer to you - I'd offer barter in trade for some of that!! Jon

There's a guy in GA, that has already offered to buy some. Shipping this stuff wet get's real expensive. Runs about $1/lb thru USPS or UPS, and a 24"x 12"x 6" would weigh about 30 lbs or more, plus my price. I wouldn't pay me to ship it to myself :wink: :roll:

One of the benefits of being a woodworker living in their own forest is ( mostly ) free wood. :mrgreen:

I don't do lathe stuff, so I'll probably cut some of the best pieces into boards for small boxes - fitted handgun displays, treasure boxes, maybe some grips or knife scales, etc.