Maple is a creamy white hardwood from a deciduous tree that sheds its leaves each autumn. Maple is not naturally rot-resistant, so it is not suitable for outdoor applications. However, it is one of the most popular woods for interior use. It is commonly used for quality flooring, furniture, plywood, and veneer sheets.
Maple is a hard, heavy, and stable wood. It is prized for its creamy color, smooth grain pattern, and impressive durability.
There are approximately 132 species of maple trees and shrubs, most of which are native to Asia. Some shrubs are less than 10 m tall. The remaining species are native to Europe, northern Africa, and North America.
The physical properties of each maple species differ, including hardness, stability, and price. We can identify them by their color and grain patterns.
Maple is a small to medium-sized tree. Some maple species are known for their lumber, while others are known as shade trees. Maple trees can have rounded or oval-shaped crowns.
| Property | Maple Wood |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Acer |
| Tree height | 80–115 ft (25–35 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of 2–3 ft (0.6–1.0 m) |
| Wood color | Creamy white to dark reddish brown |
| Rot resistance | Medium decay resistance |
| Workability | Easy to work with |
| Finishing | Difficult to finish |
| Type | Hardwood |
| Uses | Flooring, veneer, paper, musical instruments, cutting boards, baseball bats, and decorative items |
Common Uses of Maple Wood
Maple wood, renowned for its versatility and durability, is used in various applications. It is primarily used for flooring. It adds to the beauty and value of a home. Maple wood is a tough wood that can withstand decades of wear and tear.
Because maple wood is strong and durable, it is one of the most popular types of wood for interior furniture. Moreover, maple wood has a smooth, fine grain, contributing to its aesthetic appeal. The wood’s pale, light color allows for a variety of finishes, ranging from natural and clear finishes to darker stains, making it adaptable to various design preferences and interior styles.
The resonance and tonal qualities of maple make it an exceptional material for constructing musical instruments such as violins, violas, cellos, and basses, contributing to the rich timbre and craftsmanship of these instruments.
Maple wood is ideal for making durable tools, handles, cutting boards, and butcher blocks.
Maple Wood Color
The color of the heartwood ranges from creamy white to dark reddish brown, while the sapwood is almost white, sometimes with reddish or golden tones. However, there are many species of maple, so the color may vary slightly from one species to another.
Like most hardwoods, maple wood darkens over time and turns a deep golden honey color. The light brown color of maple wood will gradually darken over 8 to 12 months.
This color change occurs rapidly with constant exposure to sunlight and oxygen.
How Do You Preserve the Natural Color of Maple Wood?
If you want to prevent maple wood from changing color over time, you should apply one or two coats of a clear finish. This is a great way to prevent the wood from changing color. The clear finish acts as a protective layer and helps preserve its natural color for a long time.
Maple Wood Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Maple wood is available at an affordable price.
- Maple wood has a great appearance.
- Maple is a strong and durable wood.
- It requires little care and maintenance.
Disadvantages
- Maple wood is not rot-resistant and is non-durable.
- Maple wood is prone to scratches and marks.
- It is difficult to stain.
- The wood’s color fades over time.
Working with Maple Wood
Generally, maple wood is easy to work with using both hand and power tools. However, it is very hard and dense, so beginners may find it difficult to work with. When working with maple or any other hardwood, keep your tools, blades, and bits sharp.
Maple wood can be challenging to work with, but it can be carved and shaped with the right tools. It holds nails and screws well and glues and finishes nicely.
How to Stain Maple Wood
Maple wood is not easy to stain. Staining it can cause blotches, a common problem with many kinds of wood. These spotty or blotchy patches mainly occur because the stain penetrates some pores properly but not others.
In other words, the grain of maple wood is not uniform. Some areas accept the stain, while others resist it completely, resulting in a patchy finish.
There are some important steps to follow before staining to help prevent blotches.
Step 1: Start with light sanding to open the pores and make the surface uniform. Begin with 120-grit sandpaper and work up to 220-grit sandpaper. Sanding also removes minor dents and scratches.
Step 2: Do not sand one area for too long. Sand evenly across the entire surface.
