Which Wood - Maple - Creative Woodworking of Windsor

Hard Maple

Did you know that the maple wood species are classified as hard or soft? However, the softer maples are still considered a hardwood – did that make sense? The softer option can almost always be a substitute for the hard or rock maple. So why do they differentiate?

Janka Hardness of Maple

Hard Maple – Acer Saccharum
- AKA – Rock Maple or Sugar Maple, (yes, the Vermont State Tree)!!
Maple – Softer Maple?
- Bigleaf
- Box Elder
- Red
- Silver
- Striped

Small Maple Cheese Board

The maple we receive is typically leftovers from a cabinet shop – quite a mixed variety, which is fine for cutting boards – cheese boards – cribbage boards, serving trays, etc.

Cabinet makers and furniture makers will usually offer maple, it’s a great option, although be careful when staining. Applying a stain to any hardwood, even with the softer maples can create a blotchy result. Wood toner is a good idea – trust me – and ask for a sample.

Why isn’t Flame Maple in the above maple choices? Because the flame is grain character based on how the tree grows, not a wood species. Get it?

Flame Maple – Tiger Maple
- AKA – Flamed, Curly, Ripple, Fiddleback or Tiger Stripe

As a fan of wood grain in general, maple doesn’t excite – Unless it’s it’s TIGER or Curly!! This curly – tiger flooring by Hull Forest Products would work for me – totally. It’s so pretty with just enough character, in my opinion.

Although, if the above was my flooring choice (maple is a wonderful flooring choice – hard wood remember), I wouldn’t want curly maple furniture in the same room – what about you?

Maple is also great for creating contrast, as my husband, the artisan who can’t keep it simple knows and these designs have been very popular.