Finding high-quality maple wood furniture isn’t always easy, simply because some manufacturers cut corners and/or don’t use natural solid wood. A fungus is responsible for the blue, gray and brown streaks and decorative Sapwood color ranges from nearly white, to an off-white cream color, sometimes with a reddish or golden hue. I’d also like to incorporate stone inlays and designs via a Dremel tool. That said, it can easily be stained many different hues to suit any preferred style or decor. Hard maple (from a sugar maple tree) rates 1,450 Janka. Flat face with no openings in the surface. Listed below you will find a photograph, common characteristics, and common uses of the most popular lumber varieties that we stock. We have many wood species to choose from, each having various densities, colors and grain patterns. Red maple will produce 18.6 million BUT's per cord. made-to-order, so you can customize to your heart’s content. Hard Maple is very strong in tension and will bend and bow with ease without breaking. Finally, I’ll want to coat the staff with polyurethane so that it stands up to knocks, bumps, hand oil, and dirt as it will be occasionally used. Brown maple draws in a lot of fans since it’s as attractive and strong as cherry wood, but it doesn’t cost as much. Leaves: Maple tree leaves are shaped similarly to a hand. withstand force, scratches, or dents. That’s because you have Cocobolo, Verawood, Lignum Vitae, etc. Flame maple (tiger maple), also known as flamed maple, curly maple, ripple maple, fiddleback or tiger stripe, is a feature of maple in which the growth of the wood fibers is distorted in an undulating chatoyant pattern, producing wavy lines known as "flames". > Hardwoods > Sapindaceae > Acer > Related species. Lookalikes/Substitutes: Sometimes confused with species of soft maple, hard maple can sometimes be differentiated on the basis of weight, where hard maple is markedly heavier than some lighter species such as silver maple (Acer saccharinum). Sugar maple’s leaves (pictured below) are the shape that most people associate with maple leaves; they typically have either 5 or 7 lobes, with vivid autumn coloring ranging from yellow to purplish red. The extremely hard, tough surface of maple which takes on a higher polish as it is subjected to wear has made it a remarkable material for floors. would likely deter most from trying. Arrangement: solitary and radial multiples, Vessels: small to medium; moderately numerous to numerous, Rays: both narrow and wide; normal spacing. Maple trees grow in sandy or clayey soil … Ultra Violet Effects on Wood Natural sunlight contains Ultra Violet (UV) light rays that may affect the appearance of your cabinets. Color/Appearance: Unlike most other hardwoods, the sapwood of hard maple lumber is most commonly used rather than its heartwood. Looks pretty expensive off the bat but it only takes one coat and has a great spread rate. This grade may contain all defects common to maple, but the wood must be firm and serviceable. For this reason, maple furniture is often finished with a lacquer or varnish. Generally, the sapwood is greyish-white, sometimes with darker-colored pith flecks. Hard maple ought to be considered the king of the Acer genus. thanks in advance. Only one species extends to the Southern Hemisphere. It was also once a More maple would have to be cut and used to get the same … Merillat wood types and finishes are tested so that you may be able to determine the approximate effect that UV rays may have on the cabinetry in your home. specified, however, our furniture will be made with hard maple that has a generally straight grain, rather than with figured maple. Any tips on how to do this & what products to use? However, maple wood is often stained to look like costlier Where to Get Maple Wood for Smoking While you could go out and hack down a maple tree for yourself, an easier solution is going into your local hardware or home goods store, like Lowes, Home Depot or even Wal-Mart. Hardwoods include cherry, The result can either be We support Vermont Characteristics of Various Hardwoods Woodworkers choose a type of hardwood based on the wood's characteristics … 5. Virtually all hardwoods change color as the years go by. Sugar maple trees grow abundantly in Vermont and throughout the Northern US and Canada and are also the source of maple sap, the sole ingredient in pure maple syrup. A few of the most common questions are answered below. Sugar Maple is perfect wood for your staff. Maple trees have spreading crowns with horizontal branch formations, and develop a compact and rounded canopy. Unlike cherry, maple, and oak (which