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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? |
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#2
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint wrote:I have a big red maple tree
that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? Bandsaw, jointer, planer, and tablesaw. Cut slabs on the bandsaw, let it dry for about a year per inch thick, joint a face and an edge, plane the opposing face, and rip the opposing edge. Good luck! Tom Someday, it'll all be over.... |
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#3
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint wrote:
I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and Better to cut it off now, *before* the sap runs. Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Yes and no. At 1' diameter, you're not going to get much lumber out of it under the best of circumstances. It's also branch wood. I'm going to guess that the pith is off-center, and the wood is much more dense on one side of it than the other. This will almost certainly spell trouble when you try to dry and subsequently use the wood, because it will be fairly teeming with stress. If it were me, I wouldn't even try to make lumber out of it. Then again, I have a lathe, so it's a no brainer what *I* would do with it. It sounds like perfect turning wood. If you don't want to see it go to waste, and you don't want to fool with trying to make lumber out of it, then why not find a woodturner in your area and make a friend?  Where do you live, BTW? -- Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621 http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/ |
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#4
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint wrote: I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? Why would you wait for the sap to run? Better off cutting it when it is dormant. If you don't want to do much processing, then cut it in blocks and cut the blocks for various uses, e.g., bird houses, bird feeders, walkway lights, rustic furniture, etc. |
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#5
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
"Bob Flint" wrote : : I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring : after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for : about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot : piece is too much weight for me to carry! : : Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Branch wood contains tension and compression wood, making it unstable, even when dried. It might be welcomed by a woodcarver. Jeff G -- Jeff Gorman, West Yorkshire, UK Email address is username@ISP username is amgron ISP is clara.co.uk Website www.amgron.clara.net |
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#6
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint wrote:
Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? You can always smoke some meats with it. -- Ed http://pages.cthome.net/edhome |
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#7
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
There's usually a reason why some things are not done, just as there are
reasons why some are. The reason branch wood is not harvested as boards is that it makes horrible boards. A nice beam, perhaps, or as Mike and George C.said, some nicely figured bowls or other smallwork pieces. Prepare it in resawable short slabs, occlusive coat on the ends for minimum loss to checks and let it warp as desired. In my experience, it is also important to resaw such wood oversize, give it a few days to work out newly unbalanced stresses, then process for use. For lumber, cut before the sap's up, certainly. For the health of the tree, you might want to wait so it can muster healing prior to mold gaining the upper hand. I'd ask a tree surgeon. "Bob Flint" wrote in message news  I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? |
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#8
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 23:59:39 -0500, Bob Flint
wrote: I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? It is better for the tree to cut it off while the tree is dormant. Of course you can use it! A lot of woodworkers process fallen trees. Drying it without splitting is the trick ! |
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#9
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
A tree trunk grows under gravitational pressure running down the
grain. If that pressure is "relieved", there is no natural tendency to warp. A horizontal tree branch grows with pressure running across the grain, and thus the tendency to warp once that stress is relieved. Joe I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? |
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#10
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? First my apologies for all the uninformed answers. A lot of people here are eager to be helpful, but the information can have a tendency toward being inaccurate. 1. Cut before the sap rises. 2.Branches contain "reaction wood". This can cause severe movement during drying. If reaction wood is used for woodworking projects it is often best to keep the pieceds small. 3.Processing a branch is the same as for a bole from the trunk. A. Fell B. quarter. This is simply using a maul and wedges to split the log into four sections. Always best to split as the split will follow the grain line. The grain line will be convoluted in a branch so be prepared to use short sections. A branch should be quartered since "through & through milling will only exacerbate the problems caused by reaction wood. C. Have the quarters cut by a sawyer. D. Stack the wood on a flat platform, sticker (horizontal spacer sticks laid down on the boards to keep air movement between the boards) and spacer (same as stickers but are placed on the vertical between the boards). E. Band or bind the stack. Banding is a steel strap that is pulled around the stack, binding is chain, cable or rope tightened around the stack. F.Cut a small section of a board and weigh it. Continue to weigh this section during the drying process. When the piece has stopped losing weight, it is as dry as you will get by air drying. Keep dates, and weight records. G. Kiln dry if necessary. Best to keep the wood in a dark place when drying, and always keep the binders as tight as possible during the drying process. You will need to tighten periodically. This was a quick "Readers Digest" version of how to process, but you get the idea. -Rick |
