Maple planks with cracks

[Postie]

A friend has asked me to make a bookcase with some maple planks he bought. Most of the planks have some sort of damage - cracks actually. Pics below. I have been told that this sort of damage could have been caused by bad felling. Can anyone confirm this?

[IMG]http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z110/glentham/woodprojects1.jpg[/IMG]

 

[IMG]http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z110/glentham/woodprojects3.jpg[/IMG]

 

Cheers Postie

[Chris Head]

The splits might have been caused by the way the tree hit the ground as it was felled but I don't think so in the smaller species such as Maple. Both cracks appear to eminate from internal branch junctions. Possible the timber is summer felled with a high moisture content and has dried too quickly. I used to be involved with the felling of furniture grade Oaks by climbing and removing the crown and using all the branches as a bed for the bole to fall on, the felling cuts were designed to eliminate shake in the first part of the bole as the tree went over. Equally I've straight felled trees that have 'broken' their backs as they hit the ground, rendering them pretty much useless for planking.

Personally I'd accept what mother nature has given you and accept the splits?

[Postie]

Thanx very much Chris - I have some walnut trees that need felling so I want to make sure that I don't end up with similar damage to my trees.

With the maple, I have salvaged as much as I can (will even repair a few cracks) & do the best I can with this little load of cheap timber. Phillip will be thrilled with his bookcase/display cabinet 'cause onced planed & cleaned up the timber looks superb. I will post some pics as soon as the cabinet is done.