Step 3: After applying two coats of a pre-stain conditioner, apply your chosen stain to the maple wood. Once the staining process is complete, let the wood dry thoroughly.
Complete the staining process in a dust-free area to get a smooth, shiny finish.
Is Maple Wood Rot-Resistant?
Maple hardwood is not rot-resistant and is also susceptible to insect attack. Using maple for outdoor furniture is not a good idea. Although some hardwoods perform well in outdoor environments, not all do.
The heartwood of some trees—the wood at the center of the trunk—contains extractives that protect it from external elements. These extractives are a mixture of oils, resins, tannins, and polyphenols.
Some woods also have tyloses, which protect the heartwood from decay. Wood can be made suitable for outdoor use through specific treatments, but these methods do not provide lasting protection. Maple is a beautiful wood, and using it for indoor furniture would be a better idea.
Is Maple a Hard Wood?
Yes, maple is a hard wood with relatively higher compressive strength than most woods. Its Janka hardness depends on the species.
The Janka hardness test measures the hardness of wood. It measures the force required to embed an 11.28-millimeter-diameter solid steel ball halfway into a wood sample.
The Janka hardness values of some woods are as follows.
| Wood Name | Janka Hardness Value (lbf) |
|---|---|
| European cherry | 1,150 |
| Oregon ash | 1,160 |
| Koa | 1,170 |
| Black maple | 1,180 |
| Hard maple | 1,450 |
| Water oak | 1,190 |
| Green ash | 1,200 |
| Rosewood | 1,210 |
Is Maple Wood Good for Cooking?
Maple is an affordable hardwood and an excellent choice for cooking. It gives food a sweet flavor and burns cleanly and consistently.
Most hardwoods are excellent choices for cooking because they add flavor to meat and burn efficiently for longer periods.
For better, hassle-free cooking, the wood needs to have the proper moisture content and be cut to the right size.
Avoid softwood for cooking because it burns quickly and does not generate enough heat.
According to experts, wood for cooking should measure 2–3 inches square and 18–24 inches long, with a moisture content below 20%.
Can You Burn Maple Wood in a Fireplace?
Maple wood is a great choice for firewood once it is properly seasoned. Hard maple has a heat value of 25 million BTUs per cord. This high BTU value allows it to generate substantial heat.
However, choosing the right maple species is necessary to get the best results. Maple can be divided into two groups: hard maple and soft maple.
Hard maple performs well because it is generally harder than soft maple. However, that does not mean soft maples are the softest woods. Soft maples can be harder than many other hardwood species.
You can compare the BTU values of maple and other woods in the table below.
| Wood Species | Green Weight (lbs. per Cord) | Heat per Cord (Million BTUs) |
|---|---|---|
| Black locust | 4,616 | 27.9 |
| Other maple | 4,685 | 25.5 |
| Silver maple | 3,904 | 19.0 |
| Mulberry | 4,712 | 25.8 |
Types of Maple
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Red maple is a moderately hard, strong, and durable hardwood. It gets its name from the red color of its flowers, twigs, seeds, and autumn leaves.
The heartwood is dark reddish brown, and the sapwood ranges from white to light golden or reddish brown. The wood of an older red maple tree may have curly or quilted grain patterns.
It is a large deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It grows 65–100 ft (up to 30 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of 2–3 ft (0.6–1 m).
Rot resistance: Red maple wood is not rot-resistant and is moderately durable in terms of decay resistance.
Hardness: Red maple has a medium Janka hardness value of 950 lbf (4,230 N).
Workability: It is generally easy to work with using both hand and power tools. Due to its high density, the wood tends to burn when machined with high-speed cutters. It turns, glues, and finishes nicely.
Uses: Veneer, paper (pulpwood), boxes, crates, pallets, musical instruments, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items.
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Silver maple is a soft wood, which is why it is included in the soft maple group. It is also known as creek maple, silverleaf maple, large maple, water maple, swamp maple, or white maple.
The heartwood is dark reddish brown, and the sapwood is white. Growth rings may be visible in the wood. The grain is usually straight but may be wavy.
Silver maple is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree. It can reach 80–115 ft (25–35 m) in height, with a trunk diameter of 2–3 ft (0.6–1.0 m). It is native to the northeastern United States.