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#11
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 05:59:29 GMT, "Michael Daly" wrote:
On 11-Feb-2004, Bob Flint wrote: so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. I thought it's better to cut back a tree _before_ the sap runs, while it's dormant? Mike I'm not sure... maybe I should check with an expert... I cut a branch off another maple a few years back, in the winter, and in the spring the amount of sap that came out of the 'wound' was astonishing! I thought the tree would bleed to death... so I figure if I cut after the sap is up, it will heal in the summer, and the sap won't be lost. Thats what I did last time to this tree... |
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#12
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 01:39:53 -0500, Silvan wrote:
Bob Flint wrote: I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and Better to cut it off now, *before* the sap runs. Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Yes and no. At 1' diameter, you're not going to get much lumber out of it under the best of circumstances. It's also branch wood. I'm going to guess that the pith is off-center, and the wood is much more dense on one side of it than the other. This will almost certainly spell trouble when you try to dry and subsequently use the wood, because it will be fairly teeming with stress. If it were me, I wouldn't even try to make lumber out of it. Then again, I have a lathe, so it's a no brainer what *I* would do with it. It sounds like perfect turning wood. If you don't want to see it go to waste, and you don't want to fool with trying to make lumber out of it, then why not find a woodturner in your area and make a friend? Where do you live, BTW? Thats an interesting idea... I've always wanted to get a lathe and play with turning... I'm in Montreal, Canada... Hey could I get some veneer out of it? |
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#13
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 07:31:35 GMT, "George E. Cawthon" wrote:
Bob Flint wrote: I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? Why would you wait for the sap to run? Better off cutting it when it is dormant. As I said in another post, I've cut big branches off of maples in both winter and summer, and the winter cut caused more sap to be lost in the spring. The summer cut lost almost no sap. It's also been my experiance that maples are F&^%$& hard to kill!! At least the seedlings growing in the flowers are.... I once sprayed one with laundry bleach I was so frustrated with it... the damn leaves turned white but it just kept on growing!! Had to dig down 4 feet to extract it... If you don't want to do much processing, then cut it in blocks and cut the blocks for various uses, e.g., bird houses, bird feeders, walkway lights, rustic furniture, etc. Hey another good idea!! I could even make little speakers.... |
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#14
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 11:17:27 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
Bob Flint wrote: Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? You can always smoke some meats with it. mmmmmmmmmmmm I can taste it.... but thats illegal in the city limits... pity... |
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#15
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 16:28:33 GMT, Phisherman wrote:
On Wed, 11 Feb 2004 23:59:39 -0500, Bob Flint wrote: I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? It is better for the tree to cut it off while the tree is dormant. Of course you can use it! A lot of woodworkers process fallen trees. Drying it without splitting is the trick ! Ya... tell me!! I installed a de-humidifier in my shop (basement) and have the level down to 35%. I usually have to bundle together the wood I buy with these big steel double angle irons, and 1/2" x 12" bolts... and wait a few months before I use it... still get some twisters... |
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#16
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
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#17
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
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#18
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint writes:
On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 05:59:29 GMT, "Michael Daly" wrote: On 11-Feb-2004, Bob Flint wrote: so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. I thought it's better to cut back a tree _before_ the sap runs, while it's dormant? Mike I'm not sure... maybe I should check with an expert... I cut a branch off another maple a few years back, in the winter, and in the spring the amount of sap that came out of the 'wound' was astonishing! I thought the tree would bleed to death... so I figure if I cut after the sap is up, it will heal in the summer, and the sap won't be lost. Thats what I did last time to this tree... Collect the sap and boil it down into maple suger. It's been done for centuries and doesn't harm the tree. scott |