all darken in color as they age), walnut wood will actually lighten slightly over time. Hard maple can also be seen with curly or quilted grain patterns. Different types of furniture, baseball bats, bowling pins and butcher’s blocks are often made of maple … Distribution: Temperate regions of North America Average Dried Weight: 30.2 to 38.0 lbs/ft 3 (485 to 610 kg/m 3 ) depending on species Not only is our furniture made locally here in Vermont by expert craftsmen, but it comes with a lifetime guarantee and is typically Maple wood is incredibly strong, looks great, and stains nicely. Maple, (Acer), any of a large genus (about 200 species) of shrubs or trees in the family Sapindaceae, widely distributed in the North Temperate Zone but concentrated in China.Maples constitute one of the most important groups of ornamentals for planting in lawns, along streets, and in parks. This aging process isn’t as dramatic of a change as some other woods we offer, and it can be stayed somewhat with an oil finish , which saturates the grain and adds a slight honey tint that comes out in greater detail as the piece ages and more oil is applied. Characteristics of Hard Maple Origin of Wood Type Eastern North America Botanical Name Acer saccharum Specific Gravity 0.72 Avg. Alongside maple, mahogany is a classic ingredient in both slab and multi-wood (or laminated) bodies, and is a common neck wood, too. Softwoods include things like fir, pine, and cedar. Birch and maple are domestic hardwoods with similar characteristics and appearances, but they do have variations. One of the most popular landscape trees in North America, the maple tree, is prized for its beautiful fall foliage colors and its sap that's used to make syrup. The heartwood tends to be a darker reddish brown. Hard Maple Soft Maple Bird’s Eye Small area where fibers form circular figures on the surface Common in Hard Maple Rare in other wood types Bird’s Eye Hard Maple Knots Closed Knot. Maple … Depending on the species they will either have 3 or 5 “fingers”. I have a Maple Burl flute made by Brent Haines of Woodsounds. Rot Resistance: Rated as non-durable to perishable, and susceptible to insect attack. The most common terminology includes the grading scale from common #2; which is unselected and often used for craft … Dense / fine textured wood Birdseye Maple is Sugar Maple with a unique figure pattern giving it the appearance of eyes. Two types of maple -- hard and soft -- offer endless possibilities for many commercial and residential projects, including new cabinets, doors and flooring. down there. For instance, maple can be temperamental to finish and is susceptible to shrinkage because of expansion and contraction due to seasonal humidity fluctuations. The main characteristics of maple wood for finishing, staining, and woodworking. If you’re shopping for maple wood furniture, look for the following: The care guidelines for maple wood furniture are mostly dependent on the type of finish used to seal the wood. mimics the look and feel of real wood but is crafted with recycled high-density plastic, so it’s maintenance-free and comes with a lifetime guarantee. synonymous with “sugar maple.” Besides acer sacharrum, the only other species in the maple family which is sometimes referred to as hard maple is the Black Maple (acer nigrum). Maple trees are a hardwood and are known for their beautiful fall colors as well as the fact that they are used to make maple syrup. Maple Wood The American species of maple are divided into two groups: Hard maple, which includes sugar and black maple; and soft maple, which includes red and silver maple. The wood of maples is often divided into two classes-hard maple and soft maple. options, such as mahogany or cherry. Maple wood is an amazing option in terms of eco-friendliness. Queensland maple wood is pleasant to work with, machining and turning well to a smooth surface. However, the elements would ultimately take their toll and the upkeep to minimize weathering and aging Wood Properties by Type CHERRY Moderately hard and heavy, strong and stiff High shock resistance Fine to medium, uniform grain Moderately large shrinkage during seasoning, dimensionally stable OAK Heavy, hard and stiff The sugar maple, or hard maple, is only native throughout the northern United States and parts of Canada. Janka. In fact, it’s the official state tree and is native to the Green Mountain All-maple bodies aren’t unheard of—although the weight is usually off-putting—and, on its own, a maple body produces an extremely bright, precise tone with tight lows. toward the east coast. Soft maple is a commercial term meant to differentiate