Hard Rock Maple or Sugar Maple

(Acer saccharum.)

Description

A medium to large hardwood from Nth America.  This tree produces maple syrup.  Heartwood is a pale yellow brown with sapwood that can be hard to distinguish.  Grain is very fine and sometimes exhibits birds-eye figure and fiddle back.

Workability

Difficult as it is hard with sudden changes in grain direction.  It does rout and saw quite well but attention is required in areas of cranky grain.

Applications

Favoured for bowling alleys due to density and colour.  Also an excellent cabinet and joinery timber.

Availability

Very good in 25, 38 and 50mm thick boards.  Occasionally up to 75mm thick. 

Hardness

J730kg/m3  Feels denser than this sometimes. 

Durability

Not suitable for outdoor use.

At a Glance

Turning:		Excellent
Machining:		Difficult but can produce an excellent finish.
Bending:		Very Good.
Sanding:		Average
Nailing/Screwing:		Take Care.
Glueing:		Glues well with our polyurethane adhesives.
Timber Coating:		Accepts most coatings well.
Oil:		Excellent with oil.
Note 1		A difficult timber that can offer great rewards.
Note 2