Silver maple limbs in Norcal / worth it?

[Lud martinson]

Recently had our silver maple trimmed. This is in norcal. The general consensus was that several limbs should be cut back close to the trunk. I had them cut to
four foot lengths. The butt ends are about 8 inches across so my thought is to dry them for future cabriole legs for a low boy or similar.
The short question is, is it worth it?
If they are worth drying, then about how long should they sit before rough cutting them into 4x4 stock? Finally, is there any truth in material that comes from limb stock being unstable?

[Dennis Ford]

It would best to cut them into blanks ASAP while wet, seal the endgrain and stack out of sunlight with decent air flow (not indoors). Limb wood is unstable and you should expect some pieces to fail during the drying process. The pieces that don't fail may make the time and trouble worthwhile.

[kent wardecke]

A branch has stress perpindcular to the log while growing. When cut that stress is relived causing warping. It's called reaction wood.
silver maple is nothing special you should be able to get big leaf maple on the west coast. Both big leaf and silver maple are soft maples.
if you decide to proceed you need to cut them up before drying the wood. Wood in log form doesn't dry

[Jeff Heath]

There are exception stories to every rule, but as a general guideline, limb wood should be avoided for furniture parts. You can certain split it up into bowl blanks, if you're a turner, but even that can get dangerous.

As stated, limbs are loaded with reaction wood, as the bottom of a limb is a lot stronger/more rigid, with growth rings closer together, than the top of the limb (as it grows). Easily seen on the end grain. Furniture parts will be dangerous to cut, especially with a table saw. A very bad kickback is likely. Even if you whack them up with a bandsaw, as you work the wood after it dries, you'll always be releasing more tension.

Limbs make good firewood.