Uses for a downed tree

[Matt B]

So we recently had a massive maple cut down in our backyard that had been heavily damaged during the ice storm late last year, and I'm looking for some cool ideas of things to do or make with the massive logs that we've ended up with.

I'm pretty sure its a silver maple, or was. Firewood is obviously a big use for it but some of these logs are probably 3' in diameter. I'd like to use a couple for something, and would like to practice some carving/whittling.

I've though of a few ideas. I could probably make some kind of round table, maybe a bowl, plate, utensils, but those aren't that big. I'm amazed at the size of these logs, tree has been there since I've been alive and never really considered the size of the thing.

Anyways, any ideas at all will be helpful, just trying to practice skills and have some fun! Here's some pics of it.

[stickbender]

     Well, ......... I think you should have left them in a bit longer form, then after they had seasoned for a couple of years, you could have made nifty end tables, or coffee tables, clocks, and such, but I think they will check pretty badly now.  Might get some hawk handles, and knife handles, and maybe salvage some carving blocks.  Some bowls maybe.  Could have possibly been used for a core for a laminate bow.  I don't know if Silver maple would be good for that or not.  At any rate, good luck with it, it was mighty fine old tree.  Try to do it justice for surviving this long.   Just think of the history it has seen.   OK, at least was around in all kinds of history.

                                                                                Wayne

[Matt B]

Yeah, it is actually in my parents backyard and they had an arbor come and take it down today. If I had've known they gave them instructions to cut the pieces at 14" lengths, I would've told them to make a few longer, but too late for that. Oh well, it was sad to see such an old wise tree go anyways 

Didn't really thing about the checking though, is there a way I could maybe try to reduce that if I did try and save a piece or two for a table or something? Or do you think there's no real point because they're too small?

[Don Case]

Google "How it's made wooden bowls" It shows how it's done commercially. What I found interesting is they do the roughing out green, then steam it.

[bowtarist]

I think I saw some thin bigger diameter ones in there. Those work good for knife and hawk throwing rounds.

[chamookman]

Campfire stools

[Pat B]

campfire stools and campfire. 

[Matt B]

I'll look up how the bowls are made right now. Campfire stools, campfire, and knife/hawk throwing rounds, sounds like a good time to me. I've always wanted to get good at hawk and knife throwing.

I'm moving to the country in the next year or two, I could probably make a couple planters too.

[Tom Kurth]

That indeed looks like silver maple. Assuming it is, it would probably be pretty tough for carving as it grows with a spiral twist and inter-locking grain. We had a fireplace when I was a kid and I can assure it was no fun trying to split some windfall from the silver maple out back of the house. Target rounds and campfire stools sound like the best ideas for the big ones.