http://desmoines.craigslist.org/zip/4120892628.html That big crotch piece was 22"+ at small end,30"+ at other one & 40" long...Needless to say I had to cut it into 4 pieces to be able to lift them in the truck! Close to home,less than 10 min to my NW. Ad was up since last Wednesday,a couple smaller pieces already gone,but I took the best pieces.Left the bigger hollow stuff for someone else....Pics later when I get a few free minutes. First decent Silver Maple I grabbed since Aug 2010. Its quite common around here,but I'm pretty picky what I want to bring home... Ended up with 6 big pieces,filled up 2/3rds of the truck bed anyway.
I may go back in a few days & see what's left.One big round was decent for half of it anyway.Most '' curbside firewood scroungers'' I've noticed around here want only smaller,straighter knot free pieces under 12" diameter. I'll take as big as I can find.You cant get wide (12"+) slabs/planks from skinny logs...
A couple 2-3" slabs for a small bench,the rest blocks for turning someday.A couple days later they pulled the ad,the best stuff I already grabbed.But there'll be more before long.I normally check CL once a day if time permits.
Nothing in particular.Just trimmed off a scrap piece,wasnt as nice as I originally thought.In the burn pile for next year it went.
I have seen a LOT of figure in the silver maple that I have cut. No doubt there is some fine looking wood in that log.
Nice score. Look pretty heavy, rollers ? When you cut them into lathe blanks They can be dry fire wood down the road if ever needed or they don't dry right.