|
The Soft Maple has many uses. The wood is found throughout the eastern United States and in a limited amount on the West Coast.
Soft Maple is a great all round woodworking lumber. The most popular uses are furniture, paneling, veneer, millwork, kitchen cabinets, moldings, doors, flooring, pallets, crates, shoe lasts, handles, woodenware, spools, bobbins, musical instruments and turnings, and many novelties, such as bowling pins and gymnasium floors. The Fiddleback Maple is the wood of choice for violin makers because it is beautiful and resonates sound to perfection. In the box-making industry, it is covered with decorative wood veneers. Red Maple, Silver Maple and Boxelder trees make up the Soft Maple category and are part of the Acer family. Two hundred species are found all over the world and through the eastern United States, including Tennessee. The grayish white lumber is usually sold unselected for color. Heartwood can range from light reddish-brown to a darker shade. The sapwood tends to be white, sometimes with a nice curl and with a slight touch of reddish-brown. Soft Maple can often be used in the place of other hardwoods. It is sometimes a substitute for Hard Maple, Cherry or Beech. It is very similar to Hard Maple in characteristics and is moderately heavy. It works much like Cherry. While it is easy to machine, it can tear out on boards with curl. It holds edges well for joinery. When finishing Soft Maple, be cautious not to sand too much. Over-sanding can cause the pores to close which makes it difficult to accept stain. This wood polishes well and is great for an enamel finish or for brown tones. |
 Soft Maple |
 |
||
|
||
|