Maple limb fell in the front yard yesterday.

[Chief RID]

I am not sure which maple this is and it is old and showing a lot of fatigue. This big limb fell and I will try to get as many staves as I can but I think the wood will be questionable. The limb was alive but the trunk it split off from was dead up top. I know the picture is bad but if there is any advice from you experts I would appreciate it. I will send more picks once I get it split out.

[Eric Krewson]

I suspect it will be knotty mess, most limbs are.

[dylanholderman]

get some pics of the leaves that looks like silver maple

[PatM]

 When a tree can't even hold itself up anymore it's trying to tell a bowyer something.

[Ryan C]

That's silver maple its no good for bows they always drop their limbs cuz the wood is weak.

[JW_Halverson]

.....BUT, it is free wood.  And all wood can be worked with tools, though it may not make a bow, it will be a learning experience. 

You don't really learn a great deal from success, but failures are abundantly overflowing with chances to learn the whys and wherefores!  Besides, you gotta deal with it one way or the other, right?

[Chief RID]

Yep. Silver maple. Whether it is put on the street or in the fire or split for shakes it had to be dealt with lake Big H. said. It may make good kids bows or I could try some things. It has some interesting curves that could have made some interesting stresses in growth. We will see. I think the silver maple has about the shortest life span of any tree in my yard. I will be glad when they are all gone.

[jeffp51]

I have made some nice walking sticks from silver maple limbs that fall from my tree.

[Chief RID]

There was nothing good in it. Most of it was punky. I had two pieces that I could have split but it was just too far gone.

[Joec123able]

It's silver maple. We have them every where here and for the most part they are crap trees. In storms they break even before cotton woods do and that's saying something. My first ever real attempt at a bow was from silver maple, it seemed to hold up okay. I think if the wood is sound silver maple does have potential and if I get my hands on anther piece I will give it a try for sure.

[JW_Halverson]

What they hey, you gave it a shot, right Chief?

[Chief RID]

Nothing ventured..........?

[JW_Halverson]

Can't win if ya don't get in the game!