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My dads neighbor took down a maple tree in his yard the other day and my dad snagged some super straight logs to see if I could use them to make a couple necks. One is about 3"-4" in diameter and the other is 4"-5". Can a person get usable timber out of logs this small. Is heartwood an issue? Quarter sawing seems like it would be out of the question, but it seems like I could maybe get a neck out of both pieces if its flat sawn.

Any thoughts?

No way will lumber this small be usable for anything. Sorry.

Yeah, that's just too small. You could maybe get some binding stock. Even unfigured maple can make nice looking binding if it is cut dead on quarter and shows all the medulary rays. But. . . that's a lot of work to go through to get some binding material when you can get cut and dried maple anywhere. Unless this tree has some sentimental value, I don't see it being worth the effort.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

All of the above AND, the "logs" are green.

Thanks guys, that's what I was thinking, but had no clue.

Out of curiosity at what size do logs become usable?

Depends on the use. For fingerboards and bridges, I have used logs that were only 6". Those were persimmon and dogwood....trees that typically are small. For backs, I like 18" diameter minimum, and 14" for sides. Sapwood thickness can vary widely. Some woods are favored for the heartwood (cherry, walnut), while maple is favored for sapwood.

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John

Smaller logs that are quartered over 6 in wide can be used to make small instruments and parts, e.g. especially if you are willing to joint 2.in material into a say 8in width for a small uke . Bridges , blocks , bindings and linings are all good candidates too . I cut down a wormy , , willow which will yield some nice spalted rosettes . The willow can be used for linings, and front and rear blocks as well. . Just look at what the 16 th 17 th an 18 th century violin luthiers did in Italy with available local woods. like pear, hard maple , mtn spruce , willow , lombardy poplar etc. they were all utilized to make excellent sought after instruments. Currently I am drying some milled local white willow, for parts and Mo yellow cedar a soft evergreen that grows here .Similiar in colour and density to western yellow cedar, but slightly softer.

Are your pieces from branches or trunks? If branches, I would stay away, as this wood tends to have tension in it that shows up later, not good for a neck.

Ed

There’s a lot of work and discernment that goes into harvesting and processing wood up to the point where it is rectangular and dry and stable, so that we can make guitars out of it. I like leaving that to people who are better at it than I am. For those of you who do all of that, plus build guitars out of it, I’m impressed.