Appalachian Species & Grades

Hard Maple

Other Common Names: Sugar Maple or Rock Maple NWH’s Hard Maple is grown in both the Glacial and Appalachian regions. Unlike other hardwoods, the sapwood of Hard Maple is used rather than the heartwood. Admired for its beautiful cream color and fine texture, the grain is generally straight but also occurs as “birds-eye,” “curly,” and “fiddleback” grain. Hard Maple turns well on a lathe and is resistant to abrasion. Hard Maple’s beauty and strength make it a favorite for flooring, cabinetry, furniture, paneling and veneer. Hard Maple is also used for gunstocks, tool handles, plywood dies, cutting blocks, woodenware, novelty products, sporting goods, bowling pins, and musical instruments.

Properties

  • Machining4
  • Nailing2
  • Screwing2
  • Gluing4
  • Finishing5

Properties of Hard Maple

Hard Maple is relatively easy to work with both hand and machine tools. It turns, glues and finishes well.

How does it compare

Lumber
(12 % moisture content)
Specific Gravity
(Density)
Dimensional
R
(%)
Movement
T
(%)
Hardness
(lbs)
Compression
Parallel
(ps)
Bending
Strength
(ps)
Bending
Stiffness
(kps)
Grain
Alder, Red (Western).414.47.35905,8209,8001,380Fine
Ash.604.97.81,3207,41015,4001,770Fine
Basswood.376.69.34104,7308,7001,460Fine
Beech.645.511.91,3007,30014,9001,720Fine/Medium
Birch, Yellow.627.39.51,2608,17016,6002,010Fine
Cherry, Black.503.77.19507,11012,3001,490Mod/Coarse
Hickory.664.98.91,8207,85013,7001,730Mod/Coarse
Maple, Hard.634.89.91,4507,83015,8001,830Fine
Maple, PC .483.77.18505,95010,7001,450Fine
Maple, Soft.473.07.27005,2208,9001,140Fine
Oak, Red.634.08.61,2906,76014,3001,820Coarse
Oak, White.684.48.81,3607,44015,2001,780Mod/Coarse
Poplar, Yellow.424.68.24505,2909,2001,500Fine
Walnut, Black.555.57.81,0107,58014,6001,680Medium