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Hard Maple
Hard Maple is one of the hardest and most widely used of all North American hardwoods. Although it may seem soft when compared to some of the other hardwoods, it is commonly used in applications that call for a wood that will hold up to abuse. Common uses of hard maple are gym floors, bowling alleys, butcher blocks and baseball bats. Its color ranges from cream to white and can show some yellow or gold when treated. It has straight grain and fine pores.
Specifications:
- Common Name(s): Hard maple, rock maple, sugar maple
- Scientific Name: Acer saccharum
- Distribution: Northeastern North America.
- Tree Size: 2-3 ft (.6-1.0 m) trunk diameter, 80-115 ft (25-35 m) tall
- Average Dried Weight: 44.0 lbs/ft³ (705 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: 1, 450 lbf
Grain/Texture:
Grain: Grain is generally straight, with occasional waves.
Texture: Fine, even texture
Texture: Fine, even texture
Rot Resistance:
Hard maple rates non-durable to perishable, and insects readily attack it.
Workability:
Hard maple works easily with both hand and machine tools, though slightly more difficult than soft maple due to hard maple’s higher density. High-speed cutters such as a router can burn maple. Hard maple turns, glues, and finishes well; however, staining can blotch, so use a pre-conditioner, gel stain, or toner for even color.
Common Uses:
- Veneer
- Specialty Wood Items
- Musical Instruments
- Turned Objects
In tree form, hard maple is commonly called sugar maple, and it’s the species most often tapped for maple syrup. (It’s also the state tree in four U.S. states.) Also called rock maple, it stands as the king of the Acer genus—stronger, stiffer, harder, and denser than other commercially available maples.