the wood of some types of maple from hard maple (Acer saccharum). suit any preferred style. One of the oldest known ones is the “Comfort Maple” of Canada. With wood tools of any kind, it can be easily edited. Pricing/Availability: Should be moderately priced, though slightly more expensive than soft maple. Any help would be appreciated. Allergies/Toxicity: Hard maple, along with other maples in the Acer genus have been reported to cause skin irritation, runny nose, and asthma-like respiratory effects. For more information, please see the article on the Differences Between Hard Maple and Soft Maple. Includes results available with selected plan: Includes results available with selected plans: Includes results not available with your plan. Are Rosewoods (and Bubinga) really banned by CITES? It’s unique color, smooth grain, and strength make maple a popular choice among woodworkers of all types. These products can be used on a variety of our wood products Characteristics of Maple Wood Maple kitchen cabinets usually have a smooth grain and a non-porous surface making them a great option for a variety of finishes and paints. Unless We believe that where your furniture comes from, and how it's made are just as important as style, functionality and beauty. You could also try wood burning for effect. The small beetle bores a network of tunnels and short galleries called cradles. FYI: I receive a commission on sales generated through links to Amazon, eBay, etc. Are mpingo and hard maple suitable for such a staff? In its natural state, it can totally brighten a room, yet stained maple looks equally gorgeous and can be dressed up to Pale yellow (tan) to reddish brown in color. Maple has a tendency to burn when being machined with high-speed cutters such as in a router. Just select maple in the product's wood choice drop-down menu or call us to ask if we can build a The … Surface energy characteristics of maple wood particles coated with polystyrene- acrylic acid (PSAA) block copolymer Magnus Wålinder 1 and Douglas J. Gardner 2 1 SP Trätek/EcoBuild, Stockholm, Sweden, KTH, Building Characteristics include burled grain, pin knots, and caramelizing. The durability of wood is usually measured using the Janka Test. Brown maple offers hardness that’s similar to the solid strength you can rely on from cherry wood. The wood of maples is often divided into two classes-hard maple and soft maple. All have a few common characteristics that make them stand out from other types of trees. Wood has many other interesting characteristics. There are many varieties of soft maple wood, though the most common are the striped maple, silver maple, red maple, bigleaf maple, and box elder. Maple is a stiff, strong heavy wood with a tight, uniform grain pattern and a smooth surface. A fine-grained hardwood similar to Cherry, Birch, and Maple. Both types of birch have a hardness of 4 on a scale of 1 to 5. Janka Values of North American Hardwoods. Hard maple walnut at 1,010 Janka, and cherry at 995 Janka. Hard maple, or sugar maple, is the most durable of the maple species with a janka value of 1,450, which makes it one of the hardest domestic woods used in furniture making. Box elder —Distinct from other maple leaves, box elder is sometimes called “ash-leaved maple,” since its leaves look closer to ash than … It is the most beautiful looking and sounding thing. A board must be flat sawn to show this figure. Moreover, maple wood can be stained to look like other wood types, such as mahogany. It is time to refinish the table top. craftspeople, American economies, and preserving wildlife habitat. That said, Vermont Woods Studios also offers pieces specially-designed for outdoor use. A softwood, on the other hand, comes from a gymnosperm tree, such as a conifer. Silver maple … Hard Maple wood, which is also referred to as Sugar Maple, Rock Maple and White Maple Wood, comes from the Northeast and Midwest regions of the U.S.The sapwood ranges from an off-white cream … Because maple wood has such tightly knit grain, it doesn’t absorb oil finishes as well as other furniture hardwoods. Learn More About Maple Wood Furniture on Our Blog. Common Uses: Flooring (from basketball courts and dance-floors to bowling alleys and residential), veneer, paper (pulpwood), musical instruments, cutting boards, butcher blocks, workbenches, baseball bats, and other turned objects and specialty wood items. Characteristics –Black cherry is Uses –Furniture is the exception of bigleaf maple, which grows on the West Coast. 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Board must be flat sawn to show this figure a dark area or texture painted.