GK Woodworking

Quality Softwoods and Hardwoods, Custom Handcrafted Furniture, and

Built to order Greenhouses

Gary Levy

Phone: 860-376-4387

Fax: 860-376-3889

Email address: Gary@GKWoodworking.com

                                                                               Prime SAP face                                          Prime Natural

Hard Maple (Acer saccharum, Acer nigrum)

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The sapwood is creamy white with a slight reddish brown tinge and the heartwood varies from light to dark reddish brown. The amount of darker brown heartwood can vary significantly according to growing region. Both sapwood and heartwood can contain pith fleck. The grain of sugar maple is generally straight, but birdseye, curly, or fiddleback grain is often selected for furniture or novelty items.

WORKING PROPERTIES
Hard maple dries slowly with high shrinkage, so it can be susceptible to movement in performance. Pre-boring is recommended when nailing and screwing. With care it machines well, turns well, glues satisfactorily, and can be stained to an outstanding finish. Polishes well and is suitable for enamel finishes and brown tones.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The wood is hard and heavy with good strength properties, in particular its high resistance to abrasion and wear. It also has good steam-bending properties.

MAIN USES

Hard maple is used principally for lumber and veneer. A large proportion is manufactured into flooring, furniture, cabinets, cutting boards and blocks, pianos, billiard cues, handles, novelties, bowling alleys, dance and gymnasium floors, spools, and bobbins.