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#19
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint wrote:
I'm not sure... maybe I should check with an expert... I cut a branch off another maple a few years back, in the winter, and in the spring the amount of sap that came out of the 'wound' was astonishing! I thought the tree would bleed to death... so I figure if I cut after the sap is up, it will heal in the summer, and the sap won't be lost. Thats what I did last time to this tree... Maples put out a lot of sap, think maple syrup. The trick is to cut it at a joint and then paint the end with a latex paint to seal it. Should take care ofd the problem. If it leaks, save the sap and pour it over snowballs. Memory lane. Dave in Fairfax -- reply-to doesn't work use: daveldr at att dot net American Association of Woodturners http://www.woodturner.org Capital Area Woodturners http://www.capwoodturners.org/ |
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#20
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint wrote: On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 07:31:35 GMT, "George E. Cawthon" wrote: Bob Flint wrote: I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? Why would you wait for the sap to run? Better off cutting it when it is dormant. As I said in another post, I've cut big branches off of maples in both winter and summer, and the winter cut caused more sap to be lost in the spring. The summer cut lost almost no sap. It's also been my experiance that maples are F&^%$& hard to kill!! At least the seedlings growing in the flowers are.... I once sprayed one with laundry bleach I was so frustrated with it... the damn leaves turned white but it just kept on growing!! Had to dig down 4 feet to extract it... If you don't want to do much processing, then cut it in blocks and cut the blocks for various uses, e.g., bird houses, bird feeders, walkway lights, rustic furniture, etc. Hey another good idea!! I could even make little speakers.... Cool, never thought of speakers. If it works for you ok, but the wood will be better if you don't let the sap rise. In the cold winter, the wound won't heal, so that is what you are seeing. Wood ashes spread on the wound will quickly stop the leaking sap at the wound, at least it does on my trees. |
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#21
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
"Sbtypesetter" wrote in message ... First my apologies for all the uninformed answers. A lot of people here are eager to be helpful, but the information can have a tendency toward being inaccurate. 'Scuse me. a) Uninformed answers is all some of us have. 2) Thought every1 knew if You ask a question on Usenet, you get *advice* and *opinions*. |
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#22
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint wrote:
I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! My understanding is branches are loaded with "reaction wood." They've been growing against gravity for umpty-ump years, and there is no way you can make straight boards out of them. Nonetheless, I have a walnut tree in my backyard with a branch that is too low and gets in the way of mowing etc. I'd like to cut off that branch, dry it for a year or two and use it. The scar on my left hand from a table saw kickback accident with oak plywood makes me pause every time I plug one of my power tools in. Had things gone worse I'd have a much harder time playing piano or guitar. ;-) Since my walnut branch is reaction wood I've given up on the idea of long boards out of it. However, I do think I could make a number of really neat small boxes (1' or smaller) from it after it is properly dried. I'm thinking that a maple limb can be made into smaller pieces that are stable enough. If anyone else has better ideas I'm all ears. -- Mark |
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#23
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
The other part must not have posted.
"Some will be offended at this. They shouldn't it's just an observation and to be aware that much of the information offered is from the position of opinion, not experience." |
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#24
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
mttt wrote:
'Scuse me. a) Uninformed answers is all some of us have. 2) Thought every1 knew if You ask a question on Usenet, you get *advice* and *opinions*. III. Some have questions. I've been dying all day to ask: "Is there any alternative?" :-) -- Morris Dovey West Des Moines, Iowa USA C links at http://www.iedu.com/c Read my lips: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. |
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#25
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
The wood will be at it's driest after the sap has run at about mid to
late summer. Wood cut during the heat of summer and left with the leaves on a few weeks before being worked up (till the leaves wilt and dry) will be ready or almost ready to burn that winter. It's a trick that people who heat exclusively with wood in New Hampshire use. |
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#26
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
My new compound miter saw doe not kick back. It is a LN crosscut carcass
saw. :-) I have table saw scars also, but I still possess all my digits. "Mark Jerde" wrote in message ... Bob Flint wrote: The scar on my left hand from a table saw kickback accident with oak plywood makes me pause every time I plug one of my power tools in. Had things gone worse I'd have a much harder time playing piano or guitar. ;-) -- Mark |
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#27
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Then the question - how do I process it?