Rot resistance: Silver maple is not rot-resistant or durable enough for outdoor applications.
Hardness: Its Janka hardness value is 700 lbf (3,110 N).
Workability: Due to its low density, it can be easy to work with using hand and power tools. It turns, glues, and finishes nicely. Staining can be problematic because blotches may occur.
Uses: Furniture, cabinets, veneer, pulp, boxes, crates, flooring, paper, and firewood.
Black Maple (Acer nigrum)
Black maple is a hard, stable, and affordable hardwood. It belongs to the hard maple group and is also known as black sugar maple.
The heartwood is light yellowish brown, and the sapwood is nearly white. The growth rings tend to be slightly darker.
Black maple is a large, fast-growing deciduous tree. It can reach 80–115 ft (25–35 m) in height, with a trunk diameter of 2–3 ft (0.6–1.0 m). It is native to the northeastern United States.
Rot resistance: Black maple is rated as non-durable to perishable in terms of decay resistance.
Hardness: Its Janka hardness value is 1,180 lbf (5,250 N).
Workability: It is generally easy to work with using hand and machine tools. However, blotches and unevenness may occur during staining.
Uses: Flooring, veneer, paper, musical instruments, cutting boards, butcher blocks, workbenches, baseball bats, and other turned wood items.
Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)
Bigleaf maple is one of the well-known maple species. It is moderately durable and strong. It is widely used for wood carving.
Also known as Oregon maple, bigleaf maple gets its name from its large leaves, which measure 6–12 inches (15–30 cm). The heartwood is dark reddish brown, and the sapwood ranges from nearly white to reddish or golden.
The tree is small and can reach 50–65 ft (15–20 m) in height, with a trunk diameter of 2–3 ft (0.6–1.0 m). Bigleaf maple is native to the coastal regions of Pacific North America.
Rot resistance: Bigleaf maple is not durable when used outdoors and is also susceptible to insect attack.
Hardness: Its Janka hardness value is 850 lbf (3,780 N).
Workability: It is easy to work with using all types of machines and tools. However, avoid using a blunt blade, as the wood has a strong tendency to burn and produce an odor. Blotches may occur during staining.
Uses: Veneer, paper, boxes, crates, musical instruments, turned objects, and other small decorative wooden items.
Sycamore Maple (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Sycamore maple is a straight-grained hardwood with a fine, even texture. It is also called European sycamore.
The heartwood ranges from dark to light reddish brown, while the sapwood ranges from nearly white to light golden or reddish brown.
Sycamore maple is a large, deciduous, broad-leaved tree native to Europe and southwestern Asia. It can reach 80–115 ft (25–35 m) in height, with a trunk diameter of 3–4 ft (1.0–1.2 m).
Rot resistance: Sycamore maple wood is rated as non-durable and is also susceptible to insect attack.
Hardness: Its Janka hardness value is 1,050 lbf (4,680 N).
Workability: It is easy to work with using tools. Due to its high density, the wood tends to burn when machined at high speeds. Use a pre-stain wood conditioner to help prevent blotches and uneven staining.
Uses: Furniture, plywood, paper, boxes, crates, musical instruments, turned objects, and other small specialty wood items.
Field Maple (Acer campestre)
Field maple is a strong, moderately durable, and affordable hardwood. It is also known as hedge maple and is widely used for making indoor furniture.
The heartwood is dark reddish brown, and the sapwood ranges from nearly white to off-white cream. The grain is straight but may be wavy, with a uniform texture.
Field maple is a small deciduous tree that can reach 49–82 ft (15–25 m) in height, with a trunk diameter of 1–2 ft (0.3–0.6 m).
Rot resistance: Field maple wood is not rot-resistant and is rated as non-durable to perishable in terms of decay resistance.
Hardness: Its Janka hardness value is 1,150 lbf (5,110 N).
Workability: Field maple is usually easy to work with using both hand and machine tools. However, its density is higher than that of soft maple, so it can be difficult to work with using small tools.
Uses: Flooring, furniture, musical instruments and their parts, turned objects, and veneer.