Subject: Wood question (Maple)

From: "Rod Bray" <[email-masked]>
Date: 31 Mar 1997 23:54:37 GMT

Hello,
Yesterday in the Seattle area we had a major windstorm come through.  Lot's
of downed and damaged trees.  One of those trees is a large maple tree I
have on my property.  This tree is approx. 5 feet across at the base and
close to fifty feet tall.  It is starting to split about half way up and I
am worried it will hit my house if I don't take it down soon.  The
questions I have are:

What type of Maple tree do you think this is?  Is it hard or soft Maple? 
It is growing in the Seattle area.
I was thinking of using this for lumber if the wood is not rotten.  Does
anyone know of a sawmill in the Greater Seattle area that I can take the
logs to and have them cut into rough lumber?  It would be a shame to cut
this tree into firewood.
I do not have a kiln to dry this wood, nor do I see myself spending the
money for one.  I have a dry and warm garage, will this be adequate to dry
the wood?  Should I find a sawmill with a kiln and have them dry it also?  
Is it worth my time and expense to turn this into lumber?

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

-Rod

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From: [email-masked] (Tim)
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 03:28:01 GMT

>-Rod

Rod,
   I'm in the Seattle area also, that was a pretty good blow, eh?
I've got a line of mature paper birches at the rear of my yard I'm
eyeing cautiously... :)  Your maple tree would be a western maple, so
close in appearance to alder that you have to look close to
distinguish the difference.  The small black streaks apparent in alder
will be missing in western maple, otherwise looks pretty much the
same, on average a little heavier per board foot.  Working properties
are very similar.  I don't have any recommendations for milling, phone
book would be my first thought.  As far as whether it's worth it,
compare the per-board-foot milling price to the per-board-foot retail
price....Crosscut Hardwoods in Seattle can quote current prices.  The
coolest thing about an oppurtunity like this is the chance to do
something different...like dry a large chunk of root cluster, real
wild grain possibilities there...or let some of it stay moist for a
while and let it spalt...cut a thick slab for a bench...dry some large
branches and incorporate the natural shapes into a piece of
furniture...etc.   Yes, you can air dry the wood, end grain will need
to be sealed...the mill should be able to advise you on this.  My
folks lost a cherry tree years ago and I have some prime pieces
(including an awesome burl) stashed away....:)

Tim

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From: [email-masked] (Garrett Lambert)
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 11:21:21 GMT

You'll likely find that most commercial sawyers won't touch a
"backyard tree". The chances of  a nail or other metal in the wood is
too great a risk to their very expensive saws. Thus getting it cut
into lumber might be very difficult.

However, try your luck, but Tim's suggestions might be the way to go
if you can't find someone to do it.