It is better for the tree to cut it off while the tree is dormant. Of course you can use it! A lot of woodworkers process fallen trees. Drying it without splitting is the trick ! Once dried Sitka spruce by covering it with sawdust for about 6 months. Kept the sawdust less moist over time with water. |
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#28
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
First my apologies for all the uninformed answers. I must admit, I kept my answer simple, but I fail to see how it was innacurate, or much different than yours in conclusion. I also don't see why you would apologize for other people's answers, other than if you are trying to sound patronizing. If not, my apologies as well. Joe |
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#29
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
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#30
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
On Fri, 13 Feb 2004 01:18:59 GMT, "Mark Jerde" wrote:
Bob Flint wrote: I have a big red maple tree that has a horizontal branch that is threatening to rip the tree in half, so this spring after the sap runs I'm going to cut it off. It is over 1 foot in diameter at the tree, and extends straight out for about 20 feet before bending up a bit and going another 20 or 30 feet. I cut its twin off last year, and just an 8 foot piece is too much weight for me to carry! My understanding is branches are loaded with "reaction wood." They've been growing against gravity for umpty-ump years, and there is no way you can make straight boards out of them. Nonetheless, I have a walnut tree in my backyard with a branch that is too low and gets in the way of mowing etc. I'd like to cut off that branch, dry it for a year or two and use it. The scar on my left hand from a table saw kickback accident with oak plywood makes me pause every time I plug one of my power tools in. Had things gone worse I'd have a much harder time playing piano or guitar. ;-) I got whacked by a piece of thin poplar plywood that got away from my radial arm saw while ripping,,, I saw it coming and shielded myself with my left forearm, which got cut from elbow to wrist, and smashed my right thumb... but I only got one cut on my chest... Hurt for a few months after that... Now I test the grabber very carefully and if it don't grab the work, I don't cut it!! At least the corner of my thumb eventually grew back! Since my walnut branch is reaction wood I've given up on the idea of long boards out of it. However, I do think I could make a number of really neat small boxes (1' or smaller) from it after it is properly dried. I'm thinking that a maple limb can be made into smaller pieces that are stable enough. If anyone else has better ideas I'm all ears. -- Mark |
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#31
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint wrote:
I got whacked by a piece of thin poplar plywood that got away from my radial arm saw while ripping,,, I saw it coming and shielded myself with my left forearm, which got cut from elbow to wrist, and smashed my right thumb... but I only got one cut on my chest... Hurt for a few months after that... Now I test the grabber very carefully and if it don't grab the work, I don't cut it!! At least the corner of my thumb eventually grew back! [Shudders] Glad it wasn't any worse. If I hit the lottery I'll do ripping with something like this: http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...emnumber=G0524 -- Mark |
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#33
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
Bob Flint wrote:
Thats an interesting idea... I've always wanted to get a lathe and play with turning... I'm in Montreal, Canada... Hey could I get some veneer out of it? I reckon it's possible, but I have no idea how you'd peel it. You'd need some kind of wide blade and some way to feed it in a controlled way, I'd expect. Probably not a job you could do on a typical lathe, but I'm only just starting out in turning, and there's a lot I haven't heard of yet. -- Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621 http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/ |
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#34
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Can I use a tree branch for wood?
"piece is too much weight for me to carry!
Shame to just cut it up and burn it, can it be used somehow for useful maple wood? Then the question - how do I process it? I've never done this with Maple. Works fine with Black Walnut, Cedar, & Locust. I don't make anything with limb cuttings longer than 12". Most is marquetry-- a few boxes. After cutting to length-Paint the ends of your wood with Latex paint, oil paint, glue-- anything to seal the ends. If the tree is dead--As soon as you can, debark, so the bugs living under the bark can be removed. All I need is powderpost beetles in my heated space. I usually let the wood set for a year or so & then resaw, sticker and wait another year per inch of thickness. Then I trim off the ends ( my planer doesn't like paint ), Joint one side & plane to thickness & use. I just got my new issue of FWW & there is a really neat article in it about using angle rounder cuts from limbs for 'oysters' in marquetry. just my 2Cents |
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